22 years ago two young Italian guests. Filippo Brandolini and Ilaria Bandini, arrived at Rivonia Bed and Breakfast as our lodge was originally called. Then came the night of fine dining! Off Gerard and Ilaria went shopping for the special ingredients and the young couple made us pasta most heavenly. We swore we would travel to the ends of the earth to partake of some more.
Fast forward a few years. Gerard and I did travel, but not to the ends of the earth, but to Ravenna, to visit Filippo and Ilaria. It was 2004 and they had two young sons by that time.
Then, 19 years went by and, in July 2023, we received an an email from Ilaria and Filippo :
We were guests in your Lodge 22 years ago.
We became friends with the owners, Jill and Gerard Marais, who also visited our city in Italy (see the above picture, taken in front of the famous San Vitale
It would be a great pleasure for us to meet them again and introduce them to our third son who they didn’t meet (he was born 6 years later).
Now we are planning to come back to South Africa with our three sons and so we would like to stay by your Lodge.
And so, after 22 years, began another pasta adventure.
We enjoyed Pasta with our Italian Friends, Filippo Brandolini and Ilaria Bandini.
The strozzapreti ‘kill the priest, pasta was delicious, unusual, with an interesting history.
Such is the interesting life of a guest house owner! Exceptional people cross your path from all over the world.