Aldo Cazzullo (photo by Carlo Furgeri Gilbert).
Stwrites Corrado Rogerineither My Asiaone of his many beautiful travel books, which Off the coast of Burma is a deserted island with no owner. There is nothing: just a hut, a flagpole, and a flag.
Those who want to spend the night there, possibly not alone, arrive by pirogue or makeshift boat – there are no ports on the island – and raise the flag to signal their presence. Thus the rest of the world will know that the island is occupied, it already has a master, even if only for one night; and will avoid disturbing.
Corrado Ruggeri was a giant. Big, big, smiling, it was a pleasure to hug him, even more to be embraced by him. He was the first person I met, entering the Roman editorial office of Corriere della Sera exactly twenty years ago: we immediately liked each other, and we never changed our minds.
We thought the opposite on many things, starting with politics. Corrado was a great posthumous defender of the Duce, and every time I talked bad about it on TV he sent me a picture of the big jaw. Of course it was a game; and then the spice of life is dealing with those who think differently from you, when they don’t insult you (which many have done lately).
“My Asia” by Corrado Ruggeri (Lt Edizioni).
Corrado had a great passion for the world and human beings, he had been to eighty different countries, he knew every hotel, every city, every tribehad been one of the head cutters of the Dayaki, had written a book with Folco Quilici (spending the night talking about travel with Quilici, his wife Anna and Ruggeri was one of life’s great pleasures).
But above all Conrad he had a great passion for his two women: Carla, his wife, and Eleonora, his daughter, who had just made him a grandfather. Two sweet and strong women like him. Now Carla, Eleonora and all those who loved him know where to find him. Off the Burmese coast, on the deserted island, today the flag is waving to signal that Corrado has arrived.
Farewell to Corrado Ruggeri, Corriere colleague, writer and great traveller
Do you want to share emotions, memories, reflections with us? Write to us at [email protected]
All articles by Aldo Cazzullo
iO Woman © REPRODUCTION RESERVED