Thursday, July 3
It was difficult getting up Thursday morning after our wonderful evening at Diana’s place the night before. I wanted coffee, but also wanted more sleep. Sleep won. I would get coffee when I got to Alessandria.
I walked to the train station for my visit to Alessandria. When I arrived, Diana was just driving up and dropping off her friend Birgit. We rode to Alessandria together. It was great having Birgit with me. She is a “power shopper” and has already visited Alessandria once before.
Alessandria is a big city. I really had no idea where to go/what to see. Birgit gave me the quick tour of the shopping district and showed me the other interesting areas on my map. The sales have just begun here and she was planning for a day of shopping. I was up for a little shopping but also wanted to get to know the city a little bit.
When we arrived, we walked through the huge outdoor market. She pointed out a few stands along the way. After walking through the market, we turned left and walked through the smaller food market and then wandered around the city, hitting the stores.
I only lasted a few stores with Birgit before coffee won out. She continued shopping and I went in search of my morning caffè macchiato. After my caffè and brioche, I stopped at a huge fruit and vegetable store and bought a nectarine and some yellow plums. I stopped in a few more shops until everything closed up for the afternoon. I ran into Birgit again at Zara but then lost her when I was about to leave the store.
The one other place I wanted to visit while in Alessandria was the biblioteca (library).
I saw this wonderful picture of a room in this library with old books that I wanted to see. I found the library but was not allowed to take any photos inside. Besides the one room with the old books, the rest of the library was very modern. There was a video area with 4 TVs and headphones. CNN was on one TV, an Italian news station was on another TV, and there was a sign talking about watching DVDs on the equipment there. There also was an area with newspapers from around the world. The children’s area was closed while I was there.
I spent some time reading a couple of the newspapers and then headed back towards the market area. Most everything else was closed and the next train did not leave for 2 more hours. I stopped in a supermarket and bought a yogurt drink and then found a gelateria, which turned out to be so so.
By this time, the stores started to open up again. I wandered in a few more stored until it was time to catch my train. This would be my 9th train ride and not once yet has someone checked my ticket.
Here are photos of some of the pretty buildings in Alessandria.
*Before getting around to adding photos to this post, I have already done two other posts with photos of pretty buildings (so won’t repost those photos here):
When I arrived back in Acqui Terme, I went to the Jolly Blu and spent some time on the internet. I then met Jan at Gregario’s new wine bar. She was there with Elizabeth and her husband. It was getting close to dinner time and I was craving good pizza. Elizabeth recommended a place near her apartment.
I ordered a bufala pizza (bufala mozzarella, pomodoro sauce, basil) and asked to also have peperoni on my pizza (grilled peppers NOT the meat). My pizza was sooooo delicious! The crust was slightly burnt and so good. The sauce was perfect. The cheese was wonderful and the peppers were like the icing on the cake.
Next up – Friday ~ a visit to Nizza
shave ice & gelato 
You sound like you are having a fabulous time! I’m really enjoying reading about it. :)
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My mouth is watering from your description of the pizza! And I know what you mean about trying to shop, but not really getting into it. I need to have a list, be in the right mood and then really kick myself to get started. But once I get going, I can shop like mad. Then, I’ll stop again and not shop for ages.
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Hi Girasoli, I love that term “Power Shopper”. I’m sort of like Sandra, meaning I have to be in the mood to shop. I usually go in, get what I need and I’m out of there. But I have to say in Venice, I really enjoyed going into little shops and usually came out with something cool to take home. So I guess maybe for me it’s the “place” more than the activity . . . :)
Now, you’ve done it . . . your description of that delicious pizza has me craving for it! But nothing here will even come close to what you described you had for dinner . . . I miss Italy!
Happy belated 4th of July ! And thanks so much for stopping in and blogging on the road. I’m really getting my Itay fix with your posts. Take care!
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