We Meet Again ...

Eleven members of our club - Patrick and Carol, Roger and Sarah, Nick and Judy, Peter and Wendy, plus Brian, Les and President Stephen all participated this year, safely assembling at the Hotel Belfort in Ovada, Italy, we met up with all the visitors, including two from the other Italian Rotary club of Alba (the rest were travelling daily since Alba was so near). Old friendships renewed, we moved to the Villa Bottaro (where the Ovada Rotary club meets each week) for a light dinner - a large Buffet with prosecco, and white or red wines from the local region.  Unpretentious, delightfully cheerful, and with music from two musicians, the room was soon buzzing with conversation.

Then to complete the evening, time to dance! Most of those able were soon on the dance floor to the sounds of the duet, ending with a riotous Conga round the room. Only too soon it was time to return to the hotel, the end of our first day!

Don’t Wine

Nine o’clock on Friday morning and it was time or a trip to the Villa Sparina, an eighteenth-century farmhouse complex with its vineyard and winery in Gavi, surrounded by the panoramic vineyards of Monterotondo, in Piedmont,

We had opportunity to wander round the terrace complete with its manicured lawn, flowers, bushes and picturesque corners, with views out over the vineyard and beautiful countryside. But it was harvest time, and suddenly we were joined by a tractor pulling a trailer full of grapes, and we watched as it tipped the trailer and emptied the grapes into a container from which the grapes slowly moved down into the cellar for processing. We had the chance to sip some of the juice from the grapes, not very appealing to look at, but very sweet to taste.

Not only that, but soon a second “lot” arrived, and this time the driver used a long, hooked, pitchfork to pull the grapes from the trailer into the container. He also hooked several bunches and offered them to us visitors to taste. Again, obviously ready for harvesting and very sweet.

By this time, our guide had joined us to take us on a tour of the cellars with most of the visitors going down steep steps but the less abled using the lift. Our guide described the history of the Winery and explained the processes involved in English and Italian, and an Ovada member translated for the French. Of particular interest was the “champagne style” sparkling wine, and the areas where it was stored and sediments removed.

Then back out onto the terrace for an aperitif of the sparkling wine, and a cold meat buffet. So pleasant to sit in the sunshine and shade amongst the flowers and bushes, sipping the wine and munching the food, while all the time talking about what we had seen.

We had thought this was lunch, ... and very nice it was too. But, no, we then moved onto a terrace overlooking the vineyards for a formal lunch ending with scoops from a mountain of home made ice cream. Suitably replete, it was back on the coach to be driven to the Serravalle Outlet Mall.

We had the choice of either a visit to the Forte di Gavi. or an afternoon visit to this Outlet Mall, the largest in Europe, as an alternative to the castle.

Shop Until We Drop

While most stayed on the coach for the trip to the castle, a visit to the huge Serravalle Retail Outlet Mall was taken up by around six, including Judy and Nick from Billericay. “It was a pleasure to wander about in the cool of the Outlet and the time was mainly used to relax. I went looking for AAA batteries in one of the over 200 shops there, but whilst many £1000+ suits were available not a battery was to be found” said Nick.

“Fortunately, and much appreciated, passes for the air-conditioned Guest Suite had been arranged where drinks were available free of charge. A memorable and extremely pleasant interval. Finally, the last part of the visit was spent watching the huge double-deck buses of the Milano Express service (who could guess Nick is a bus aficianado - Editor) and also the lizards that came out to take in the heat.”

Rogue Heroes

Forte Di Gavi dominates the top of a hill, accessed by a narrow road so everybody had to be taken by minibuses and cars up to the castle gate. It is a very impressive and dominating structure.

Built originally in the twelfth century, the modern castle was constructed by the Genoese in the seventeenth century with massive bastians to withstand the artillery of the day.

It was used in the First World War as a prison camp for Austro-Hungarians, and subsequently during the Second World War it was used as a prison camp for Allied soldiers. It was known as the “Italian Colditz”. Only one prisoner ever escaped from it, and he was recaptured just before the border with Switzerland (and freedom).

It was the prison camp where Captain David Stirling, leader of the SAS was imprisoned after his capture in Africa, and this was featured recently in the TV series “Rogue Heroes” about the SAS.

We started with a visit to the POW cells, followed by tour of the special Art exhibition in the remaining rooms of the main section. Then up towards the ramparts, for the views and finally down to the main entrance and one of the underground explosives magazines.

Thoroughly enjoyable but exhausting. then it was back to the coach, pick up those at the Mall and back to the hotel. A chance to rest, have a drink and then by coach to a Trattoria in Ovada.

All 42 of us were seated at a long table and served a traditional Italian meal, ending with a variety of Pizzas with a great sufficiency of wine and water.

Touring Turin

Saturday dawned and an early start for the coach to Turin - maybe too early as we had half an hour to wait before our tour of the Egizio Museum, one of the world’s foremost Egyptian Museums. Time for a coffee at one of Turin’s numerous cafés.

At the museum, we were split into three groups - English, French and Italian, and each group was assigned a guide in their own language. Equipped with radios so we could hear our guide, despite the noise made by the crowds of other visitors. We enjoyed a comprehensive tour of the exhibits with expert explanations by our guide. Most enjoyable ... but exhausting.

Lunch time, and this time not a visit to a restaurant, but a trip on a historical tram, now converted into a “Gustotram” marketed under the name “SLURP”! Two sets of two carriages with a restaurant in the centre, and seating for twos and fours around tables with white table cloths. Waiters served an aperitif of Prosecco and then more of the same prosecco or red or white wine to accompany the food. Several courses (including a vegetarian option) were served to us at our tables, and were all delicious. A thoroughly captivating experience as we ate while travelling around the city sightseeing.

Our British group voted to miss the afternoon Royal Palace visit, for coffee and drinks in the shade before the return to Ovada.

Gala Evening

The evening was reserved for the formal Gala Dinner, back at the Villa Bottaro, a highspot of the trip. Each table sported a flag of one of the countries, so there were two tables for us and President Stephen sat on the Top table with President Luciano and other club Presidents.

After a welcome by President Luciano of the Rotary Club of Ovada, we all stood for the National Anthems of each of the visiting countries. Then time for dinner, a buffet for the first course and waitress service of red or white wine and remaining courses.

Then time for the speeches, initially by President Luciano followed by our President Stephen (which was very well received), and then Beausoleil and Alba. All MC’d by Rotary Club of Ovada Clementina.

This was followed by the presentations of the Rotary Club of Ovada pennant and a memento plaque of the Double Triangular visit to each of the visiting dignitaries. Each of them responded by presenting President Luciano with a pennant and/or gift in return, and the visiting clubs also exchanged presents between themselves.

Finally the Presidents assembled behind a fine Rotary cake, cut by President Luciano and served as dessert to all the guests, accompanied by a delicious sweet dessert wine.

Time for final exchanges between the guests before travelling back to the hotel.

The End of the Trip

Sunday morning was time for President Stephen and Secretary Brian to meet with the other clubs to agree a joint project. Ovada proposed a project for Scanning Equipment for Urinary surgery (costing over Euro 50,000) for North African Children - in a hospital in Alessandria. The scanner would be funded by Ovada, a number of Rotary Clubs nearby and fundraising. The Double Triangular clubs were asked for a contribution and we should expect a formal request once the project has moved forward.