The Sun Changes Everything, Mantova

Zagan the motorhome’s casting a shadow folks, we are in sunshine, I repeat, we are in sunshine and Team Zagan are united in the pleasure of it. Not a metre has been driven today, our tyres are sat mid way up the ramps in the leafy field that is the official motorhome sosta in Mantova, Lombary, northern Italy (N45.16459, E10.81191). The showers here are clean, heated and have endless hot water. In fact, thinking about it, I’m off for one now. I’ll be back in 40 minutes…

Fantastic! Hot and endless. Right, where was I? Sun! Spirits are always lifted when the sun beams down and although it’s hardly roasting, we’ve synthesised some Vitamin D between us (except Charlie, who is a dog, and has to eat the stuff in his food). Fingers, toes and ears crossed it continues.

We’ve had company too, Australians Dave and Bern (the link will take you to their blog) arrived yesterday and popped in for a cheeky mushroom risotto and a beer last night. At this point I should admit I’d felt some trepidation when I met these guys. I have an undeniable, well documented track record of drinking far too much when given the opportunity to catch up with fellow English speakers on t’road. Fortunately for me, and my liver, these guys were more restrained, seeing off what would be classed by most as a ‘reasonable’ amount of alcohol, phew. Although they probably ate about as much alcohol as they drank, as I went a bit off piste with the risotto recipe, dumping almost a litre of white wine in it. Oops.

Talking with travellers is always fascinating. Understanding each other’s motivation for moving around the world, discussing difficulties overcome and enduring, sharing on-the-ground experience of places to go, chatting about work, life experiences and even **TABOO ALERT FOLKS** money.  Dave’s a policeman and Bern a paramedic, both clearly time-served, focussed, and hard working. Both jobs I deem ‘real’ compared to my 20 years surreal experience working in offices, where I never had to handle a single emergency other than the odd late PowerPoint presentation. They’re travelling with their two fabulous pooches, Scarlett (a Hungarian Vizsla, so called because of her red fur), and Tenzing (from the famous Sherpa, since he’s a Burnese Mountain Dog). Their tale of being hardly able to walk in Switzerland as each and every tourist wanted a photo with him, were hilarious.

Dave, Bern, Scarlett and Tenzing. Dave, I have to say, I am loving that pose man. I think I will steal it

This morning I woke up and after a quick check in with the rest of my body, confirmed the damage was minimal. Leaping up, we headed into town with Dave and Tenzing, while Bern soaked up the showers. Rammed car parks equals market day, all of Italy had turned out, providing us with a living sculpture of Italian life to observe and absorb. The architecture wedding cake backdrop to the stalls made them feel timeless, even if some were flogging puffer jackets and cheap T shirts.

Mantova market

Market day in Mantova

Hmmm. Nope, can’t recall listening to a harpist at any markets back home

Dave pointed these fridge magnets out. As far as we could tell, they contained real food and drink!

Packing herbified, delicious €6 roast chickens, we headed back home for a finger-lickin’ lunch. Walking over to Dave and Bren’s van to grab the photo above, we felt the usual pang of regret at saying goodbye. Part and parcel of the way we’re currently travelling, brief encounters are inevitable, and while we gain a lot from each of them, we also feel a loss. They’re heading for Verona and Lake Garda, we’re heading to, ah, somewhere else, maybe Parma, dunno yet.

Waving bye, we headed into town to get some culture in one of the city’s palazzo (palaces). We never made it. The sun was too welcoming, and instead we walked around one of the lakes which bounds this side of the town, removing the opportunity for urban sprawl. Sat at a bench, looking out over the water, we figured this to be a great way to spend a Thursday afternoon.

Beats PowerPoint jockeying. And yes, I do need a haircut

Mantova

Oh, the answer’s no by the way, we didn’t eat donkey here. I couldn’t after my folks reminded me they sponsor retired donkeys in Skegness. Too much guilt, we instead tucked into sbrisolana, a kind of solid crumble made from corn flour, almonds and lard which Dave and Bren brought over for us, along with a bottle of Mantuan Lambrusco, which is awaiting its fate in a cupboard.

Dave and Bren: if you read this, great to meet you guys, keep in touch.

Charlie was practically ignored today in the market as local after local made a beeline for Tenzing!

Cheers, Jay