Exact translation: Because I Can!!
As I said in my previous post, I had both Wednesday (Mercoledi) e Thursday (Giovedi) off from rehearsals so I decided to go on an adventure (big surprise there, right?) Also, as I mentioned in my last post, the plan for Wednesday (as discussed with Fabri) was for my to take il tren a Savigliano (affectionately known as "Savi Beach") then meet Fabrizio when he got off doctor duty at 15:00. And, having no cell phone, I would call him from a pay phone (there are many in Italia) when I got to Savigliano. No problem right? Now, let me preface the next couple entries with the fact that my command of the Italian language leaves ALOT to be desired. It is pretty limited to to the basics and for some reason I totally freeze up when someone ACTUALLY tries to speak to me in Italian. Also, not many Italians speak a whole lot of English. This includes the train conductors. My method of succesful solo travel in Italy is to wear a cute shirt, smile, say "non parlo italiano", e point to your chest and say your desired destination. WIth that method, I took a bus and a train and wound up in Savigliano. RESULT!!! So here's the rundown:
----> SWEET!!
1) After arriving in Savi Beach (at noon), I called Fabrizio (after figuring out how to work the pay phone) and found out that he would not get off work until 5pm. E non problema. As my shirt read, "Only boring people get bored" and I had both my point/shoot camera AND my Canon Rebel XTI. So I did the only logical thing--> followed the historical site signs and took lots of pictures.
<--- The "BEACH" at Savi Beach
2) Savigliano is a medium-sized non-touristy Italian town. For the most part, I just walked around and took pics of the historic buildings. True to form, random Italian men stopped to talk to me (Non parlo Italiano!!!!) and tell me about the things I was taking pictures of. Savigliano actually as an Arch di Triumph (erected in honour of the marriage of Charles Emmanuel the I and Infanta Catharine of Austrian Spain) and lots of really beautiful medieval buildings and squares. Savi Beach actually does NOT have a beach (as it is in landlocked Northern Italian mountains) but I DID manage to find a river. I figured that was something. I walked across a bridge to take pics of the river and came upon a really old chiesa (there are, strangely enough, ALOT of those in Italia), which turned out to be Monasterolo di Savigliano. Not entirely sure if I was SUPPOSED to walk in and take pics, but the door was slightly ajar and, as my father always said, "Tis better to beg forgiveness than to ask permission!" (Mi scusi! Mi Dispiace!!) I also kept that motto when I lit the little prayer candle at the altar. Absolutely BELLISIMO interior of the chiesa. I LOVE the chiesas d'Italia. The frescas are gorgeous and often appear 3-D. After the monastery, I wandered around the town a little bit more, (following the signs for the Olympic track and field stadium which I never found!) and eventually called Fabri. With minor confusion we managed to meet up in Piazza San Andrea.
<---Arch di Triumph
<---Piazza della Popolo
<---Piazza San Andrea
<---All Monasterolo di Savigliano. Far right pic: the big candle is to save my tarnished soul!!
3) We had aperitivo at Caffe Roma just off of Piazza della Popolo (Plaza of the People, REPRESENT BITCHEZ!) and decided that our next step would be to go to Pollenza (in between Bra and Alba) to a little restaurant for pizza. Pollenza is a TINY Italian town that is home to the Italian University of Taste and some really kickass Roman ruins. The restaurant was AWESOME. We had several orders of foccacia- no question the BEST foccacia I've ever had. Then I had an authentic Italian pizza with zucchini, eggplant, roasted red peppers, and onions on it. American pizza just cannot compare. Apparently it is rude and infeasible in Italia to ask for una sacchetto di cane (doggy bag) so I HAD to eat the WHOLE pizza (pizza Italiano is the size of a small U.S. pizza if that and very thin crusted and light and tasty.) Then Fabri and I discovered that the restaurant had prosecco (Italian champagne) ON TAP. I have NEVER heard of champagne on tap. So of course, we had to have some of THAT too. I mean seriously, if you can get it on tap, can you get it in a keg? Picture champagne keg stands. OMG. How awesome would THAT be? For dessert we split a pancetta (essentially whipped cream, SO good) and each had a capucino in cute little painted cups.
<---Best Foccacia EVER
<---University of Taste
4) After gorging ourselves, we got back in Fabri's car and drove the remaining 20 km back to Alba. Fabri told me all about different facets of Italiano culture and it was really interesting. The Italian moda di vida (that's probably not the right expression) pretty much involves assuming that everything will work itself out. Not making detailed plans. For example, assuming that even though you don't speak much of the native language you will be able to traverse the local transportation system. Another example, for aperitivo (Italian happy hour) you kind of just show up at a local establishment, assume you will see who you want to see and if you don't, you meet someone else so its all good (actually that's a LITTLE like the mentality of the Green Door now that I think about it.) I think I like this way of thought. That was today's Italian culture lesson. Stay tuned for more, the anthropological geek in me is thriving here.
5) When we got back to Alba I was SO food comatose I could not even fathom trying to meet up with the music crew out for drinks. So I came home and crashed for all practical purposes (ok I came home and chilled until I fell asleep at 2am).
Ciao bella!
~Dieci
----> SWEET!!
1) After arriving in Savi Beach (at noon), I called Fabrizio (after figuring out how to work the pay phone) and found out that he would not get off work until 5pm. E non problema. As my shirt read, "Only boring people get bored" and I had both my point/shoot camera AND my Canon Rebel XTI. So I did the only logical thing--> followed the historical site signs and took lots of pictures.
<--- The "BEACH" at Savi Beach
<---Arch di Triumph
<---Piazza della Popolo 
<---Piazza San Andrea
<---All Monasterolo di Savigliano. Far right pic: the big candle is to save my tarnished soul!!
<---Best Foccacia EVER 
<---University of Taste
1 comment:
The photo of foccacia looks sooo good. More so because I am hungry. It's lunch time. I got your post card two days ago. Thanks!
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