Local Treats part 2

When you have a 2 1/2 year old and a 5 year old, you have to keep them busy.  Here in Cervinara, there's not necessarily a lot for a couple of little boys to do, once you've gone to the mercato and visited the baker.  The arrival of the fruttivendolo is always a highlight of each morning, and there is always kiting around the cortile on the Spiderman bike and the little pedal tractor.  But these boys need outings, they need to see new things, they need a change of scenery.  So....we pile them into the car and go in search of fun things to do.

We in Connecticut are spoiled.  Within a ten mile radius, we have at least 7 children's museums, we have public libraries with amazing children's rooms, we have parks, ponds, and pools.  Every day there is the opportunity to get outside and burn off some steam, or stay inside and explore science, wildlife, and different cultures.  We are indeed lucky.

In Cervinara and the environs, there is very little dedicated to the youngsters so we have to be creative in the ways we can fill their days.  First, the Villa Communale, that has a very nice children's playground, shaded pathways lined with fountains, and the best gelateria in the area.  While we can walk down easily enough (maybe 1.5 miles) the trip back really needs to be made by car because it's all uphill.  Pushing a stroller and holding hands with the older one is exhausting and more than this grandma can handle.  But once in the park, the boys run around like crazy, check out all the climbing spots, and wear themselves out....only to get the sugar rush from the gelato that finishes off the visit.

There is also a pleasant pool complex in town.  On sunny, warm days it's a haven for kids of all ages.  Lots of local adolescents have summer subscriptions and show up every day to meet with their peers, strut their stuff, and take daring rides down the water slides.  Our boys enjoyed the kiddy pool and, while not cheap at 8 euros a pop plus extra for umbrella and lounge rentals, it's a nice way to wear the boys out and get in some adult swim time as well.

In Airola, a town a few miles away, there is a nice little area called Il Giardino Segreto.  It's part zoo, part botanical reserve, and part playground.  The Sunday we went, they had hired a group of actors to act out various fairy tales in the corners of the gardens.  Since the boys don't really understand Italian well enough to appreciate that, we went on our own through the paths and the various thematic gardens.  It was good for a couple of hours of exploring, but very warm and the mosquitos made it a bit uncomfortable at times.

But even after being out of the classroom for nine years, the teacher in me still reigns supreme and I can never let a more "educational moment" pass by.  We are only about 20 minutes from the big town of Benevento which is the home of some fantastic Roman ruins, so we took advantage of a nice sunny day to go wander through some history.  Daniel was indifferent to most of it, until we came to the excavations of an ancient theater.  He loved running freely up and down the ramps that were built on top of the "scavi", and gathering rocks to take home.  But James was fascinated by a huge cistern that dominated the complex.  He's been obsessed with his water barrel that we have rigged up to recapture rain water from our downspouts and was really quite impressed with the cistern that could provide water for thousands during the dry summer months.

But what has provided the most fun and interest this summer?  The baby kitty who lives in the courtyard.  The mamma and baby are naturally skittish of our two rambunctious boys, but we are winning them over with daily treats and warnings to the boys to be very quiet and patient with them.  The boys don't sit down for long anywhere else, but when the kitties are in residence they will wait patiently for a visit.

No, we don't have a lot of organized activities for a couple of youngsters, but they are enjoying a summer of exploration, freedom, and nature that is just not available back in the States.  They have learned to holler their greetings in Italian to the neighbors, they have learned how to buy bread, fruit and vegs from local vendors, they have learned about some "really old stuff", and they have learned that it's ok to live differently from what they are used to.  And those are the best lessons of all.