Meeting the Richotti family

Meeting with the Riccotti Family (my grandmothers side)


After getting settled in our hotel the first night I called Carolina to set up the time to meet with the family.  She had such a pleasant voice on the phone and it was filled with much excitement.  She said the family was very anxious to meet me. So we decided that she would pick up Susie and I at the hotel around noon. Here we go again, that nervous feeling.  So here it is 11:45 am, do I have all my things together, the gifts I brought from home, pictures of the family, and my little lap top so I could show more pictures.  Ok, I have to look presentable, what to wear, better wear a dress.  Cameron always like this certain dress I wear to work so I decided to wear it. Down to the lobby to wait.  I haven’t even seen anybody and I’m getting those wet eyes again, this isn’t good.  I decided to go outside the hotel for a moment and as I’m looking down the street I see this young woman walking up the sidewalk.  She has a black skirt on and a blue shirt with sandals.  She has shoulder length dark hair and she is slim and about 5ft 6in.  She is texting on her phone.  She looks up and I say Carolina and she nods yes and says Jen (jean must not be a familiar name to them)?   I am greeted with the familiar warm Italian hello with the kiss on both sides of the face.  All I can think of is what a lovely young woman (she is 24).  I introduce her to Susie and she is also greeted with the same warm welcome.  She shows us where the car is and says that she will be showing us around a little because the family is preparing for us.  Preparing for us, what does that mean?  She also tells us we will be meeting her parents.  Ok, we are in the car again driving with all the other crazy drivers and scooters and buses oh my!  I ask Carolina about the driving and she says in a very sweet way “you just have to be a little aggressive”.  She told us that when she first started to drive she was a little scared but now it’s no problem.  As we drove and talked we found out that she had been in the USA for school.  She was in Boston for one year at MIT for engineering.  She did like it.  Her sister came to visit her one time, but her parents never came.  She was there during the time of the plane crash in the Hudson River.  When I asked her what her favorite food was in America she said pancakes.  What’s with everyone liking pancakes and maple syrup.  She asked me what kind of car I drove, if I drove one of those SUV‘s.  I told her indeed I did.  She thought that was WOW.  When she was in the states she took a trip with some friends from school.  When they went to rent a car they asked for a smallest car they had and they were given a small SUV.  She got to drive it and thought it was fun sitting up so high.  She also said it was very easy to drive in America.  Her trip took her to Florida, Tampa and the Keys.  As we drove around we went to the Colosseum area. What an amazing place.  Then to the church where The Mouth of Truth is.  This is also the church where her parents were married. 

The Mouth of Truth

I repeat everywhere you go in Rome there is art and history, so get out your books.  We also drove around the Piazza del Repubblica, that’s the big square where the very exclusive Excelsior Hotel is.  If you go there to the rooftop garden Carolina said it cost 30euro for a cup of café.  She kept repeating very expensive.  We talked of many things, she told us about her sister and mother and father. Her sister Teresa, is going to school for medicine.  Her mother is Govanna, and she teaches English to small children.  Her father is Benedetto and he is an engineer, some type of technical engineer (he loves churches and there are 300 churches in Rome). Before I forget, I will refresh your memory about how we are related. Her grandmother, Carolina, was the daughter of Noni’s (my grandmothers) brother, Antonio.

                  Susie and Jean

Jean and Carolina


OK, she just got the call that things are ready.  Off we go to the apartment. As we’re nearing the apartment I say wait, Look! (Susie says I squealed) FANTINI coffee stand. So Carolina pulls over.  I find out there is a coffee company, of course I have to buy 2 lbs. to take home.

Her Grandmother, Carolina lives with Aunt Adele since her husband died, but she does have a flat close by.  I’m starting to get nervous again.  Finally arrived, the apartment is upstairs so we have to take the elevator.  We’re there.  Susie is loaded with the camera and the recorder.  Walking into the entrance I start to get very emotional. As Susie and I walk in, everyone is looking at us and trying to figure out which one of us is Jean.  They come directly over to me and said, it’s you, you are Jean, you have the eyes and chin of your great grandmother.

 Aunt Adell, Jean and Carolina

You look like her. Many hugs and Italian kisses and tears.  They must think I’m nuts, gotta get a grip.  That feeling came over me again, that my father was very near.  I can’t stop thinking about him and how he would have felt at this moment. I was snapped back to reality when I was told it was time for lunch and we need to wash up.  I was then escorted to the toilette to wash up.  Now we are all going to sit down for a wonderful, traditional Italian lunch. Let the eating begin again.


Stay tune for a traditional Italian lunch…..