From the Sea to the Center- Genova, Modena, Florence, Prato

I am going to start by skipping a couple of days partly because I don’t remember what happened and also because I think the weekend was probably more exciting.  On Thursday the 29th of October I headed to Genova with Simona and Mattia.  We went to stay with her parents for the weekend in the famous port city.  Friday I went down to the Dinghy Club by the sea with Mattia and his grandfather.

 Rocks on the Beach, Big Rock in the water where I sat, Sunset and birds, Not sure but it's pretty

Mattia and I played on the beach and tried to find all the little pieces of glass.  The beach is composed of what in the States is considered ‘River Rock’, the smooth tumbled stones and in this case marble and glass too.  Later that day I went for a walk by the sea and took some pictures.  On my way back I sat on a giant group of rocks in the water and watched the sunset for a little bit but it was getting chilly and I wasn’t dressed like everyone else (in a heavy coat and hat because it wasn’t nearly that cold) so I headed back to the house.

 Ski slope, Bikes, Me trying to ski

Saturday I went with Simona and another ski instructor to a Ski Expo in Modena.  It seemed like everyone in the region was there and the traffic was a little complicated so we got turned around.  It was quite worth it once we got inside though.  There were 4 sections.  The largest was for skiing, then there was a shopping section (didn’t go in that one), and outdoor section for biking, skateboarding, snowboarding, skiing, and lots of loud music, and then the snowboarding section inside which also comprised of lots of loud music and some skating.  It was fun to go from the more ‘refined’ skiing section where the music was a little calmer and people were dressed rather well to the snowboarding section with the loud music, crazy hair, probably people who hadn’t bathed in days… def. a party area.  While we were in there we went around and visited with a bunch of people Simona knew so that was fun and then I went skiing which was hilariously embarrassing.  Great day.

 House of Christopher Columbus, Narrow streets, View from the harbor.

Sunday Simona showed me the city center of Genova which was great.  It was a holiday and a Sunday so everything was closed.  The streets are narrow and the buildings are tall--- I think it is probably more friendly when the shops are open but I still wouldn’t travel around at night by myself.  Some parts aren’t very safe but the city is beautiful.  We went out on one of the docks and could see the main section of the city from the harbor view.  After dinner and we headed back home.  I just realized that i didn’t mention anything about food which is very unlike me.  Well it was good-- tortellini in broth, fish cooked with carrots and potatoes, pesto (perfect since it is from Genova), plenty of focaccia which is also from Genova.  And then there was the learning of a new word: ‘Belin’  a word that can be used with everything- good and bad, used in pauses or just added in the sentence.  It’s used by everyone… well almost.  The older ladies tend to refrain from saying it.  Oh and it’s literal translation: penis. 

The fall colors, Dandelion, Cat in a tree in the garden, Pear tree on my walk, Down the street, The goose that yelled at me while I tried to see the goats.

Monday I spent the day with Mattia and we had a wonderful time playing, drawing and ‘pretending’ to sleep.  Tuesday I went to Cuneo with Simona and we shopped in the market a little.  I even tried on some clothes which i never thought I would do- the dressing room was in the back of a van.  And I got two dresses on sale!!  Mom should be proud.  Wednesday I made lasagna and it was pretty good.  I was told it was better than Lala’s which I figure is a pretty big deal since she is the one who loves to cook around here.  Obviously no one will mention this to Lala.

 Jane Fortune speaking about her book Invisible Women, The Duomo, DaVinci museum invention, DaVinci journal page and sketches

Friday Florence.  I headed to Florence and it only took about 6 hours… The trip was fine  and one of my friends met me at the train station so that was nice.  There was a speaker that I wanted to see at the Uffizi Library.  Jane Fontana is the author of Invisible Women a book she wrote after doing research in Florence about the female artists that we never see.  There are so many and it is her quest to restore the works of art and make them seen.  I bought a copy of the book of course and will read it soon.  If you would like to read more about her or the book visit The Florentine.  I stopped in the a favorite restaurant of mine and they gave me and Rit. a coffee then we went to dinner and of course had some gelato.  Saturday was nice at first and great during lunch at Il Porcospino.  Then it rained.  We took a vespa out to Gigli a mall type of place just outside Florence-- nice place but I didn’t feel well so I went to bed early.  Sunday was nice with pizza and then watched a soccer game and a movie.  The theater was awesome.  Each room holds about 500 people and they give you a seat number so you are sure to get one… you can request a general area so that’s nice too.  We watched Public Enemies with Johnny Depp.  I understood most of it- not word for word but basically everything.  I was really tired too so I fell asleep for a few min.  (SPOILER maybe) The last line was in English and was kind of the punch line.  I totally understood the reference.. it seemed like everyone else was confused -- I could overhear their conversations when I was leaving the theatre.  It was in Italian, I took a nap and I still knew what was going on.  It was kind of funny.  I had to explain that it had to do with a song earlier in the movie to the two people I was with. 

 Rit & Me in the San Lorenzo Market, River Rat eating, Pizza w/Hot Dog on top (at the movie), Picnic in the park

Anyway, Monday was beautiful and I had a picnic in the park then Rit took me to Prato b/c he lives there and we walked around the center for a few min., I got to see the chinese area.  It’s so strange.  The addresses are in Italian but everything is in Chinese and I am sure I stood out even with a helmet on on a scooter.  Then we went out to where he works and visited the horses!  Lots of horses!!  Everywhere I wanted to go that night was closed so finally for dinner we ended up with Kebabs and on sushi roll and some leftover wine from lunch.

Duomo in Prato, Cat on a scooter, Horses in the stable, Me and a horse

I left Tuesday morning for Genova.  Simona picked me up at the train station to drive back home.  It was faster and since she had a meeting it worked out really well.  I don’t have many photos from Florence b/c, well, it rained.  Also I used my film camera so those are still a mystery.  You will have to deal with the ones I took with my little camera.  I’m back home now and there is snow all over the mountains… the lifts at the ski resort are opening early so there is a lot going on around here.  I should go so you all don’t hate me for the length of this post. A presto!