"Bringing your personal relationship into a professional life together is not easy, but in a place of charm like Watamu everything becomes easier."
This is the common thought of Federico and Viola, comrades in life and souls of "Kobe Suite Resort".
Federico Bertoni, who will be thirty years old, grew up in Kenya.
His kindergarten was a tourist village, the home garden of the savannah.
Both Mum Paola and Dad Guido have been working for a long time in tourism and baptism with Africa takes place at three months.
Since then his happy childhood is an excursion between Malindi's Tropical Village where his mother worked with the tour operator Francorosso, and Watamu's Temple Point where his father was director.
An Italian Kenyan (except for a brief Moroccan experience from 6 to 8 years), who successfully attends schools in Nairobi and for holidays, enjoys the Swahili Coast, where parents continue to be engaged in tourism.
After completing studies in the capital, Frederick decides to undertake a University Hotel Management course in England, Manchester.
"It was the right choice, the one I'm most proud of - the young manager tells me - to go on studying and take specialization in England has directed my life to a professional career that does not stop to stimulate me."
Manchester Federico is having fun and at the end of the studies it will be able to stop and work, but Africa's appeal is too strong.
"Climate and the sea, a fundamental element of my life," admits the director of Kobe - and that sense of single freedom convinced me. "
Returning to Kenya six years ago, she decided to try out Watamu's "Come Back" restaurant next year, arriving in the "family" Garoda Resort Village with her job as manager of food and beverage.
And here the Equatorial Cupid encloses the arrow coming straight from the wonderful sky of Africa.
For Garaga there is Viola Paganessi, young and dynamic animator at his first season in Kenya after several work experiences in Italian villages, but also as cook, maid and barlady assistant.
Today Federico and Viola are a solar couple with the same professional ambitions and the desire to grow together with Watamu.
"My choice of living in Kenya was undoubtedly conditioned by the encounter with Frederick," says Viola, Bergamasco of Clusone, "but at the same time I have come up with the proposal of professional growth that I could not remain indifferent, the management of Kobe , Right with Frederick. As a teenager I had a recurring dream, one of those dreams that you seem so impossible to accomplish: you can open a small beach bar on the beach. "
From a restaurant bar overlooking the beautiful Garoda Bay, Kobe becomes an elegant resort suite and the two youngsters are also involved in the management of the small hotel facility
And here they share the tasks and share the passion and love for this place and for Kenya.
For Federico, love for Africa was almost overwhelmed, transmitted by the umbilical cord of his mother.
"The Kenyan coast has something special, unique - it's your thoughts - it's a set of factors that create a state of body and soul well-being that makes you feel an integral part of the place. You have to understand locals, respect them, and deepen their knowledge, without any superficiality or presumption. "
That is how Frederick is also doing a little bit like a master at Viola. In addition to introducing it to the work they would face together, the flat counts of that gentle sensation that, to simplify, they call "bad of Africa".
"Thanks to him I understand the magic of this place and that we should never give up for granted," Viola admits. "Here you have to put in the conditions to always learn something and to make you surprise in good and bad from what surrounds you."
Federico takes her a little bit around, revealing: "It was a bit terrified by the change in work, how a genetic mutation would have to happen in her: from the animator cells to the cells of the subtle hospitality. But thanks to his intelligence, stubbornness and perseverance has become a great hostess. "
Today Viola is the face, the smile, the landmark of Kobe Suite Resort.
His work is largely in contact with the public, and only in small part behind the office scenes.
"Customers need to be pampered, listened to - she says - I'm here on holiday and deserve the utmost."
Kobe is made "tailor-made" for those who want to enjoy these cuddles and come in tune with the passion and professional credo of the two boyfriends, to whom hospitality and hospitality is the natural strength of Kobe. Empathic and altruistic boys who like to be in the midst of people, work for tourists and be able to satisfy them.
For this reason, they're always looking for news to be offered to affectionate customers.
"This year we enriched the menu with new creations and studied the presentation of the dishes - I am very proud of the black crostini with avocado cream and shrimp and carpaccio of smoked sausage fish served with pineapple, basil leaves And a pickling of lime and ginger.
"I'm very perfectionist, maybe too much," Viola admits. "I always want to be present everywhere in the kitchen, among the tables at the reception ... in short, maybe exaggerating, but I'm done so. I'm impulsive, sometimes I went in and here my equilibrator, Federico. He is certainly wiser and more diplomatic than me. Even with the staff I am very strict, I'm very much looking for staff but I can laugh and joke when it's time. At first, it was not easy to imagine, being a woman and younger than many of them, but now she has created a good team and I am happy and satisfied with my kids. "
Federico nods and proudly looks at his "student" to tell.
"He has always approached with humility, he never hesitated to ask me anything, this made him irreplaceable in this role - confirms the" master "- if I had to find a fault, she is a woman who never sees a nice circle Closed, but only straight lines: when you head one thing you have to reach it at any cost, with inflexible stubbornness. "
To understand and understand this place, with this passion and beautiful maturity, the Kobe Suite Resort and Watamu have their added value!