Out of Body Experiences

Instead of progressing chronologically, I'm going to maintain the theme of family outings. So a couple of nights in, my family, still keen to show me as much of the region as possible, took me over to Brescia to have a nosey at the castle.

It was a beautiful castle - high up on a hill looking over the city, and there was a beautiful sunset to match. My family were eager to please, as always, and wanted to get a closer look. I agreed, stressing it wouldn't be any trouble to just look round outside. It transpired that the castle was shut. At that point I'd have gone home - not that I wasn't grateful, but I was tired after camp and I really didn't want to put my family out at all.

That is not how Italian hospitality works.

On closer inspection the castle was open, but only if you were going to watch a film at the open-air cinema. So after taking a butchers round the castle grounds, taking some pictures of the sunset, I found myself sitting on a Brescian hilltop, overlooking the city, mountains in the background, watching X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

It was a true out-of-body experience. Never in my life had I ever expected to be doing that - with a family I barely knew, though they had welcomed me with very open arms into their home.

This is why I love Italy.