A little taste of Bra

Bra is a very small town, and for the most part, very quiet. There are are a handful of shops, a small but respectable bunch of restaurants and cafes, a few very good bakeries, a small archaeological museum (which is coincidentally right outside my window and featured in the picture above) Of course there is the super ‘maxi sconto’ discount grocery store, which is more like a Kwik Trip than a true American style grocery store. No one here speaks English and all of us students are a bit of a novelty attracting curious stares, but everyone is friendly, patient and kind. The alps are about 45 minutes away and on clear days they suddenly appear, looming large on the horizon as if some benevolent giant pushed them into our view during the night.  The morning air is crisp and fresh, and often smells of woodsmoke from the farmers burning olive branches and cuttings in the hills above town, and the valleys below.  I absolutely love this smell – it always reminds me of exactly where I am. (Maybe there’s also a hint of nostalgia, recollections of raked leaf piles and burning leaves when I was young and growing up on the lake.) In the afternoons here it is the smell of some delicious ragu or meat cooking that whispers down from the windows above my apartment, especially on Sundays when families all get together to enjoy a big afternoon meal. There’s a routine to life here, simple and comforting. I’m not sure I would want to live here, but it sure is a nice place to be for a year.

Besides the smells, what I love about Bra is that just about every weekend there is some sort of community activity going on. Be it food markets, flea markets, antique fairs, or events for families, everyone comes out in droves (which is actually how we know that yes, there are indeed people living here!) The parades of children and especially the dogs are a phenomenal spectacle.

Last weekend there was one such event … a random musical extravaganza in the piazza below my apartment. I’m still not sure the occasion, but the stage took a few days to build so we knew something “big” was coming. Early in the morning People, extreamly chatty given the hour, began cuing up outisde the building next door carrying wine glasses in colorful holders around their necks. Obviously some sort of moving wine tasting going on.  A small festive train, like you would see at the zoo, appeared and began driving kids around in circles through town, with a conductor shouting through a megaphone … lots of squealing in unison.  And there was live music. All day.  It began with what can only be described as Startling Show Tunes and movie themes songs belted out by an enthusiastic Italian Celine Dion wanna be  .. perhaps it was a little too early for me to be truly complimentary of her talents. Then came the kids marching bands, and regular band performances in the afternoon. Loud, colorful, festive. With lots of stops and starts mid song (which I guess is ok to do here in Italy, but would have been mortifying in my high school band days.) In the evening there was a long, quiet pause, when I actually let myself believe that the jubilation of the day was over…. but then, suddenly and without warning, a Band fired up, inexplicably playing very loud ’80’s rock classics. Crazy?! But sooo entertaining. There was even a little light show! In Bra!  The band just kept playing ….Rush, Styx, Steve Miller. BUT I had to smile when I heard the unmistakable first few notes of a particular song blasting through the streets…. it was a bit surreal, and really reminded me of home. Since that night I have played the video whenever I need a chuckle.  Mary Edwards, this one’s for you:

Save

Save