Simioni del Mondo/Italia! Lucas & Sergio and families

Lago Maggiore Area Simionis

Our last "Giro di Simioni" stop was in the northern lakes district.  We stayed at a B&B in Ispra.

Many Simionis are Facebook friends with Lucas Simioni. After Stephan & Tania Simioni in Montreal Canada, (who started "Simionis of the World" group on Facebook), and Cris Simioni from Brazil, Lucas has been our longest "Simioni del Mondo" friend, and our most frequent communicator. ;)

Lucas and his wife, Elena Contini, drove us to beautiful locations around the lakes and in spite of continued rain, we found pockets of daylight, allowing us to enjoy the sites. It's so fun to meet people we've only known online! Such warm welcomes we received.

We met Lucas' parents and brothers, aunts & uncles, and nieces & a nephew.  And boy did we get to eat!  Lucky us!  Silvano is a pasty chef!  They all kept cooking for us!  It was amazing! Grazie Lucas, Elena, Silvano & Mery -- I gained 5 pounds!  ;)

Above: Elena & Lucas, and a Simioni torte!
Monvalle, Italy

Below, All Simionis:

Cristian (also a chef) with his daughter Iris, and son Alessandro in front of father/nonno Silvano, then Lucas & Rick.  Sorry Massimiliano, we didn't get your family photo. 

Above. The Simioni wives: me/Nancy, Lucas mother Mery Barcella,
Cristian's wife Monica Porotti with Iris, and Lucas' wife Elena Contini. 

We also were able to spend a little time in Cavona with Lucas' cousin, Sergio, his family and friends.  We didn't go hungry there either! Grazie Franca!  Sergio and I agreed it felt like we had "jumped into our computer" -- standing there with our "virtual friends" we have made on Facebook.

Simionis:
Sergio, his father Giancarlo, Rick, and Primo.

Giancarlo & Primo are brothers of Lucas' father Silvano.

Father to Primo, Giancarlo, & Silvano is ALFONSO SIMIONI (b:1905,d:1962).

Alfonso had 4 brothers/sister: Augusto(m), Gelindo(m), Clara (f), Marinda(f) 

 

I believe Silvano says he has some relatives in Bassano del Grappa, that we'll have to meet next time!  Who knows who we'll be able to connect!

This "Giro di Simioni Italia" was truly an awesome experience after spending a lifetime not knowing there were any other Simionis! Even though we did not find relatives, we  had a fantastic time. We could not have imagined how wonderful all everyone would treat us!  It's been my pleasure to  meet, and maybe introduce you to, some of our Simioni del Mondo! Rick's father, Desiderio Simioni (1895 - 1965) born in Castelfranco Veneto, would be so pleased.

Mille Grazie a tutti!

Nancy (& Rick) Simioni
California, USA

ps: if anyone would like to translate any of these postings into Italian, please do so and I'll add the info.