The only thing stranger than receiving company while traveling abroad is sending them off while you remain. After our whirlwind week together with the extended family, we are exhausted. Everyone (except me) sleeps late. We start the day slowly, sharing coffee and pastries. And we reluctantly say our goodbyes. The siblings are headed to Milan to spend the night near the airport to be ready for a very early departure. In a weird way I want to leave with them, but I am glad to stay here in my little house for the few more days we have left in Italy. I always feel the separation from family deeply. I think it is just a symptom of feeling so good when we are together.
It is raining heavily and by the time the family leaves it is later in the day. My husband and I decide to just piddle…you may recall that I use this word when I want to wander aimlessly. We start on the “pedestrian only” streets of Arona, aka the shopping district. I don’t want to buy anything…just to go window shopping.
As the rain picks up, we find a pastry shop. Cappuccino and a cannoli can do wonders for my mood. We meet a lovely American couple who are vacationing in Arona. It is nice to chat with fellow Midwestern residents. Midwest “nice” is always a welcome encounter.
It is funny that we also find the exact shoes that we have walked across Milan to find for my brother. We also find a shop selling pipes next door. Both siblings could have found their wish list purchases not twenty steps from where we ate dinner (not once but two times!) I guess we should have walked down that street earlier. It could have saved us a few miles in the rain.
Eventually, we head to the suburban area of Dormeletto. The road is lined with all sorts of Italian stores. It is fun to just wander around the shops and see how the Italians live. Families out for a Saturday afternoon file in and out of a variety store where you can buy everything from pet food to pizza cutters. Next door a designer outlet sells sweaters that cost more than some of our furniture. We are not sure how people afford to dress if those are the discount outlet prices. In a more reasonably priced row of stores, my husband gives in and buys the fancy Italian sneakers he has been eyeing the entire trip. I have no more room in my suitcase for purchases sadly, I just browse..
Italians have a weird fascination with the American West. We had someone tell us earlier in the trip that they thought America was full of cowboys. There are Western connections all over Italy. Maybe it is love from the days when “spaghetti westerns were filmed in the Italian countryside. There are several “American-style” steakhouses near us. All with western themes. This day, we try The Old Wild West Steakhouse. I have a surprisingly good smash burger, and have fun looking at their “old west” decor. We even have to exit and enter through a covered wagon.
On the way home we stop in Meina to have a look around in the rain. We try to visit the local museum. Nothing is open, so after a short walk we called it quits.
The day ends with a whimper. The rain and the busy week finally caught up with us. We head home where I curl up with a book, and a hot cup of tea. Eventually we settle on the couch for a James Bond marathon. Sometimes you just need a day to regroup.
