Four generations ago, Chad’s maternal great-grandparents emigrated from Italy to the U.S.  One couple came from a small hilltop town east of Rome, and the other couple came from a small village in the interior of the island of Sicily.  They emigrated to Cranford, New Jersey, where many other families had emigrated, and they became part of the Italian community there.  The Capodice family had a son who married a Barardinelli daughter, and they in turn had 3 children – Fran (Chad’s mom), Connie, and Jimmy.

Our 2016 Italy sabbatical is a trip to explore Chad’s Italian heritage.  There is a grand family reunion planned for the last week of August in Monteferrante, that small hilltop town east of Rome.  We will be meeting up with Chad’s parents (Fran and Jim), Aunt Connie, Chad’s sister Michele, and our friend Simon in Monteferrante for about a week.  There are still relatives in the town, and, I’ve been told, we will indeed be treated like family.  We also plan to spend some time in Sicily getting to know the island and its culture.

Now, Chad and I have a rule that we never to go Europe for less than 3 weeks.  For one thing, the cost of airfare alone justifies a longer trip.  For another, Europe is awesome, so why cut it short when you’ve suffered through the 9-hour plane ride to get here?  And as long as you’re asking for 3 weeks off from work, why not just go for it and ask for five?

Having said that, of course we are seeing more than the ancestral stomping grounds on this trip.  Chad and I are starting on the island of Ischia for a beach vacation.  Between Monteferrante and Sicily, we will spend some time in Naples.  And after Sicily we will spend a few days in Rome before heading back to Atlanta.

So here’s to safe travels, cultural adventures, memorable meals, and new friends.