Who: Tiffany Wismer, Carl Cribari Sr., CG Cribari, Nancy Cribari of Denver, Paul Cribari, Keely Reilingshofer, Annapolis, MD, Ben Wismer and Nettie Wismer of Denver, CO.
Where: Outside the church in Bucita, Calabria, Italy
Out and About: Four generations of Cribari’s traveled to Italy to see the birthplace of Carl’s parents. The village is still much like it was 250 years ago with narrow streets and houses built in to the hillside. The church was built about 1816 and has maintained its original alter, pews and statues. Olive trees are scattered over the hills and provide the main source of revenue for the area each fall with the harvest of the olives. The neighboring village of Gesuiti offers the ultimate dining experience at the 5 Piopi (Olive Trees) Restaurant. The finest Italian food served by the three generations of the Marchese family.
Travel Tips: Although Italy is a mecca for tourist trade Calabria is far from the beaten path. Taxi service is usually a family car that is called in to service when the opportunity presents itself and the use of English is almost non-existent. All of the business community, which is limited, is closed each day from 1:00 PM until 4:00 PM for lunch and siesta. Have enough Euros to cover all of your needs as credit cards are not accepted in the local cafes and bars. The pastry shops offer wonderful treats and the market is perfect for picking up sliced meats, cheese, bread and wine for lunch.
