full circle

It's Sunday.  Everything is closed.  We can't get gas because we have gas coupons and we can only use them when the full service people are working the pumps - not on Sunday.  Markets, shops, and restaurants are all closed - save for just a couple.  Italians seem to really protect their vacation and family time.   It's great.  I actually remember this kind of schedule from when I was young growing up in the midwest.  Sunday was reserved for Church and family.

One big difference here - shops close in the afternoon for a break.  I remember that the first time I went to Barcelona (more than 10 years ago) it was the same thing - I tried to go shopping on my lunch break, but everything was shut.  When we returned to Barcelona a few years ago, it had all changed, everything seemed to be open all throughout the day.

I was at the market buying groceries on Friday - Smalls had just woken up from a nap, and we headed out around lunch time...  I had just managed to secure a couple of veggies and was contemplating another bottle of Morellino, when I hear the cashier trying to get my attention.

I didn't catch everything she said, but I did hear "chiusa" quite clearly.  Closing.  And it was 2 in the afternoon.  I haven't quite figured out when they open back up, or more importantly, what the heck these people do for hours in the afternoon...  When I figure it out, I will let you know.

The major has been doing some more cooking - our choices for going out around town here in Castel Volturno are pretty much pizza, pizza, or pizza.  Typical food of the region.  Contrary to my habits in college, I find now that one can only eat so much pizza...  We stayed in, and enjoyed fried baby octopus and pasta with shrimp and rocket.

Here we are, living essentially right down the road from where the Major's grandfather was born and raised.  It's not lost on me that he is now using techniques in the kitchen passed down from generations past...  These ingredients are familiar to him... the smells, and the tastes sweetened by the knowledge that Grandpa is somehow involved in each meal.

Yesterday, Saturday, was an incredibly beautiful day.  It cooled off a bit.  So we enjoyed the pool for a while.

And Smalls enjoyed my fast fruit popsicles.  She finally is popping a tooth, and the icy treats appear to be rather soothing.

In the afternoon when it really warmed up we decided to take a field trip to Ikea, to gather ideas for our hopefully upcoming move.  Although their furniture is not built to withstand a lot of moving around, we have had several pieces that have lasted for quite a while - and I like seeing their innovative ideas.  Plus, they actually have pretty cool baby stuff.  We buy Smalls a tiny stuffed animal with the biggest tags you have ever seen.

Next stop, to find a supermarket and some dinner ingredients.  We pass a store a couple of times called Auchan.  It looks gigantic.  After a search on the GPS, we see it listed as a supermarket.  Ok, let's do it.

When we step inside, we realize that, heck yeah Toto - we ain't in Kansas anymore.

Let's be clear.  It's like no other supermarket I have ever seen.  Ever.

I mean, I am generally a fan of Starbucks, but wouldn't you rather have your coffee here?

In a cup like this?

And perhaps catch a few minutes of the soccer game while you enjoy a gelato here?

It's really a mall with a giant supermarket inside...  It takes us a bit of walking to get the cart (with Smalls) inside the grocery store.   But once we do - well...  It's like a disneyland for foodies...  Some of the craziest stuff we have seen yet - definitely some food curiosities - like this ginormous log of mortadella...  Whoa.

We contemplate buying a bit of horse for dinner...

(Not really).  But if you are considering it, scroll in and you can see parts of the horse for sale...

We wander past the fish selection

We end up in the veggie aisle.  Such beautiful tomatos!

And if you have a recipe that calls for a medley of eggplant, we know where to go...

Will have to try the white eggplant on our next visit...

After securing one of my favorites, mozzarella di bufala,

AND a new treat recommended by our friend T, ricotta di bufala, (both made in our local region of Campana)

we make a slow dash out of the store.

I am struck by the families strolling through the mall.  I don't see many single people (alone) at all.  NO ONE is on their phone.  People are conversing with real live people, connecting, playing around with Smalls, watching the soccer game, enjoying coffee at the bar, eating ice cream...  Old couples meander along, preciously sharing the load of a bag between them.

We return from Auchan to the aromas of fried fish, tomatos and basil trapped in the house from yesterday's dinner.  I am struck by the smell of the house at this moment - it reminds me of the Major's grandfather's house in California.  When I tell him that I think so, he responds that he has been thinking about this for a few days...  "How crazy that my grandfather's house used to smell like Italy."  There is a pause as we consider the irony.  And here we are, full circle.