Day 3: Gelato at the Piazza

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It was back to sunny skies today. I was up bright and early, feeling like my internal clock has been set to Italy time (7 hours ahead of Nebraska). I started this morning by sneaking into the computer lab to send some emails and post my journal entries to my travel blog. Then it was back to Familia in Forte for more groceries and gadgets. But this time I had more of a plan. Still not a great plan, but now I have a few more things to eat besides PB&J and corn flakes. And I have a pathetic, battery-operated alarm clock. But it was only €5. So I can’t complain too much.

The one story-worthy event of the day occurred when I headed back to campus. I was under the impression that students were supposed to start arriving today and they needed faculty to help. But when I got there, no one was around. So I decided to walk around campus. As I was walking past the piazza, a car pulled up and two Italiano boys hopped out. They invited me to join them for a caffè (coffee). Along with the woman working there, we were the only four souls out and about during the “afternoon break.” I decided to forego the caffè and, instead, had a gelato fragole (the Italian version of strawberry ice cream). Yum!

I learned some more Italian during that excursion. One of them knew quite a bit of English, so we were able to muddle through a conversation. Of course, it was more like a conversation between pre-schoolers. But it was enjoyable nonetheless. They taught me the days of the week and to count past 12. I did get to use some of my limited Rosetta Stone vocabulary. They asked me if I was a student and I said, “No. Io sono insegnante” (I’m a teacher). They invited me to go to out and about this evening… something about a discoteca in Venice. Ummm, no. That just has Bad Idea written all over it for more reasons than I can count… especially in Italian!

The rest of the day I spent engaged in my new favorite pastime: roaming around the countryside. This time, with my camera. I went up Monte Grappa Road (one of many with that name in this region). And I also attempted to find the shopping area in Castelcucco that the boys told me about. (I’m still in pursuit of that elusive Italian-English dictionary.) But I had to cut my roaming short. As mio padre would say, “E stands for empty, not extra.” And because I cannot figure out how to use the pay-at-the pump deals at the local Shell station (where gasoline is €1,28/liter!!), I am going to have to stick close to home until I can get step-by-step directions in English. I hope that will be tomorrow sometime.

Ciao!

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Photos

Monte Grappa Road
About halfway up Monte Grappa Road, there is a wide clearing where you can see into a valley below. These farmhouses offer the perfect view.

Further Up the Road
Driving further up Monte Grappa, the scenery gets lusher and lusher. Not only did this stop offer a gorgeous view, the air smelled intensely of lilacs.

Vineyard in Monfumo
On my way to Castelcucco, I took a "wrong" turn and found this beautiful vista. Someday these grapes will grow up to be vino!

Comments

[Jordan]

wow!
Those are beautiful photos... keep 'em coming!