Exploration

Five weeks into my time in Italy, I finally took a break. Not that the work has been that hard, but it’s still nice to have some time to sight see and just relax as I see fit. I planned my trip well and was nearby many exciting places – making it easy to see quite a bit in a short period of time.

I had the good fortune of being close by Torino and a neighbor, Tina, commuted there via car and train daily – I went along to spend a day exploring this truly beautiful city – I had unfortunately planned a day when all of the exhibits and museums were closed and was unable to visit one of the grand palaces, but had a great day none-the-less. One of the girls from Il Cucchio was from Torino and she filled me in on some must see places. I visited the Mercado de Porta Palazzo - the largest outdoor market in Europe. It was mostly filled with peddlers pushing cheap clothing, luggage, handbags, house wares, shoes – you name it. In one large section, it was all food – mostly fruits and vegetables, but also cheeses, salamis, olives, mushrooms, and other Italian specialties. Another area contained organic and heirloom produce – beautifully misshapen and flawed. The area is home to a large immigrant population and I soon felt at home wandering amongst people from Asia, Africa and the Middle East – all speaking in Italian and their native tongues. The stores and restaurants surrounding the market also represented the diversity of the people – beautiful bakeries and coffee shops where I soaked up the culture and attempted to catch up on the news via an Italian newspaper. From there I wandered the streets, encountering piazza (square) after square – beautiful and grand; having a great lunch near the University and exploring the River Po.

With no good stopping points, I decided to catch an early train back to Asti where I was to meet Tina and take an hour to explore. Asti is a small town – I easily reached the town center within a 15 minute walk from the train station. As I had spent my day on foot, I decided to pass my time in a piazza watching a pick up soccer game of 7 kids ranging from about 6 to 12 years in age while enjoying a final gelato of the day.

The next day, I packed up and left for Genova – a gritty, port city that is ancient, beautiful and at times a bit unseemly. In my typical style, I planned for little and simply followed the flow of people leaving the train station – some had suggested the aquarium as a must see, but I know that my favorite city exploration happens in people watching, trying new foods and exploring neighborhoods off the typical tourist path. I encountered beautiful churches, fountains and the waterfront. I wandered a street (Via Girabaldi) that is lined with former palaces, many in various stages of restoration. I wandered small lanes full of immigrants, shops and restaurants catering to the many Asian and African people that populate the city. It was a side of Italy that I am just beginning to learn about – the more recent massive Asian influx that is taking place and the long standing emigration from Africa. Having recently been a recipient of the Italian health care system, I had learned that Italy grants free health benefits to all – regardless of status or residency – a huge incentive for immigration and a welcomed relief for those of us traveling from afar.

More to come . . .