Expat with Kids in Paris: A little magic at New Year's Eve

January 6, 2019

A little magic at New Year's Eve

Ever since I met my hubby and dragged him onto the slopes in Verbier many moons ago, I have been hearing about how he used to ski in Roccaraso. Roccaraso is an Apennine ski town, 150km from Napoli claiming to be one of the largest Italian resorts outside the Alps.

It does have its history: The first ski race was held in 1910 and the first ski lift was the "Slittovia" in Monte Zurrone, built in 1936. Numerous competitions, both national and international, are held every year.

Not far from this ski resort where "see and be seen" seems to be as popular as in the ritzy St.Moritz, lays a little mountain village called Rivisondoli.

Rivisondoli rose in the 12th century in a strategic position along an important military and commercial route, the "Via degli Abruzzi" and was renowned for its production of weapons. A fire almost completely destroyed the village in 1792. Subsequently, the establishment of the Sulmona-Isernia railway helped the development of tourism. In 1913 the Italian Royal Family had its residence here.

Well, now Expat family was to take residence over the New Year holiday! The hotel design was a blast from the past as were the characters who welcomed us at the reception. Warm, helpful, curious and very local hosts who inquired how we had managed to get from Paris to Rivisondoli.

Family reunion was of course the reason for our trip and as my Dad used to say: "You wanted Italian, you got Italian!". Weeks ahead a general WhatsApp chat had been brought to life to discuss the menu for each day. Days were spent hunting for the perfect ingredients and hours of preparation by dozens of families before each of them brought their dishes to the table.

Fireworks had been shipped up in a station wagon and the New Year was rung in with lots of noise and bubbles... even a few snowflakes made it our way covering roads and christmas lighting, making Rivisondoli the little magic town my husband always raved about.