KC’s Blog

With no real idea of what do on Saturday Hoss and I jumped onto the train and headed into Trieste.  On the way we called our friend Rachel to see what she was up to and she invited us along to an Osmize  Hoss has been to several Osmizes before but this was my first time.   

Rachel’s friend Mateo in broken English explained to us that “The Emperor” declared for eight days each year, usually in spring and fall certain people in Trieste could open up their homes and their neighbours could come and buy food and wine.  There was fresh bread, homemade wine, lots of meat from their own animals and fresh eggs.  Tables and chairs are set up in the in the ‘garden’ and people spend their afternoon enjoying good food.

In order to get to an Osmize you have to follow small red arrows with an olive branch attached to them, through winding roads and small villages.  Unless you know where you are going the homes are really difficult to find and next to impossible to choose the ‘right’ directional sign. At one corner there were three different red arrows pointing in three different directions … you really do need to know someone.

At one table there was a group of people playing scrabble, at another table a man had brought a little radio to listen to the local football match.  As we sat in the garden of  this beautiful home, enjoying the 20 plus degree weather, playing cards, drinking  homemade wine, eating cured ham, with fresh cheese and fresh bread, and warm apple strudel, until the sun went down, I couldn’t help but think “this IS the life”

            All in all it was a real Italian experience and me without my camera.      

            A big thanks to Rachel for picking us up and driving … she did an excellent job!