03/07/10
I go to the train station and buy a return to Mondovì. It changes at Fossano and doesn’t take to long. The first train is a double decker with air con and I sit upstairs and video the journey through the pretty countryside and agriculture to Fossano. At Fossano I take some passport photos in the booth as it’s only €3. My hair is loosely ties back and shows an odd bumpy silhouette in the photo. My bare shoulders look huge and wide and dominate the frame.
The train to Mondovì is not air conditioned and is sweltering. The little fan from Budapest gives little respite. Off the train and into Mondovì I have no map so just guess left and take the meandering road. I find a bazaar and browse the cheap plasticky poorly cut garments and nearly by some turquoise Burberry-esue open toed wedges for €5 but decide they’re not worth the luggage weight for the novelty.
Next is a grocers and there is a selection of local produce goodies from Alba. I buy some olive oil and black olive paste that will make excellent snacks with Matt. I also buy a bottle of vino rosso as a meagre offering to tonight’s party.
When I pay I see some little rubber watches that I have seen on sale internationally and ask for a black one in pidgin Italian and wonder if there is a function to change the time on such a simple piece of technology.
I take a road which curves round with an awesome view over the town with a backdrop of misty mountains and the viaduct. I take some video but start to think that this road is maybe not for pedestrians and trace back to the junction and take the steep road down to the town.
I find the main shopping street and wander along hoping to find some nice leather sandals that are not €60 even alle saldo but fail. I do find the cathedral though and it’s beautiful.
It hits 4pm and I think the sun is not too hot to sit in and find a bar with a veranda and order vino bianco frizzante. I presume the locals must think I am mad to choose the unshaded part of the veranda and maybe they are right as it is still very warm and the sun brings out my mosquito bites nicely.
Back to the train station and home to Cuneo via Fossano. There is a delay of 25 minutes of my connecting train so I pop into the train bar which is awesome. I can have prosecco normale for €1 a glass or the posh stuff for €2. Pushing the boat out, I go for the posh stuff and find a seat which is in the smoking and football room. I can’t see who’s playing or understand the commentary but the décor is more interesting anyway.
