The real test for whether we are reaching the end of the pandemic crisis (or, at the very least, learnt to live with it) is to see how many of our traditional annual events have returned to us.

One event which returns after a two-year absence due to Covid-19 is the seventeenth annual Valdottavo oil festival. The two-day event officially opened on 9 April with ribbon cutting in the presence of the mayor of Borgo a Mozzano, Patrizio Andreuccetti, As the publicity posters show several events promised there including helicopter rides and an ecological walk.

We stopped at the Festa dell’Olio last Sunday on a delightful day which almost seemed like early summer. It was great to find such a substantial gathering of visitors after two years absence of these local social events. What was especially good was that we could now see people’s expressions on their faces which until the relaxation of the emergency measures at the start of this April had been covered in public places by those wretched surgical masks.

Valdottavo contains some fine fin-de-siècle villas. Clearly many emigrants struck it lucky abroad and returned to their birthplace retiring in enviable surroundings.

It also has its own ornate little theatre.

Although the festa was supposed to be dedicated to olive oil grown in the local groves there didn’t seem to be much evidence of this product although we did find a stall selling the virgin liquid together with some delicious honey.

Most of the stalls dealt with local food products, garden tools, plants and handicrafts.

We did our own ‘ecological walk’ and passed by an old water-mill, a fine example of renewable energy if only it could be brought back into full working order and avoid our over-dependance on energy sources from unsavoury countries.

We found ourselves in a hamlet above Valdottavo which we recognized as being the place where we had looked at a house for sale a couple of years ago. Although the building was substantial and had an elegant interior we did not regret not having bought it. The maintenance involved in the upkeep of such huge manors must be considerable and, in any case, we remain perfectly contented with what we have bought since…

We look forwards to plenty more events returning to us. Already there is the ‘My flower’ festival returning to nearby Borgo a Mozzano in May (the Azalea festival takes place again in 2023). Who knows what further delights the summer will bring ?

All we have to do now is to get used to going out again!