Northern Italian Life: post covid

 And....I'm back.  My last posting was made in 2022, covid had destroyed most of my motivation.  It was such a mess, creating shutdowns, lockdowns, and economic turmoil . I still wash my hands much harder and longer than before covid.  I stayed in the house as asthma and old age were factors in surviving.  Tom Seaver, Larry King, Gaylord Perry, Trini Lopez and Charley Pride, all famous people who were victims known by old guys like me.

Jumping ahead in time:  We moved to a suburb of Padova, Abano Terme, famous for thermal water used by a great number of hotels here.  We have old Roman ruins of thermal pools.  The Romans were like us, loved to travel and enjoy new things.  They would pack up and leave for over a year to travel.  This was a stopping point for them.  The many unactive volcanos I can see from my window provide the heat for the water.  They also have provided the soil that makes wine making superb here.  Did you know that Italy makes more vino than any other country?  Wine is reasonably priced here, a respectable bottle would start at just over 10 euros.  You can find table wines for 5 euros in Italy.  Notable wines from my area, start at 15 euros and up.  I don't usually buy wine from the supermarket as I can drive up in the hills and bring home some great wine from a wine maker or from an enoteca that sells only exceptional wines. 

Right now a euro is worth 1.16 dollars.  I bet you can guess the one reason the euro has risen in value within the past year.  1.04 dollars was seen in the past.  The present situation in Washington  is not helping my USA bank withdrawls at the bancomat machine.  I am allowed  to withdraw $350 a day, do the math.   There is also a fee for exchanging currency.  On the other end, Americans purchasing European products pay more now for them because of the exchange rate.  

Over the summer we spent 3 weeks in Spain and Portugal.  Madrid had a nice piano music store, the Prado art museum,  great food and a chance to go over to Toledo a historical city where you can really feel history.  Towers on the big wall surrounding Toledo, a street where sword makers  forge beautiful swords and knives, and a huge cathedral attract tourists.  Back in 1973 I was given a special tour of the catacombs of this church and the display of gold from South America was astounding.  On the ground floor there is a massive pipe organ and a beautiful light source above, which was created to lend more light to the church.    

The photo of this light source seems to be one step away from heaven, and the art surounding it makes it feel even more majestic.

  

We drove west to the coast and my wife began walking the Camino di Santiago, which is an ancient pilgrim trail.  Nowadays people from all over the world walking  this historical path.  While my wife walked I  painted in watercolors along the route.  Here is one I finished of one of her new friends going up a path through a village.  She walked with a group and at the end of each day a bus came to transport everyone to a hotel.  The last two days we stayed in a Monastery, in a room once used by a Monk.  A monk haircut is optional.  During the year this place does a whopping business, very crowded, and is complete with a  souvenir stand, snack foods, carpeted hallways, dinner and breakfast provided.

We finished the walk and went to see the point most further west of all Europe.  People enjoyed the beach, but there were few swimmers.  It was a beautiful setting for painting.  Even better was the local restaurants, specialising in fish.  

Driving further south to Porto, Portugal we stayed on a farm and drove around to small fishing villages where I could find scenes to paint. My wife worked on her knitting  a sweater.  I had been to Porto back in 1973 and camped on the beach.  I saw families of people, always dressed in black, pushing and pulling very large fishing boats from the water.  It took at least 8 to move them slowly.  This is one of those scenes in my mind that I can recall vividly.  I have such a respect for people who work so hard in their life.  I wanted to see if these people were still doing the same, but no, history moved on.  That afternoon we saw these same boats, now beautifully painted in a small harbor.  We ate the fish they brought from the Atlantic every evening that we were in Porto.  

They eat well in Porto.  In 1973 I did not eat this well, salami, cheese and bread was my existence.  

So many years ago I stumbled onto this huge building in the enchanting city of Porto where the fishermen brought their catch.  Being a desert rat from New Mexico I had never seen, nor smelled, this huge amount of all types of fish.  We went back to this emporium to see how it had changed.  I would estimate 1/2 of the sellers are not there anymore, and  the smell is absent.  The city had taken pride in making this place totally clean and polished.  Portugal had been ruled by a fascist dictator, now removed.  Outside one saw huge cranes for shiploading, the beach is not there anymore.  Progress moves on.  

Here is the photo of this giant fish emporium.  Imagine a person who had never seen many kinds of fish other than trout, walking in to see these fish sellers.  That was astounding.  I have had a life time of wonderful experiences like this.  I have been so lucky to have the chance to see the world.  46 countries.  There have been so many people, friends, scenes, foods and places of history.  lf you have not been to Europe I encourage you to make a plan.  Watch a Rick Steve's video, or Anthony Bourdain series and pack your bags.  

More blog coming soon.  I hope to improve the look of the blog, google has changed the designs and I have to learn all over how to manipulate things.   Today I have spent about 3 hours so far.  At my age I have time to learn and stay busy.  I wish you a happy day.

Ciao!