It’s overcast today, so we decided to head over to the beach just to hop on the Internet at Bagni 16. We set up under their large tent only to find that they have shut down their Wi-Fi. Some of the nearby beach clubs still have theirs activated, but we don’t know the password. We find a weak signal from the new hotel across the street and are happy to find that it is not secured. We log in and find that it’s slow. Perhaps our days of Wi-Fi are numbered here in Senigallia. Franco’s dad is busy dismantling and cleaning. A while later we see Franco’s wife who confirms what we already know, that their Wi-Fi is turned off for the season. We tell her we’re using the signal from the new hotel. She’s surprised, but says that they have a wedding this weekend then will probably close down for the season.
Shortly after Franco appears. He says he “has tension” today as he’s juggling several tasks relayed to storing all of the equipment from the beach club. He says that later this evening he will “make a surf movie” and, if we’d like to be around people, there will be about 60 here. There will be sausage and potatoes. Cost is €8 and will start around 7pm if the weather doesn’t change to rain. We thank him and plan on attending. After a couple hours online, we pack up and head home as the skies are darkening.
By 6:30pm the skies have cleared, so we clean up and head back to Nord Marine. Franco and some surf friends are grilling dozens of sausages over a wood fire. They grill looks homemade. The sausages are laid out between two wire racks with handles, secured, and placed over the coals. Each rack holds 20-25 sausages and the grill fits 2 of these racks perfectly. As people start to arrive there are trays of potatoes cooked with rosemary, rolls, wine, beer, soda, and hotdogs for the kids. Tonight is also a graduation celebration for Franco’s surf students – about 15 in all ranging in ages from 6 to 16.
People are seated and line up for a plate which Franco fills with 2 sausages, 1 hotdog, potatoes, and a roll. Cinzia fills a cup from a 4 liter bottle labeled as simply “Marche Rosso” and I get a Coke. The sausages are delicious. After everyone has eaten Franco announces the surf school graduates who come up to receive their diploma to the applause of the crowd. This is followed by 2 large sheet cakes, which are made of gelato and decorated with the Huia Surf School logo.
A screen and projector are set up under another tent and 25-30 people stay to watch a movie called Bella Vita made by and Italian-American surfer. It documents the origins and growth of surfing in Italy. It’s all in English, but many of the people in the movie speak Italian, so there are English subtitles – perfect for us. Surprisingly, the movie is very well made and highlighted the passion that Italians have for everything they do, to include the relatively young sport of Italian surfing. The movie really spoke to Cinzia as she grabbed me throughout and looked up at me with watering eyes when it ended. We thanked Franco and his wife for inviting us.
Franco is headed to Spain this weekend to shoot a surf video with his sponsor, and his wife is heading back to her hometown of Turino for the week. Franco said that when he returns we will “go into the country” on October 1st with him. We agree and are looking forward to the experience with our new Italian friends. By the time we say our “ciao-ciaos” and walk back to our apartment it’s almost midnight. What a beautiful life indeed.
By 6:30pm the skies have cleared, so we clean up and head back to Nord Marine. Franco and some surf friends are grilling dozens of sausages over a wood fire. They grill looks homemade. The sausages are laid out between two wire racks with handles, secured, and placed over the coals. Each rack holds 20-25 sausages and the grill fits 2 of these racks perfectly. As people start to arrive there are trays of potatoes cooked with rosemary, rolls, wine, beer, soda, and hotdogs for the kids. Tonight is also a graduation celebration for Franco’s surf students – about 15 in all ranging in ages from 6 to 16.
People are seated and line up for a plate which Franco fills with 2 sausages, 1 hotdog, potatoes, and a roll. Cinzia fills a cup from a 4 liter bottle labeled as simply “Marche Rosso” and I get a Coke. The sausages are delicious. After everyone has eaten Franco announces the surf school graduates who come up to receive their diploma to the applause of the crowd. This is followed by 2 large sheet cakes, which are made of gelato and decorated with the Huia Surf School logo.
A screen and projector are set up under another tent and 25-30 people stay to watch a movie called Bella Vita made by and Italian-American surfer. It documents the origins and growth of surfing in Italy. It’s all in English, but many of the people in the movie speak Italian, so there are English subtitles – perfect for us. Surprisingly, the movie is very well made and highlighted the passion that Italians have for everything they do, to include the relatively young sport of Italian surfing. The movie really spoke to Cinzia as she grabbed me throughout and looked up at me with watering eyes when it ended. We thanked Franco and his wife for inviting us.
Franco is headed to Spain this weekend to shoot a surf video with his sponsor, and his wife is heading back to her hometown of Turino for the week. Franco said that when he returns we will “go into the country” on October 1st with him. We agree and are looking forward to the experience with our new Italian friends. By the time we say our “ciao-ciaos” and walk back to our apartment it’s almost midnight. What a beautiful life indeed.