The Lombardi's...more than just Olives

Sometimes, despite yourself, you can stumble across some luck in life. In this example I’m focusing on the luck of friendships. It’s been over twenty years since Pier and the diesel rabbits left Canada for home. With thousands of kilometres and decades between us Pier and I are probably better friends now than we were back in the good ol’ Canadian Tire days. I don’t know how that happened but I’m beyond grateful for it. Aldo and I discussed Piero at the airport in Santiago as we waited for Raul to show up. “You’ll never meet a nicer guy....” commented Aldo with a level of sincerity you could see. I agreed because he’s simply correct.

Piero welcomed me into his world back in the fall of 2009 in Arica Chile. Arica is a small coastal town at the northern tip of Chile a stone’s throw from the Peruvian border. I can say with certainty that I felt very much at home as soon as I landed. This was my first visit and within this span of time I’d not only spend time with Piero and his immediate family...I’d get to meet all the Lombardi’s. Piero’s Mom greeted me apologetically with concerns over her English. She speaks perfectly. Mr Lombardi, clearly a highly knowledgeable business man, finds time to make sure I’ve had enough to eat. Keep in mind this is the first time I’ve met Mr & Mrs. Lombardi...kindest from the start. Aldo, Raul, Ernesto, Gian Franco and Piero are all very much their own people and yet closely connected. Each of the boys welcomed me and I feel very fortunate to have two new friends in Canada as both Aldo and Raul spend much of the year up here near Hamilton. I routinely compliment Mrs. Lombardi on her child raising skills. This was done right. All you’d need to do is see her greet the boys and you’d know what I mean.

Piero invited me on this journey to Machu Picchu...I think. I may have invited myself. I’m not clear. Pier let me ride his motorcycle for no charge. He serviced that bike in advance of the trip for me. He went to the Chilean and Peruvian governments to sift through the mounts of paperwork needed to cross borders without enormous hassle and confusion. He looked after me, translated and provided a place to stay. I was so far from home but right at home all at once. This is all thanks to those Lombardi’s and my good friend Piero.

Before people start crying I’ll summarize this by saying I hope you have the luxury of such great friends in your own life. Thanks to Pier and all the Lombardi’s I have the gift of a trip I wouldn’t even dream of. It wouldn’t have happened without them...plain and simple.