Words from the Road

We chose to eat at the local fish restaurant in Colombare on the first night. A waiter approached our terrace table and asked, in English, what we would like to eat.

I cannot speak Italian. Don’t get me wrong – I downloaded Duolingo and spent most evenings repeating phrases like ‘ho una mela” (I have an apple) and “sono una nonna” (I am a grandma) –but conversational Italian? No chance.

Nevertheless, I insist on speaking in another language, no matter how incoherent I am. This is often met with frustrated sighs or sideways smirking, and then a stilted conversation in English. The problem is that British people have a reputation for their poor linguistic skills.

Colombare sits on the banks of Lake Garda and the outskirts of popular tourist hotspot Sirmione. Thousands of people pass through this quaint village without stopping, their eyes set on snapping shots for their Instagram, or swimming in the waters around Jamaica Beach.

I launched into my food order: “vorrei il ragù di pesce di lago, per favore” (“I would like the lake fish ragu, please.” Sidenote: was delicious).

Duolingo had not prepared me for an interaction. But when I physically panicked, he asked, “Where are you from?” will be stripped away… We will not back down. We will not let Darwall’s entitled, misanthropic behaviour destroy the only remaining scrap of land where we are permitted to sleep freely under the sky’. On the 21st, they led a mass demonstration across the land owned by Darwall, in the form of a group hike. This demonstration saw thousands in attendance in support of the right to wild camp and the wider right to roam across the country.

Again, we proceeded to have a conversation in English. This time, however, he was teaching us new words, evidently excited by our attempts to learn his native language.

All night we had drink refills, food recommendations, conversations about Northern Italy: where we had been and where we were heading next.

This was the trend that we noticed throughout our travels. As soon as we spoke in Italian, people were friendlier, more generous with their time and services.

Extra mushrooms on my pizza? No problem, no charge.

The right to roam doesn’t just allow for access to nature, but also allows for people to join hiking groups, connecting with others, and learning more about folklore and the countryside itself. For instance, local groups such as Hike Norfolk and UEA clubs and societies such as Mountaineering and Day Walks. With wild spaces rapidly diminishing, and the effects of climate change becoming ever more visible, it is essential that we are able to maintain an appreciation of the value of biodiversity and of natural landscapes such as Dartmoor. concrete-online.co.uk/category/travel/

The waiter physically stepped back, a huge smile on his face.

And then … asked something in Italian.

You don’t have to be fluent in a language to feel welcomed, but making an effort goes a long way.