Storytellers of the Portico Di Romagna

The storytellers of Portico Di Romagna 

Roi Gal-Or from the International School of Storytelling in Forrest Row, Emmerson College- our mentor and storytelling guide

Giovanna Conforto, who worked with Roi to bring the storytelling workshop to Portico Di Romagna, our Italian storytelling teacher, and who translated our stories with verve and passion into Italian so that the local villagers could understand us.

Marisa Cameli, together with husband Jianni and her sons Masimilliano and Matteo and their families, own  the Hotel Al Vecchio Convento, Marissa worked tirelessly from morning to evening, the smile on her face shone from inside.. And could she party!

Matteo , son of Jainni and Marissa, the most famous truffle hunter in the area, who met us in Forli and drove us to the water falls, to the volcano and truffle hunting.  Matteo is married to Ulla, who so competently and kindly assists at the Hotel Al Vecchio.

Masimilliano the other son of Jianni and Marissa, who made the most delicious food for us three times a day.  And after a full day in the kitchen, became a musician at night.... His mothers son...it is his vision to hold the storytelling regularly...

June, the oldest storyteller on the workshop, 77 turning 78 in December- truly inspiring and living the adage, It's never too old.....

Roi, June and Susan 

Lenore Zietsman, will we ever forget the story of Mrs Prinsloo and Mrs Waggenaar?

Lenore Zietsman shoring herself up against the cold winds in the hillside.

Ingor Keil and Leila - Leila was desperate to join in the truffle hunting, but could not.  Her beauty and playfulness was a distraction until Matteo found the truffles.

Sheila Hirst and Maggie B

Sheila Hirst , muchwarmer! 

Susan Burrell, whose Scottish brogue rendition of The Owl and the Pussycat, will never be forgotten 

Mauro, Giovanna's cousin, persuaded by Giovanna to tell his own stories now.

Kirsten Bracko and Ingor Keil

Kirsten Bracko

Olga, Russian wife of Tim Leeney.

Tim Leeney....

Maggie B and her love, Matt, at the party on Friday night.

Susan and June before the storytelling party...

Sara Lucas, budding author... From Oz

And Sara at the volcano 

Susan Howell, " nicknamed Susan B. 

Susan again..

Pam Klette

Pam Klette and Rob Horsfield, Rob told  his first public story and loved it..

Storytelling evening for the local Italians in Portico Di Romagna

Giovanna had a dream to bring storytelling to Italy, and has planned this workshop a year and a half ago. She met Roi from the school of storytelling in Forrest Row , Sussex, and Masimilliano from the hotel Convento Al Vecchio, and the dream was launched.  The workshop culminates in our group telling stories to the local villagers tonight, Friday.  The villagers will open their shops, the  two bars, and we will tell stories around the village tonight.  Rob and I are looking for a place to tell the story of how we met on an Internet dating site.  

This is the invitation that was sent out to the villagers...

The evening begins at the bar, with drinks and music and food....the storytellers are apprehensive, we don't know how we will be received.  

Susan and June from UK discuss their stories...Will anyone come and listen to Us?  The villagers don't know why we are telling stories...

The musicians play, Masimilliano from the hotel, is one of the musicians.  Marissa his mother is wearing the white jacket.  He takes after her.  The two of them never tire...the villagers are curious, and of course are always ready for a party.

The first story in the arches of Loggia Piano, June is a natural storyteller, and with Giovanna translating, the villagers seem to enjoy the story.

The second story- we walk to the bridge and the shrine to Mary behind them.  Tim and Mauro tell in Italian, and Giovanna translates Maggi's part... The stars shine above them and although the evening is cold, it is clear... It's a magical setting.

Rob and I have chosen the entrance to a courtyard to tell our story..We share the telling of the story, a his and a hers, Giovanna translating.  It's Robs first public story, he's nervous, but the crowd enjoy both sides of the story,  and laugh along..

They chant at the end of the story, Kiss, Kiss.... So we do....and they clap even harder...

Lenore and Sheila tell their folktale which is also enjoyed thoroughly.  The crowd are loving the stories...

Our storytellers go to il Vulcano del Monte Busca, the smallest volcano in Italy

Our storytelling group ready to visit the volcano Monte Busca which burns even in the snow and the rain.  This photo is taken at the entrance to the Al Vecchio Convento, our hotel..they have fed us three meals a day- home made pasta twice a day, with delicious home made tarts for tea - we never stop eating...

This is the fire emitted from the volcano,  methane gas  escapes from a hole of about a metre in diameter and the flame burns perpetually in rain and even snow.  It was used during the war to cook on by troops , and for warmth.

We have had a storytelling adventure around the fire, in the middle of a field of alfalfa in the hills of Forli about 5 kilometers from Portico.  It is freezing, and some of us wrapped blankets around our wastes in African style.  The three South Africans!

Some of the storytellers around the flame..

The view from the volcano, SPECTACULAR! But freezing! 

Truffle hunting for the storytellers

Our storytelling group of 14 plus Roi and Giovanna get driven by Matteo to where Matteo knows is truffle land.  He has two special truffle dogs, and together with his dogs is famous for finding truffles.

The oldest member in our group is 77- she is walking ahead with a pink scarf.  June is inspiring, she struggles with some of the walking, so we lend her our sticks.  She's  a great storyteller!

Matteo with his white truffle dog worth R50,000.00- a little like a labradoodle, Claire...he's got his truffle spade on his back - Rossario is in the background with the brown dog.

Brown dog is smelling truffle, Matteo scrapes away some of the leaves ..

Yip, it's a truffle, it's called white gold, as it's white truffle season.  That night we have truffle very thinly sliced on our home made pasta.  It has a delicate but distinctive flavor.

This is what a truffle looks like in the ground, like a little turd.

We walk further, the spring flowers are just beginning to pop out...Olga is on the left, and is Russian.

After lunch we walk to an old mill, the hillsides are atill brown from winter, can you imagine how green they must be quite soon?

The view along the way ...

The view as we walk to the old mill

Beautiful clean water..

We get to the mill, and are to find something from nature which calls us and write about it in groups of 3. The first person sets the scene.  Th second addresses the object as you (eg. You, old tree, who has stood for many many years witnessing...) and the third person becomes the object..

My dear South African friend , Lenore. Notice her handbag/satchel made by her daughter.  

We have had our photo taken and I gets published in the Italian newspaper to invite people to hear our stories on Saturday night... Italians don't know what storytellers are, so there is curiosity what these people will do...