Savona, Italy
The main arcade street in Savona
Arriving in Savona, Italy we walked along the arcade, visited beautiful churches, admired the towers, strolled narrow streets which took us to other little streets, went to my favorite shop, bought French Husband a coat, then stumbled upon Vino e Farinata and with that took Savona to an entire new level: We met Claudio.
The arcade is tiled with a colorful intricate mural.
Narrow streets with everyday banners waving in the sunlight.
Inside one of the many beautiful churches in Savona.
Painted ceiling in one of the churches.
Sculpted gilded and painted wood choir loft.
Savona's colorful facades.
In a bank's window there was the most extraordinary antique pottery. I have never thought to rob a bank, but the pottery in the windows gave me reason to contemplate the thought, especially this piece.
Vino e Farinata caught my eye: The sign, the unusual looking pizza coming out of the wood burning stove, the long line of non tourists, the feeling that this was the place to be for lunch, that Sophie Loren might have made a movie here. The tables were way in the back and the line waiting was daunting
We met Claudio standing in line. He is Italian not tall, nor dark but handsome and someone who could melt the coldest heart.
He told us in Italian, "This is the place to be, I come here a few times a week, I haven't seen you before. How did you find it?"
Claudio soon realised we did not speak Italian, except for food words and "Baci Qui". Which Claudio laughed, "That is good enough."
He spoke French, saving grace.
We were two for lunch, and Claudio was by himself. I invited him to join us and he did not decline. He was in love with Alice, who doesn't speak Italian, nor French… but that did not matter one single little bit. Charmer and Charm they were in their matching outfits.
Claudio had "the usual" he ate very little of it. The waiter took us into the kitchen and by the wood burner stove, told us to pick what we wanted. The best part of travelling is meeting people and sharing a meal, and if I am fortunate enough to be invited into the kitchen, well then bury me, cause life does not get any better than that. This is magnify beyond the limits of truth to illustrate a point of great joy.
The cook.
The real deal.
Pure delightful beauty: Apron, big stove, full swing of the pasta pots.
A stack of dishes as the prize.
A stack that size can only mean five golden stars.
One of the courses we had was stuffed sardines that were baked in the wood burner stove.
Roasted potatoes
Stuffed sardine
A garlic cod frittata
Vino e Farinata
and dessert.
Our waiter who took us into the kitchen.
Claudio's dessert.
Alice's viewpoint, lovely photo.
Alice's photo of the semifreddo we shared.
Desserts,
Claudio's creme caramel and our semifreddo.
Wood delivered to the restaurant, since cars cannot drive down this narrow street, hand cut from the forest.
The wood was stacked against the entrance wall, where the line once stood to have their turn to the feast.
Just too good to be true.
I love this kind of stuff.
Claudio took the placemat, and we wrote our addresses on it, he cracked up: "I won't lose this."
Folding friendship.
He put it in his pocket.
Forever Italy with love.
I hope our paths with Claudio cross again.
Savona isn't that faraway…
three hours.
Three hours away… from my home.
Vino e Farinata
Via Pia, 15r, 17100 Savona SV, Italie
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