Italian Consul Ugo Ciarlatani’s last diplomatic mission in Durban will be hosting visitors to the 2010 World Cup. He spoke to Debbie Reynolds about how much he’ll miss South Africa’s open spaces, shades of green, wild sea and rugby
Having spent nearly eight years abroad – four of them in Durban – Ugo Ciarlatani is looking forward to his next posting in Rome where he will be much nearer his beloved seafront home town of Pesaro. And while he hankers for the snow, Italian culture and fresh fish, he will miss the friendly South African people and the “calm, relaxed” way of life.
“The people have been wonderful. My wife Vanessa and I never expected such good hospitality,” he said. “We feel very comfortable here. People at home and in Europe generally are too stressed to find time to talk to strangers.”
He also feels privileged to have seen so many changes in and around Durban – uShaka Marine World, the Moses Mabhida Stadium and the new airport – but wishes local people were more positive.
“If you look at the changes from a foreigner’s perspective it is incredible what has happened in this city in a few years,” he says. “The value of these facilities to Durban and KZN is huge and yet many people here are always complaining about them. You need big ideas otherwise you have no chance for any dreams to come true. Durbans is the name of a toothpaste in Italy – and that is about as much as most Italians know about Durban. In my opinion, this city should attract more international tourists because it has great beaches, reasonably priced accommodation and, nearby, better game reserves than the Kruger Park.
“The wild sea here is beautiful and I never get tired of all the different shades of green.”
And while he admitted crime was an issue, he didn’t think it was necessary to be barricaded behind big walls and electric fences. “I know people who haven’t been to town (central Durban) for ten years. I have worked here for four years and nothing has ever happened to me. I love exploring the province.”
He also loves relaxing at rugby games at Absa Stadium. “I’ve become a fan of the Boks and the Sharks and the very nice thing about going to rugby here is that everyone is friendly in the stadium after games. In Italy you fight!”
He’s less enamoured, however, with the “traditional” South African braai. “How can it be traditional food if it is just meat cooked? Besides,” he says with a twinkle in his eye, “I think people here like braaing so much because the women are too lazy to cook.”
One of the highlights of his SA posting – he hopes – will be watching Italy get to the semi finals of the World Cup and seeing South African and Durban host a successful event.
Regarding his duties for the World Cup he says the only thing he’s not doing is playing so he’s thankful for his first posting as the Italian Consul in Greece where he gained experience during the Athens Olympic Games.
“I’ll be co-ordinating everything from Italy’s national team’s accommodation to looking after tourists and the media, dignitaries and politicians – especially if Italy does well!”
Without wanting to sound negative, he is concerned that not enough international soccer fans will attend the spectacle in South Africa. “The flights from Europe to SA are very difficult and, once here, the country is vast. In Italy, June and July are working months so it is not easy to get two to three weeks of holiday and it’s too far to come for a few days.”
He hopes, however, to be proved wrong and to leave South Africa with fond memories and the 2010 World Cup in his hands.
Fact File:
Children: Giulia (9), Lorenzo (6), Sarah (2)
Lives: Umhlanga Rocks
Eats: Rome Revolving, AL63, Bel Punto, Marcos
Makes: Ice cream
Hates: Bad service. “The challenge of this country is to improve the quality of its service across the board.”
Loves: His wife’s pasta
Hobbies: Golf. “Although for me it’s more a long beautiful walk with friends … both the hole and the ball are too small!”