Egypt - A Kind Of Magic

"It is priceless to listen to Italian music, sitting in an Egyptian cafe', drinking a Turkish coffee while writing Arabic homework! And it is almost a kind of magic to forget about professors coming late to class, waiting ages for a taxi to come...

...An old man saying "welcome to Egypt" is as mesmerizing as a pyramid,

and as genuine as a koshary!*"-Marino Forlino

*Koshary as defined by Wikipedia:

Kushari, often transliterated as koshary, kosheri or koshari, (Egyptian/Arabic a popular traditional and a topping of Egyptian garlic and vinegar and spicy tomatoe sauce. Fried onion is commonly added as a garnish. Koshary is one of the most popular, inexpensive, and common dishes in Egypt, and many restaurants specialize in this one dish.

A Southern Italian Wedding Part 3

The Wedding Day


The morning of the wedding was a hot, sunny day. We were up by 6 a.m. praying that the water problem from the day before throughout the town had been resolved. Fortunately we had water! Yay!

Ready for the big event we arrived as promised at Vita's parents home by 8:30 for the wedding photographs of family members.
A beautifully appointed car was parked in front of the house which was to take the bride to the church.

There was alot of activity outside as well as inside the house. The wedding photographer and the videographer were directing people to come and go , here and there to take family photos.

Flower decorations adorned the front door and a red carpet had been laid out for the bride to exit. Rose petals in a basket awaited the proper time for the children to toss when the bride appeared.

Inside Mike and Savino were keeping themselves busy with Marinos computer.

Families came and went...

A lovely table was set for morning treats.

Rosanna and Domenica (sister of the bride and niece) a sweet mother daughter momentEveryone looked so wonderful!

Rosa, Luciano (one of Vita's 7 brothers) and Domenico

Proud mother of the bride Filomena with her grand-daughter

Family from Riccone

Barb, Aria and Mike the happy guests!

Father of the bride Domenico and son Daniele

Daniele, Mike and Marino

Daniele, Aria and Marino

Setting the scene

The children all so well behaved and adorable.

At last here comes the bride...

Vita looked so beautiful!

Time for a family portrait..mother and father with all nine of their children.

Che bella famiglia!

The Wedding Ceremony...

waiting outside as the guests arrive,

the excitement grows.

Some last minute decorations at the foot of the church steps.

Time to begin the ceremony.

The bride and groom take a trip down the aisle to bring gifts to the altar.

I loved Vita's wedding dress. The fitted jeweled top was so elegant.

Vita and Nicola now husband and wife! Auguri! Congratulations!

As they kiss the crowd cheers and streamers and confetti fly everywhere!

The kids are haivng fun collecting little souvenirs.

This tractor belonging to a neighboring farmer friend has been completely decorated for the wedding. The farmer has placed a table and two chairs, two champagne glasses and chilled bubbly for the newly married couple to have their first toast on the back of the tractor. It was just the most precious and hilarious scene. He also drove his tractor exactly in front of the beautiful lamborghini wedding getaway car.

The bride and groom are happily greeted by the farmer in the orange jumpsuit as the crowd watches on. It was a delightful and memorable first toast!

Now the real getaway car is revealed. The plan is to drive through the town and stop at several bars that have invited the newlyweds for a drink. The couple will make their way to the reception at a hotel just outside of town slowly stopping to greet the bar owners and patrons along the way. This is a place where families have known each other for generations. Everyone knows the bride and groom and their families.

As the couple drives away what follows is a really funny adventure. All the guests quickly pile into their cars and we "follow" them in a long procession of cars through the town, stopping and blocking traffic (honking horns) while they have their drinks at the bars. Finally we will end up at the hotel for the reception. I cannot totally explain the caotic fun this was. A real first for me.

See "A Southern Italian Wedding Part 4" for the wonderful reception which started at 2:00 and ended after midnight!

A Southern Italian Wedding Part 2

La Serenata

A lovely tradition that has gone on for generations in Italy is alive and well here in Palazzo San Gervasio. The "Serenata" takes place the night before the wedding. The groom will walk to the brides house and with the courage and support of all his friends, family and neighbors he will profess his love for the bride and ask for her hand in marriage. Of course we know in this day and age the wedding has been set by all parties but what fun is there in that? So the groom must go through all the motions with the whole town watching as he sings to her, courts her and waits for her response. This is the time for the bride to be to add suspense to the night. Will she or won't she accept the proposal?


It was a beautiful morning when we headed to Daniele's parents house. We needed to get an early start as there were many preparations that needed everyone's help for tonights serenata.

Daniele & Michele start the task of blowing up and stringing balloons all along the street in front of their parents house. This is where all the action will take place tonight.

Here two more siblings of the bride Rosanna and Marino discuss "all" the things that must get done. If looks could talk Marino would be saying: "Mamma Mia!"

Mike is lending a hand to help the brothers.

Meanwhile inside Aria is working on place cards for the wedding reception tomorrow.

These flyers, with the bride and groom, need to have written on them: "Vita and Nicola will be married today". After the serenata tonight they will be posted all over the town to be seen by everyone on the day of the wedding.

At last the street scene is set for tonights festivities.

"E` qui La Festa" -- The Party is here!

Aria, Mike, Vita and Barb

We are so happy to be with Vita and excited for our first "Serenata"

The party will not begin until about 9:00 tonight so we have plenty of time to take a walk through town and have a wonderful opportunity to see the beautiful art museum and to have a special tour with one of the owners.

In the early evening hours preparation starts to speed up. Delivery and set up for all the food to be served tonight starts to progress. The kitchen soon becomes the holding stations for endless trays of goodies.

We were amazed by all the food only to find out that between 200-300 family, friends and all the neighborhood have been invited to join in on the celebration tonight.

as the sun was setting more and more people began to arrive and take their place along the street in front of Vita's house.

The excitement grows as the groom arrives. That's Nicola in the white shirt.

Now the D.J. coaxes the crowd to clap and wave their hands to help the groom woo his bride.

With flowers and microphone in hand Nicola starts his pleas for Vita to be his wife. All eyes are looking up to the balcony doors to see if Vita will come out and accept him as her husband to be.

The crowd is now chanting "Vita, Vita, Vita" and Nicola is singing out, "Ti Voglia bene!" I love you.

The suspense mounts and the balcony doors open but ....a big owl flys out and still NO Vita!

The children are waiting patiently and asking will she come out now?
Ooooh wait the doors are opening, "Is it Vita?"

No this times it's just a big doll! Oh That Vita is playing coy.

At last Vita comes out and the crowd cheers and pleas for her to come down and be with Nicola!

Nicola and Vita are at last reunited downstairs much to Nicola's relief! Let the party begin!

Here family members look on happily!

Bring out the food

Mangiamo!

And the music filled the night air and everyone danced in the streets.

Food was replentished like clockwork...

And the eating contined into the night

with only a slight interruption for a huge fireworks display in honor of the bride and groom.

Here is Gianfranco, the bride's brother and his girlfriend Sonia. Gianfranco has arranged for the fireworks display over the fields behind this street. What a grand display it was for everyone to enjoy.

The Serenata did not end until the wee hours of the morning. I can say those italians sure know how to have fun. It was a wonderful night I will never forget.

To bed for me as tomorrow we must be back here by 8:30 for family photographs before the church ceremony at 11:00.

Buona Notte Tutti!