It’s fifty years this year since Nanna Francesca and Nonno Anni took their ‘big trip’ overseas. And what a trip it was – to several countries in Europe and the UK as well as America. It was also the first holiday they treated themselves to after decades working in their fruit shop and milk bar every day from 7am until 10 or 11pm, with only Easter and Christmas days off.
A crowd of us farewelled them at the airport, as you did in those days (me a little kid on my uncle’s shoulders and amazed to see the planes!) This printed photo from when they were boarding is also fifty years old now, taken by Nonno Anni (and actually one of his better ones considering his big hands weren’t quite suited to Nanna Francesca’s little camera with the flash bulb cubes on it!) 😊 Perhaps now and then over this year, I’ll share some more from their 1975 travels, including those when Nonno Anni pressed the camera button too hard! 😊
I can’t imagine how it must’ve been for them both to be returning to Italy for the first time in 1975 after they’d each left in the 1930s. Back when they’d emigrated, neither of them had ever been on a ship before and they travelled to Australia by sea over many weeks. This time, on their return, they hadn’t yet flown in a plane before and the long flights in different planes over the next twenty-four hours must have been quite the experience too. Each time, wondering what they’d find on their arrival. It’s hard to see but I’m pretty sure Nanna Francesca is smiling (though knowing her she was hiding a bit of nervousness too). Until the next instalment… Buon Viaggio! 💛🌠
Zoë Boccabella 