Franco

Franco is 58 years old today (2023) and writes to me from Tel Aviv.

We exchange messages during a particularly difficult time –

the country is under attack, and the situation is dire.

Franco was born and raised in Montalto.

At 18, he served in the military, then left his hometown.

He was only supposed to accompany a friend to the US, to San Francisco,

but in the end, he was the one who left,

a ticket in his pocke leads him to Los Angeles,

where he stayed for three years, escaping back to Montalto every six months, and then to New York.

In 1992, he opened his first restaurant.

Franco was a talented chef, young, and, understandably, loves to travel.

His father: “When are you coming back?”

Franco:”Never again!”

But in truth, Montalto is always in his heart,

not just in a painting on the wall.

Family is important to him.

His wife is from Tel Aviv, and they move there with their two children.

Now, he runs a successful brewery,

and they’re closer to Montalto, too.

In those narrow alleys, Franco loves to walk with his children.