Civita di Bagnoregio

http://www.civitadibagnoregio.it/ This is it, I have never been to a place that took my breath away like this. You can see for 200 miles off of the top of the town, I really believe it. The Umbrian Hill towns. I have been here three times and it is always the same feeling. This is where God wants me to be. This is where I would come for peace on earth. Giorgio Caponetti brought me here the first time. When I looked at it, there was a ring of clouds around it. It was unforgettable!

I told Christine about this most perfect place on earth. I brought her here two years ago. I wanted to show her the church. A Saint on each side of the alter, in glass caskets. They have been there for years. I also wanted her to see the stone olive wheel for making the oil of the land. Producing the extra virgin olio.

There are still many living there after 1500 years. There is now a B&B, it is operated by Franco Sala. I was there with Christine the last time. I missed Franco, but his staff was so wonderful. They gave me a tour of the B&B and we shared some local vino.

I have thought since my first visit that I would like to come here when I retire, to get back to what is important in life. Come and stay with my friend Franco.

If you can believe this, my classmate from high school in Indiana, Lake Station or East Gary, when we attended just sent me an email saying he was there. Bruce Ranger just went to Italy and was so taken by all that he saw. We compared notes and found we had both been to some of the same places. The world is getting smaller.

http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/destinations/italy/civitabd.htm

http://www.casacaponetti.com/

Smelt FIshing with Dad.

I was reading my new edition of the "The Snail". It is my Slowfood magazine. I wait for it to arrive, there are so many interesting articles. http://www.slowfoodusa.com/

This month was on smelt fishing. It brought back memories of my Father. Smelt were stocked in lakes in Michigan to feed the salmon, but some escaped to Lake Michigan where we lived on the Indiana side of the lake.

My Dad and many of his friends would go smelting on Friday nights. I am sure the wives were happy to just get them out of the house. In reading the Slowfood "Snail" story, it was big at the American Legion posts and all of the veterans like my dad would go "smelting" This was different fishing. You took nets and the smelt swam into them. I know that sounds simple, but for a 10 year old going with his dad it was different .

The way it really worked for us was 12 men and their sons would load up to go to Miller Beach in the spring when the smelt were running. We would get there and unload the nets and all of the beer. Then they would place the nets in the lake to wait for the smelt to swim in to the nets. During this time they would kill a case of beer. After that, they would bring in the nets and pull the smelt from the nets. They would then put the nets back out, and kill another case of beer. It said in the article they drank "Miller Beer", but I remember Pabst Blue Ribbon, but I was young. This would go on til they had about a wash tub full of smelt. It would be very dark by the time they finished.

Next came the good part for the wives. The smelt fry Saturday night. All of my dad's buddies would get together. They would clean the smelt ,which was removing the heads and guts. You left on the scales and tails. The tails were the best part. They then fried these fish, with a cornmeal crust. The smelt only got 6 to 12 inches long, and would fry crispy. Everything would all get cooked, the smelt, with the fries, and we had coleslaw and, you guessed it, more beer. You could eat two plates full, they were that good.

This was also an event at local restaurants. Smelt fries.!!! It is such a great memory for me. I think it was the Cedar Crest restaurant in East Gary where my Mom and Dad would take us for smelt on Friday nights. What a treat!

Some day I want to treat Christine to this great meal. (She is a little hesitant...)

It was as American as Apple Pie in Northwest Indiana. I was raised in a town then called East Gary, now it is Lake Station, Indiana. If you really want a treat in the Spring, this is it.

Read Slowfood magazine, the article was by Lynn Peemoeller.

Mike