Shopping notes

Many of the storefronts in Fidenza are empty now, the result not only of recession but also, according to Franca, competition from the big shopping mall outside of town and other big stores on the town's outskirts. We, too, were part of that trend, I must admit.

It's not hard to see the appeal of a place like Paladini, a vast emporium full of jars, cans, boxes, and bags that sells foodstuffs Pam says she can't get in town. Perusing the shelves, we were slavering like dogs. 

Fish antipasti of all kinds....

More sauces than you can imagine...

And just a few of the mushroom offerings...

I would have been happy to eat just about everything in the place.

Another very successful expedition was our trip to Globo, a chain of low-cost stores selling shoes, clothing, and other stuff. I hadn't noticed that a key pair of sandals I'd brought on this two-month sojourn were well past their prime, a fact that was forcibly brought to my attention when the plastic sole of one of them cracked in two and fell off in the street. I assumed my only recourse was duct tape, since I'd never be able to find Italian shoes for my gigantic American feet, 

However, at Globo I discovered that Italian men's taste in sandals is so metro that there were lots of things to choose from that, while not wildly dainty, didn't make me look like I was wearing my husband's footwear. These are OK, right?

Actually, I don't much care what anyone else thinks, because they cost about $32 and are really comfortable, too. Danny got a pair of sandals as well, but his are a little more conventionally butch.

Many of the women's sandals that Globo offered were not only too small for me, but fantastical. Italians do like glitz.

However, I noticed that in Fidenza, although a few young women tottered along the cobblestones in spike heels and platforms, especially on weekend evenings, many more paired what my daughter would call "slutty" dresses with high-tops or sneakers, but made of shiny gold or silver material or studded with sequins.

Another fashion change from a few years back...everyone below the age of about 60 seems to have quite a few tattoos.

Also popular in Italy, if Globo is any measure, are shirts emblazoned with crude American words.

I bought this one for my own little princess. (As we used to say, "It's you!")

Pam claims that as long as she wears it in Italy, as opposed to in the States, no one will be offended...they think it's just a hip Americanism. But I'm going to discourage her from wearing it when we go to see the mayor in our "adoptive" town next week.