a rest day planned today with an idea for a evening visit to rome
a wander to the bar for iced coffee and pastries and the heat is on
35 degrees plus of hot, dry and still heat - the sun is a scorcher
supplies are brought in and most of the day spent trying to chill
we get word of 2 lots of visitors so some bedding logistics to sort
the decision to get an airbed to double the number of beds in-house
a large shopping centre is googled on the eastern outskirts of tome
a 30 minute blast down the autostrade should get us there easily
an accurate timing as we cruise into the huge underground carpark
up a couple of flights of escalators and we spot the first shop - apple
we are suckered into the coolness of this huge mall and amble away
first stop is a large clothing store full of ok and cheap-ish fashions
it is bright and loud but with a faux marble floor is kind of classy
it's been a long time since we have been in this kind of environment
back to the real world in a sense - at least homogenised shopping
the language may be different but everything else is very familiar
we do not resist the cheap and unique (for us) clothes on display
heading then into auchan - 3 floors of consumer products galore
we know our airbed is in here somewhere so a-wandering we go
spotted second floor up - examined, compared, agreed - purchased
next - let's check out the food floor - oh yes - mind-boggling in scale
starting out in the fruit and vegetable department - so cheap, so fresh
so much - we scoop up trays of figs, tomatoes and zucchini flowers
we resist more as we have an upcoming drive into the heat of rome
which really becomes problematic as we inspect the cheese section
never seen before such an assortment of flavours, cuts and packaging
then there's the deli, the meats, the pasta, the seafood and the pantry
oh the pantry - free samples, biscuits, cakes, desserts and tiramisu
we point to 4 different sweets - 2 of each grazie - total of 2 euros!
by now we have abandoned the plan for an excursion into rome
we agree we are in foodie heaven - paradiso culinaro - go crazy
not quite with another mini-trip coming up but a trolley is filled
checkout - 30 euros - amazing value and an excited drive home
still blistering hot as we lug our purchases up into our house
do a dash in the heat to obtain another 2 euro wine refill
and then - oh yes - a delicious cold meal of new goodies
olives, tomatoes, artichokes and smoked cheese sticks
sliced figs and prosciutto spread on crusty bread
followed by a chocolate eclair and a cannoli
and a cold wine - yep - paradiso culinario..
