Maria Cristina Notarangelo won €445,000 on Wednesday evening's edition of Piccobello, an RTL game show. Her sister, Manuela Mendes, also had a chance to spin the wheel many years ago, back when Felix Eischen was the host.
The prize on that occasion was one million Luxembourgish francs, equivalent to roughly €25,000. That was in 1998. Mendes looks back fondly on the moment. She still remembers the 'Späizmännercher', the show's mascots, very well. At the time, she used the money to buy a flat.
It had not covered the whole cost, of course, she told Pierre Weimerskirch, recalling her win from nearly 30 years ago, but it had made for a good start. Nothing is left of the million francs today, sadly, but the flat is still there.
Every time she picked up a 'Piccobello' ticket afterwards, she would think back to her 1998 win. Those, she said, were very happy memories, which is also why she had always been glad to hand a ticket to someone else, as she had done for her sister at Christmas. She had, of course, had no idea what the outcome might be.
Her sister Maria Cristina spun the wheel with host Raoul Roos and eventually hit the jackpot, walking away with €445,000. She was still finding it hard to take in, she told Pierre Weimerskirch after the broadcast.
Travelling and bringing joy to family and friends were among the things Cristina already had in mind for the money. In two years' time, she plans to head back to work, and intends to carry on regardless of the winnings. As for travel, she is content to keep her trips within Europe. No world tour, she said. That was not for her.
The number 13 has always been a lucky one for Maria Cristina Notarangelo. She was born on the 13th, she explained, though the moment came just before midnight, so her date of birth was in the end recorded as the 14th rather than the 13th. She was also married on the 13th. That, in her view, is why the number 13 is a lucky one for her.
