Anna had a long and deep connection with Italy and continued to travel regularly in her later years for an annual

linguistic holiday with Joan Wood. The letter below is from the woman who organised their tours and got to know them both well. I thought it captured Anna's intrepid spirit, love of water, and her (I'd say innate but it wasn't, as her children can testify) sense of restraint.

I am so very saddened by the news of Anna’s departure: she was a very special lady and I am sure you must have many wonderful memories of her.

During our many trips together, I have been lucky enough to get a glimpse of her and to share many beautiful moments. I will never forget her passion for swimming; no matter where we were , if there was some water around you could be sure to see Anna’s blue swimming cap surfing through it! She loved everything and her enthusiasm was contagious.

I will never forget our endless conversations (in Italian of course!) about the many different species of flowers and herbs that she was happy to collect wherever we went, and to show us: she had so many interesting stories and we, at Parla Presto, absolutely loved her and the time we spent together. We will miss her so much.

The last trip we took together was in 2012, that year we went south of the Costiera Amalfitana and we stayed in a small town called Palinuro. During one of our day trip we took a boat to a secret cove, the boat was supposed to drop us on a small deserted beach and from there we could swim and explore. Like her, I love swimming, but I was very protective of my people and did not want them to swim in the open ocean, especially Anna who was already in her 80s I believe. She knew I really wanted to dive in, so when the beach appeared on the horizon, she whispered in my ear: Go ahead, dive in and swim to beach, I will not because I do not want you to worry about me. You should enjoy this, don’t worry about giving a bad example! 

So I did, I dove in and swam and wait for the boat on the beach and helped everybody to land safely and only then, Anna went swimming while I was checking on her from the shore.

That year I turned 50 and she wrote me the most beautiful b-day card that I still have, it said: I hope you will dive into you 50s as fearlessly as you dove in the blue water of the Baia del Silenzio.

She and I knew that feeling. Every time I hesitate about something, I think of Anna’s wishes and I dive in in whatever I have to as fearlessly as I can!

I will always  remember her swimming freely in the clear blue water. Light and elegant as the most beautiful fish in the ocean.

Con affetto,

IP

To: Photos of Anna