EUROPE 2025 STORY PART 2

After dealing with stairs, and no elevators in Dubrovnik, Croatia, we figured that visiting our friends, Ronnie Jayne, and Tom Camarella, in Cori, Italy, which is just outside of Rome, would naturally have elevators where needed. After all, they live there. WRONG, NOT RIGHT! SURPRISE, SURPRISE!!

Upon landing in Rome, we immediately called Tom and Ronnie Jayne, hereafter referred to as RJ, for train information to Cori. Ah yes. Beautiful downtown Cori. A hustling, bustling 21st Century megalopolis, replete with every contemporary accoutrements a town could possibly have. Well, not exactly. Cori, we came to find out, is a small hillside village on the slopes of the Lepini mountains. It had been inhabited originally in ancient times by Latin people, who were conquered by the Romans, who, of course left plenty of evidence of their time spent there. As Naomi and I have said many times, “Without the Roman conquests, and constructions, Europe would have looked like an unfinished playground for the severely mentally challenged.”

This is a view at sunset of the Medieval City of Cori. Yes. It is quite picturesque. No wonder Tom and RJ fell in love with it.

This is Naomi in Beautiful Downtown Cori. Notice the steps. This is not Dubrovnik. The picture next to Naomi is RJ at her front door.

Notice that one step back, and RJ is in her street. Much care must be taken with skinny streets. No. This is not L.A. Pedestrian doesn’t have “Right of Way.”

This is RJ and me loading their car. Yes. That’s it for the street.

Relatively close by is the walled town of Sermoneta, with a huge castle, built by the Annibaldi family, and then bought and expanded by the Caetani family in the 13th Century. And you thought that the real-estate was something new. Apparently, this purchase was done bloodlessly. During the 13th Century through to the 16th Century, a Jewish community immerged, and engaged in the business of fish, and money-lending. How about that, lox and gefilte fish, while you cash a check in the hills over Rome?! This came to a screeching halt following Pope Pius V’s expulsion of Jews in 1569, which restricted Jewish residency to Rome, and Ancona, which is approximately 175 miles northeast of Rome. Ancona is still busy with ferry connections to Croatia, Greece, and Albania.

This is an exterior shot of Sermoneta. Why can’t our present construction people make things that last like this? Next to it is a view from inside the walls of Sermoneta.

And all of this was done without computers, and/or heavy equipment. By the way, remember, Sermoneta is a town, not a speech.

After checking out these marvels, it was time to celebrate my birthday with some num-nums. This is Tom, RJ, Naomi and moi, getting ready to dine.

This is what Naomi got for me for my 80th birthday. Classy, No?!

What birthday celebration would be complete without a birthday cake? This was another “lick” by Naomi.

What you see here is a typical street in Cori. I don’t think that speed limit signs are really necessary. Just keep your doors closed. Tom navigated these thoroughfares as if he was to the manner born.

This is us at their Temple of Hercules. Considering its age, 1st Century BCE, I’d say it’s in pretty good shape.

Jumping a bit ahead, this is a Medieval building above Cori. Yes. These people take care of their stuff.

Yes. Even the streets have stairs.

During our entire stay in Cori, we did not see a single street sign. It’s rather like Goa, India, where the locals say, “We know where we’re going, and where everything is. We don’t need street signs.”

This is “Downtown Sermoneta,” a truly bustling metropolis.

This is the front of “Casa Camarella.” One step out of the door, and you’re in the street. Muy cuidado amigo.

One would be hard pressed to go through any town in Europe, and not find a memorial from WW I, and/or WW II. That global conflagration changed the populace, and boundaries in every country, town and village. Cori is no different. Here is their WW I/WW II Memorial.

Here is their memorial to the U.S. and Canadian troops who fought here in 1944.

Possibly in an effort to brighten things up in Cori, Naomi decided to don her pink hat. If this makes any sense to you, immediately pour something that has IQ suppressants in it, and devour it.

As you may have noticed, Naomi and I make no efforts to disguise ourselves as natives of the realm. Rather, we prefer to appear as what we are, “Tourists.” Thus, we pose no challenges to the locals, as well as stand out as people who are looking to learn and perhaps let loose with some coin of the country.

Some of the ancient masonry held “little secrets” within themselves, as you can see below. Yes. Humor has always been a part of art. This was, of course, in Cori.

After the days of Tom and RJ showing us around their little bit of heaven on earth, it was time to bid them farewell, as we had other stops on our schedule to see, and experience. If you’re ever in this part of our planet, Tom and RJ are the ideal tour guides. Their humor, knowledge of the areas, and driving skills combine to make a great experience out of seeing this, until now, unknown area of Italy for us.

On to Prague, and Frankfurt to visit friends who have become as family to us. Ciao for now.