Manager of Service Operations PJ Bimonte’s Trip of a Lifetime was more than a vacation. To celebrate his 10-year Arthrex anniversary, PJ decided to take his girlfriend, Sara, and son, Daniel, to Italy for a journey into the Bimonte heritage.
They began their trip in Rome for sightseeing and visiting historical monuments. Being Daniel’s first time in Europe, PJ made sure they filled their time in Rome with classic views and traditional food.
The trio enjoyed everything from dinner in the Piazza Navona to testing out the Bocca della Verità, a marble mask that, according to medieval legend, will bite off the hand of a liar who places a hand in its mouth.
For the latter half of their trip, a high-speed rail took them toward a piece of PJ’s family history.
After a quick stop in Pompeii, they found themselves at the top of the Amalfi Coast in Sorrento.
Beyond just stunning views, Sorrento offers authentic cuisine, fresh citrus and fine jewelry.
Bimonte Sorrento, a centuries-old, family-owned cameo and coral jewelry workshop, was the highlight of PJ’s trip.
At Bimonte Sorrento, PJ purchased a beautiful necklace and a bracelet featuring the Siren of Sorrento and skulls. The skulls are a representation of the concept of memento mori, a Latin phrase that literally translates to “remember you must die” and serves as a personal reminder for us to be mindful and present in any given moment. In the shop, he also met potential family members, including Christian and his son, Mateo.
Christian, the current owner of Bimonte Sorrento, explained how all the Bimontes of Italy are related and therefore PJ’s lineage must be connected in some way. It makes sense given that PJ has tracked his ancestry to a group of Bimontes that emigrated from the Port of Naples, which services most of the Amalfi Coast.
“When we walked in, Christian was working with a customer and he stopped what he was doing, came right up to me, and he said, ‘I know who you are,' because he knew we were coming, having been connected on social media for years,” said PJ. “And then he looked at my son and said, ‘You look exactly like my son, Mateo.' I have never known where Daniel got his height. If you look at me in the photos, I’m much shorter, but I think now I know.”
The Bimonte family has operated the jewelry store for generations and holds the property rights to the Siren of Sorrento symbol, making PJ’s souvenir that much more special.
Along with familial connection, Sorrento had a lot to offer PJ and his fellow travelers. Christian recommended Meating, a small, friendly steakhouse and pizzeria.
“They had the best pizza, the best mussels. There was also a walnut lemon pesto pasta, but it was not on the menu,” said PJ. “The owner of Meating and Christian are good friends, so he wanted to make us something that was not on the menu. It was so good we went back there twice.”
PJ also enjoyed fresh lemon and olive products from a local farm, including limoncello, an Amalfi specialty.
PJ plans to visit Italy again soon, wanting to visit Castelvetere Sul Calore, Avellino. Giovanni de Beaumont, the first Bimonte to settle in Sorrento, left this commune in southern Italy to avoid a life of priesthood, and moved to the coast under a new surname.
PJ and Daniel hope that sifting through paperwork and catalogues in Castelvetere Sul Calore will help them determine where their close relatives are in the Beaumont and Bimonte family tree.
“I want to thank Arthrex for this opportunity to not only be able to take my son to Italy for the first time but also for the ability to potentially find the family that we have there,” said PJ. “Using my Years of Service benefit to help build a connection to my past is something that you won't find anywhere else, in any other organization.”
PJ would also like to encourage people to venture outside of the main tourist destinations in Italy.
“It is great to see Rome once, to visit everything you’ve seen in the history books, but it’s also nice to find a place you have a connection to,” said PJ. “Sorrento is a good place to start. It is gorgeous. It is one of the friendliest, cleanest and nicest cities I've ever visited. The food is delicious. The area’s history is amazing, and the hospitality can't be beaten.”
For every five years of employment with Arthrex, employees are eligible for a company-paid Trip of a Lifetime to recognize their dedication. Look for more Trip of a Lifetime highlights on the Arthrex Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn pages.