I was raised right between Italy and Austria. “So, where did you go to school,” people often asked me and my answer confused them even more. I went to school in the South of Germany, three hours away from the small village that I called home. Like life wasn’t complicated enough the way it was.
We lived in an autonomous province in Northern Italy, that originally belonged to Austria until men decided that they would give it to Italy, even though the people living there didn’t speak any Italian -neither did they want to be Italians.
The area is known as Suedtirol -Sudtirolo -South Tyrol or Alto Adige.
Until 1918 it was part of the Austro-Hungarian princely County of Tyrol, but this almost completely German-speaking territory was occupied by Italy at the end of the war in November 1918 and was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy in 1919. The province as it exists today was created in 1926 after an administrative reorganization of the Kingdom of Italy and was incorporated together with the province of Trento into the newly created region of Venezia Tridentina (“Trentine Venetia”). (Source Wikipidia)
To this day most of the people there speak Austrian-German, and only 40% speak Italian. Only politicians can make decisions like that -it defies all logic. Italian became the Government language, many refused to learn it. They didn’t understand the policemen, couldn’t read the signs. The small autonomous region in Italy even has an own passport and an own flag. Right on the border, there is a sign saying “We are not Italians.” Men made chaos -nature can’t beat that.
“South Tyrol is not Italy.”
Because of our separated farm and two old farmhouses houses on each side, my Grandfather could choose, and he chose that we belonged to Austria (that was way before I was born.) I grew up loving Italy when so many around me hated it.
So today I thought I just post a few pictures of the place where I come from.
Years later, as a young woman, I fell in love and followed my heart -and my husband- and moved to the U.S.
BRINGING WORLDS TOGETHER IN MY KITCHEN…was not just the name of my cooking blog, it is more of a general statement of what I do on a daily base. Perhaps I am a cosmopolitan or a gypsy, who makes the world her home.
Traveling the world widened my horizon, it made me look deeper, dig deeper. I showed me how little I am, how uneducated I was, how blindsided my view had been.
How blessed am I to have seen so much in a small lifetime -that isn’t over yet.
What a childhhood to be had! Here we are thinking home is a place. It’s not all that easy
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Lovely photos and a pleasure to read your heritage. I love the cloud reflections in the wine glass!
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I am glad you liked it
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Wow, beautiful pictures. I really enjoyed reading this and learned a bit more about Austrian history. My mom was born in Austria and we visited often when we were younger, it is an amazing county – I would love to return someday for another visit.
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thank you so much for visiting. I am glad you stopped by. It seems many didn’t know this part of the Austrian/Italian history. I am glad I wrote the post. Welcome to my blog.
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Thank you! Glad to visit!
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Thanks for posting this article. We passed through South Tyrol last year when my husband and I were heading to Lake Como, Italy.
Süd-Tirol is a nice place by the way. 😉
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Wow! I can imagine that area is quite independent. It’s really interesting how much german culture is there. Beautiful area though!
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Austrian culture, calling us German is like cursing. 🙂
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Reblogged this on Musings on Life & Experience and commented:
Travel pictures from Bridget.
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Amazing landscapes…
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That’s breathtaking! The pictures are so lovely, but I suppose it is even lovelier up close.
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Beautiful pictures!
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Thank you!
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What a beautiful post.. Such a wonderful countries.. I have been to Austria 4 times, Italy twice.. and Germany twice.. The USA I have been near the boarder as I went to Canada coast to coast and spent four days in Niagara Falls So saw the USA side 😉
Such wonderful photo’s and three hours, such a long day to travel back and forth to school..
Many thanks for sharing Bridget.. Hope all of you are well.. ❤
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We traveled to Italy 3 years ago and I loved it!! Want to go back. Would love to visit Austria as well.
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It’s an extraordinary thing, isn’t it? And a very beautiful part of the world that you come from. I know you followed your heart, but do you miss the place sometimes? 🙂
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Sometimes I wish I could go back for just a few hours and hike there with the dogs but as for living. No, I don’t miss it at all. As idyllic as it seems to be, it’s a hard and very monotone living.
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Yes, a place to holiday I suspect 🙂
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A small piece of geopolitical history with your own personal story – I love it! Beautiful, beautiful countryside!
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It is a beautiful place, great for hiking and climbing. As for the history, it’s rather unknown, so I thought it might be interesting.
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You thought right 🙂
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Like a lot of good non-fiction, no one could make up as convoluted and illogical a historical fact as this if they tried!
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You got that right!
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Such a wonderful post!
Being Italian I know quite well how things went on , after WWI….
But I love the way you shared this piece of History, with your co-bloggers, today!
Thanks Bridget, hope you tell us much more than this…..
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Oh that is such a beautiful and meaningful post. I know the area too well. Just grew up on the other side of the border in Switzerland 😉
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I know Switzerland -or parts of it- well. We bought coffee there and smuggled it over the border. 🙂
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Why would you buy coffee in Switzerland????
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We needed lots of coffee during the summer months and my Grandma loved the Swiss coffee. I am certain it was cheaper, because nothing else would make sense. That’s so long ago in the 70’s.
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Must have been cheaper. Just interesting that it must have been the case as everything is so much more expensive in Switzerland…
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Reblogged this on The Militant Negro™.
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Absolutely idyllic locale and fascinating childhood!
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I didn’t know it then, but yes, you are right.
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What an amazingly beautiful place, Bridget. And full of fascinating history. I can’t wait to travel and see those sights and try all the different cuisines. Wonderful post 🙂
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Indeed, the history is very interesting and hardly known to anybody who is not from there. Don’t wait too long before you travel.
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About 3 years and the hubby will retire, Bridget. He’s nervous about traveling, but I told him I have to. I know once he goes and sees the sights and eats the food, he won’t want to come home.
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We is he nervous?
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He hates flying and is an introverted homebody. But once I get him out, he’s personable and great fun and easily falls in love with wherever we are and whatever we’re doing. So, once I get him on the plane… we’re golden. 😀
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Knock him out – drag him behind you on the plane. 🙂
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Ha ha ha. I won’t have to, but I would!
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What a great piece! We really know so little about this world.
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I often watch the news and wonder about it. There is so much to learn and so much to know, yet we hardly hear anything about it. 😦
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I completely enjoyed your post and the beautiful pictures! I am certainly looking forward to reading more of your stories!
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What a sweet thing to say.
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Thank you for sharing this Bridget! Whenever I speak of you I always say, you know, my blogging friend who grew up between Italy & Austria- now I can tell them a name 🙂 Such beautiful countryside.
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I love the idea that you mention me once in a while. What an honor it is.
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