Although I won’t be able to post this for another day or so,
I’m writing this sitting in the airport in Milano, waiting for our flight for
Frankfurt. That was actually a hellish ordeal. Trying to just get our tickets
to get on the plane took three hours, because you have to go back and forth
between so many different counters it’s ridiculous! Italians like blonde hair,
and since we have cowboy hats we stick out. The men at the airport are lovely
and all want to know where we got our hats and where we live in America. The
women….were not quite so helpful this morning.
Alora (well). Our trip….was everything I could have imagined
and more. Our hosts were such incredibly lovely people that I personally
learned a lot from…about dogs, cattle and strength of character. Natalia
Estrada is a Spanish beauty who can put a stop on her colt that leaves you
surprised with just how hard he tries to bury his ass in the dirt. She’s also a
famous actress with a heart of gold. Drew Mischanti’s family has a ranch
outside of Rome and his family has only ever stopped raising cattle twice….and
that was for both crusades. I’m not even kidding.
We arrived in Milano and to our surprise Drew and Natalia
picked us up in a Ford King Ranch pickup. I definitely wasn’t expecting that! On
the way to their home, we stopped in a village that I can’t remember the name of
and drove into a lovely farmhouse for a three hour dinner. There are no menus
because everything that is served is grown or made within a one-mile radius to
the farm. Innumerable courses later, we were on the road to the Rockin AN.
The rest of the week passed in a colored, lyrical blur of
roping, riding, meeting new friends, passionate discussions about horsemanship
and the “cowboy way of life,” cheat sheets of Italian words carried in back
pockets and of course delicious food and drink. I met so many people who I
really and truly felt connected with and was so touched to watch these Italian
buckaroos work hard to rope the way they want, while I sometimes take it for
granted because it’s so common here in the US. Silver bits and spurs glinted in
the sun, Hamley saddles passed me by and all the while the beautiful, lilting
music of the Italian language swirled around us. Yeah, I’m waxing poetic I
know, I can’t help it right now, so give me a break.
There was a cow dog clinic and some of the cutest, well
behaved puppies I’ve ever seen were started on some French cattle (GO CODY
BALLARD!!) Adrian sang her little heart out and watching everyone mouth every
word to Old Time Vaquero about made my heart split in two. I love it when other
people adore my little sister almost as much as I do. Sunday we roped all day long,
people jumping off and on horses, loaning each other their ponies and
encouraging the newbies by calling out their names as they headed towards the
herd. Tali (Natalia’s daughter) and I roped together and won the branding which
was kind of fun and Adrian and I roped together but I’m afraid we didn’t do
very well!
Sunday night a caravan of cars and pickups wound their way
through the mountains and stopped and had the most delicious dinner of real
pizza….just wow.
Adrian and I flew out of Milan with Italian dirt on our
boots, new friendships in our hearts, rope burns on our palms and an excitement to return as
soon as possible.
Thank you Drew and Natalia for such a wonderful time.
xo xo Liz
Sounds like the most amazing time ever!!! What an great experience! That little fact about how long his family have been cattle ranchers - stopped me in my tracks! - Wow! What a culture and history!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous experience! Thanks for sharing here. More!!
ReplyDeletelove these pics!
ReplyDeletevisit me!
xoxo
Amy