zio Matteo

Among the historical memories of Santa Teresa and, even better, to Porto Pozzo, could not miss zio Matteo. I meet a sunny afternoon in July in its fresh house in the center of Porto Pozzo where he lives with his wife. He expected appointment stationed in front of the house, with his daughter Piera which called this meeting to which no one wanted to miss.
Matteo Pirodda, zio Matteo for all, is a gentleman by the good-natured face, easy smile, one of those people who instinctively inspire sympathy, with which you sit happily at the table to chat.
And in this case, especially to listen to the many stories that Uncle Matthew in Serbia to tell. I told him that this interview would be amateur shooting in App STG tourism, showing smartphone. She looks at me puzzled, looks towards his daughter sitting beside him, then turning back to me smiles and sighs, "I do not know, I trust you ... you know, things are not for me ...".
zio Matteo was born in Aggius and remains orphaned very young, at the age of only six years, but glosses over that period to arrive at the time of Porto Pozzo, his sea, his boat.
Of the boat that went out to circumnavigate Sardinia and Corsica, to procure fish. He says that "it was just a day we were shipping, we did stop in the Strait of Bonifacio for the first drawn, then Bastia and gradually stops for a week to return laden with fish caught trolling, he felt strong pull - and smiles - so big snappers ... ".
Talk Mr. Benassi, the owner of Peschiera Porto Pozzo he worked for zio Matteo, with great respect and with the memory of a person who was a very important moment of his life. "When there is calm get ready Benassi told me, that part ...". And were frequent outings that led him to stay out at sea, days and days, and then "we walked back loads of fish and it was a party - said zio Matteo - occasionally went to charity, another was shared with friends and families with whom then it happened do you feast where there were dozens and dozens of people, for moments of great joy, of celebration ... ".
I ask him why was not marketed all that fish, because that would bring more profit to the company for which he worked. "Mr. Benassi wanted so - says proudly - that was distributing among the people who at that time was not so well economically, there was so much poverty, it emerged from the war...".
It understands it was also a way for this entrepreneur of Genova, to free themselves the local population, to curry favor with the people. And the result was still difficult, as told by zio Matteo, seeing the good heart of this Mr. Benassi.
Tells of many friends in Corsica won with a nice bottle of Vermentino di Gallura "because even there - says zio Matteo - was good having good contacts ...". At that moment her daughter shows a book of photos that reflect moments of celebration, crumpled beautiful images in black and white that tell of brotherhood, joy, including glasses that are worn in high seal of good agreements and friendship.
I escaped me what was the economic interest of the company if all the fish he went between charities and parties, but then zio Matteo seems to read me in the eye and points "Mr. Benassi with the fishpond had fresh fish in quantity, was to its market, fish that reached the most important markets...".
It was so much fish that was conveyed in the fishpond, through a perfect and natural that had made the body of water a major economic resource.
In cold conditions, when you could not go to sea, zio Matteo cared villas Capo Testa "a village that was owned by Mr. Benassi - and Mr. Pesenti points out that the daughter intervenes - a structure that is more "accurate. Hints at Aunt Dove with which there was a good relationship, "we were at home - says zio Matteo - with my brother Tinuccio" he remembers with sympathy and a bit 'of melancholy.
Every time I pass his daughter in his hands pictures that reflect the proud father who exhibits enormous prey fruit of fishing. He arrives in the meantime the wife comes up to me and shaking my hand looks "like Roberto, pleasure Elena" and sitting next to zio Matteo, in the chair beside her ... ..
The chat is fluid, enjoyable, eventful, moments, people. He also talks about Mannoni Pancrazio "the first hotel restaurant was his - says zio Matteo - had the sea ... we, my wife and I, we were often there, because - he says, always with a smile that shines in the face - we cavavamo succeed in the kitchen ... ".
It was well predicted to Pancrazio what would become Porto Pozzo, when they were still a few houses, few and poor people, but he had all that was needed to make it a major tourist destination, what is now.
"It could well be more Porto Pozzo - intervenes daughter - for its location, for natural inlets, the same fish pond ... and it was here that used to rest the many people who came to the Temple and the inland towns, parties and evenings They were the order of the day in the summer, were the sixties seventies ... ". Remember that this coast was the destination of many celebrities from the sports and entertainment, that Mike Bongiorno wanted zio Matteo captain of his boat for the ability to go to sea, and knowledge of these places.
"You know what happened? - I said zio Matteo - did not take much to impress guests who came to visit ... like the time, pointing to a pile of stones, I note that it was the platform of Giuseppe Garibaldi! ... ". He laughs amused to tell me that in a few seconds there were dozens of cameras that took pictures like crazy.
Remember then the daughter of Gian Maria Volonte carried around with chiattino from zio Matteo because interested to make a short film about the death of a smuggler took place in this village. Then he mentions "a fisherman came from Sant'Antioco" very good with the harpoon that was working partner for some time, one of many who had learned to love that part of the sea and with whom he had shared hunting trips memorable.
So many stories, so many people, fishing and many outputs to the sea, with the boat first, then with his boat, the salt water, the waves and the horizon that was the image more present in his eyes of those young people times, still lively and full of those moments that make him feel more happy, joyful for a life fully lived, the people he has met along the way, for the smiles it has received and that has given us.
Porto Pozzo says it has managed to remain well yet, for some reason, luck or fate, almost intact, saved from the great overbuilding that has blighted so many beautiful places and that, instead here, did not arrive so invasive, so being able to offer almost like a time , discreet, simple, pleasant and relaxing even in the most "hot".
The daughter tells of when Mom and Dad knew, she Alghero, pretty old town full of historical landmarks that make it one of the most beautiful tourist destinations in Sardinia. So I ask Uncle Matthew if he never thought of moving to where his wife grew up and lived, but she herself spoke stoppandomi definitively and with a sense of total resignation "... go away from Porto Pozzo? My husband never leave this country ... how many times I asked, I wanted ... no way, he will not go away from here ... ever. " But it is not over, Elena things worse stressing that "when we married - stands up to give more strength to the claim that he wants to express - after a while 'I asked him if he had married me or the boat ... why more with the boat, always talking about the boat ... ". And zio Matteo, who listens to his wife with a sly smile, but a look of gratitude to Elena, for a life together; he turns to me with a face shining with memories, she looks at me and winks at me as if to say "... oh no, I'm sorry, but I'm not so crazy to leave this place, to come away from Porto Pozzo ...".
And how you can not stand on his side! And his wife Elena, certainly within himself, will clear the reason that prevents zio Matteo to leave Porto Pozzo. And maybe I think I understand myself ... because zio Matteo is the history of this country, its sea, its fish pond. Why zio Matteo and Porto Pozzo are physically inseparable, always linked in a kind of symbiosis, joined by an invisible but unbreakable. In order to continue to be so, smiling, cheerful, strong.
We are all with you, zio Matteo. Thank you for the example you've been able to teach, for the love that you have flirted with both hands, for this land, for the sea, to a corner of Sardinia, which has become famous and popular around the world thanks to you and people like you, with your message and your passion that has been able to ride the waves, passing over the Alps, along the roads to get to other countries, continents, nations and distant peoples that are now the source of this small, beautiful old seaside village.