Well, this was the plan. But eventually it all came differently... because Marco's cousin Elisa decided "last minute" to get married. And well, that required that I actually did travel to Italy.
The wedding was scheduled for Sunday the 22nd of December. So I made it a quick tour to Rome just a couple of days before Christmas. I had booked additional flights: Saturday 21/12 Cologne via Munich (6 hours transit!) to Rome and back on Monday 23/12 Rome - Frankfurt - Cologne.
Upon arrival at Rome Central Station Termini, I was picked up by Marco (who had already arrived in Rome the day before) and his family and we drove to the hotel, Grand Hotel Fleming. Shortly after, I saw myself with a huge bunch of some 16 relatives of Marco and Elisa having dinner at a nearby restaurant, at "La Locanda al Fleming".
Marco and a cousin of his.
Unfortunately, the evening ended with a tragedy: the bride's mother's
handbag got stolen in the restaurant. And for some reason - don't ask me why -
she had been carrying the bride's expensive jewellery for the wedding in her
bag. It was not only about the monetary value that got stolen, but in the
belief of Italians this was like a curse being put on the wedding. It would
bring bad luck for the couple.
Wedding day:
The beautiful bride, inviting for a drink:
Marco and his brother with their cousin Elisa, the bride.
Elisa, with her parents and sister.
Departure from the hotel to church.
The wedding ceremony at Chiesa di Santa Costanza:
I'm not sure if it was chosen on purpose or if so close to Christmas all churches were occupied and busy or if the wedding was organised that last minute that no churches were available anymore. In any case, the wedding ceremony didn't traditionally take place in a church/cathedral, but in a mausoleum. Why not!? :-)
Unfortunately we (that is the two vans full of Marco's family and relatives) we arrived quite late at the wedding venue. Nearly too late. The driver's didn't properly know the road there from the hotel and thus got a bit lost on the way. However, we just managed to arrive on time, just a minute before the ceremony started.
The only sad thing was that due to that delay, we only found seats in kind of last row. Me, not being Elisa's direct relative, I would never claim to have a good view or be seated close to the bride and groom. So it was not to be of big importance to me. But Marco and his family were a bit sad not being able to see their cousin/niece during the ceremony. Seats close to the altar were only reserved for the brothers/sisters and parents of the couple. So well, we were simply listening to the priest's speeches, admired the place and tried to get at least once in a while a glimpse of the couple to be married.
Me with (f.l.t.r.) Marco, with Elisa and the grandmother, with Marco's mother.
After the wedding ceremony everyone drove to the castle Castello di Tor Crescenza where the wedding party was taking place - quite a nice place:
Three cousins:
I think it was at around midnight or 1 a.m. that we left the party, everyone being totally tired.
Everything of this wedding was taking place late. Since the marriage ceremony only started at 5 p.m. also the dinner and the party were dragged out into the night. It was only by 21 p.m. that the first course of the dinner was served. And who knows the Italians and their weddings, knows that food plays an important role (well, it actually does always, not only on weddings). It's usually far too much than what a human being can eat - it's more about showing off with the food. (But it was of course good!) So just imagine how long it took until we finally arrived at the dessert. I think it was only at nearly midnight when the freshly married couple cut their wedding cake. Only somewhat after midnight the band started playing trying to drag people on the dance floor. Unfortunately by then, it was already quite late. Some people still had to work the next day (Monday) since it was not Christmas yet. For others the masses of food had reduced their energy level to a minimum so they were too lazy for dancing. However, quite a few people people still rocked the dance floor :-) The music was actually pretty good, so also Marco and I were still dancing for a while - while Marco's parents and grandmother were nearly falling asleep waiting for us to finish dancing.
Back to the hotel and straight to bed.
Next morning, time for departure. Marco, his family and other relatives left with the two vans they also came up from Sicily driving to Rome some days before. So now they started again their long journey by car back home to the South. Meanwhile I spent some more time in the hotel, packing my stuff and then making my way back to the central station and further on to the airport.
Nice wedding, but now it's time to celebrate Christmas :-)
Auguri and all the best to Elisa and Fabio!!!
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