RomeoBriar factory is placed in italian part of a Cote d'Azur in small town called Taggia. They are briar cutters, so they prepare a wooden pieces for producing pipe-smoking bowles.

More information you can get here:  www.romeobriar.com


We (Zbyszek Bednarczyk called Zibi, Marek, Alexiej, Liev and me) met near Florida hotel Friday evening, and on Saturday after a quick breakfast, using GPS we tried to find a way to Mimmo's workshop and house.



Finaly there, we gave small (Zibi gave big one) gifts: Mimmo got a picture memorized his title of 'Polish pipe-smokers' friend', which he had got in Chicago, Karen a picturised drawing of her, Filippo (Mimmo's father) got a music box with cookies. Zibi gave Mimmo a big piece of wood with inscription '1000 years for Romeo Family' yesterday.



Karen and Mimmo's family 'run' serving snaks to guests.








This big piece of wood with inscription.






Zibi, Filippo, Fortunata and her dotter.


 We went to the mountains afternoon to digg some briar and to see the natural environment where it grows.




Zibi tried to digg a briar root too.



There are the leaves of briar. The briar looks like a small tree with a bulb in low part (root)


The natural environment, where the briar grow.



In the evening we went to Badalucco. In 'Il Ponte' restaurant we had a wonderful dinner. Nex to the restaurant building the is a first workshop of RomeoBriar factory. Then they moved to Taggia because the workers, who came from Calabria suffered from cold weather.



We have got special hut, useful when you cut briar.




Master pipe maker form Japan, Mr Tsuge came in traditional dress.





Mimmo and Juan Pablo explain us the early years history of RomeoBriar standing in front of the first factory building.





Then we did photo standing on 2000 years old bridge.



Excellent food.



Mimmo with his Father and his Mother.








Filippo got from the family a special book talking about the RomeoBriar history.





Next day (Sunday) we started with breakfast in the house garden.





Then we went to the cellar to see how the briar is stored.


 

Then we watched carefully all the complicated briar cutting process. We listened to the Mimmo's explanation that you should plann cutting in one cut ahead.


















The cutting process is very similar to the gem-stone cutting one. It is very easy to make mistake. Also when you do the first cut you can see that the root is unusable.








Later on we had auctions of briar pieces.


Zibi won one of the auctions.


Filippo got more prizes from the pipe-makers.






And the ice-creams served by Karen.


In the evening we went to the beach for dinner.


The bieach restaurant 'Magama'.





























The last guests went out from the restaurant about 2 A.M.

It was a really excellent time spent toogether. We met friends who we can  see in most cases only once a year. (It is Chicago for me).

Karen and Mimmo did a great job and big surprise for Filippo.
Thank YOU Karen and Mimmo!!! Long Live!!!