“This is definitely my favorite spot in Italy” we heard Grayson say for the third time. Yes, it was certainly a great spot, & though I’m not quite on the same page, I can understand why. In Tunisia we were quickly among the locals, but there were throngs of them, and we were in the crowded market. Barcelona, Sicily and Rome were incredible, and filled with both locals, tourists, and all the sounds and smells of any city. Busy. Stepping onto the docks in Savona was peaceful, and within 10 minutes, after strolling through the small marina, we were walking across a grassy space, alone, when Grayson first mentioned how nice it was to be away from people. Grayson is usually the first in our family to feel and express what the rest of us may not yet have words or even full comprehension of. Since he was little, he has been able to sense both his own feelings and emotions, along with the feelings and emotions of others. It’s a beautiful gift, and his mom did an excellent job encouraging him to embrace when the rest of us may still be stuck in our heads…I love it!
I had never heard of Savona before choosing the itinerary we chose. It seemed almost like a throwaway stop in the midst of our travels to the more familiar and exotic ports. As Grayson made clear, my lack of understanding about this place was soon corrected. Our morning began slowly. With no pre-arranged itinerary, we were free to eat breakfast, then step off the ship at our own pace. Savona is nearly the same latitude as Seattle, and, as with the rest of our trip, we were dressed for the chill of fall (except Grayson, who was determined to be comfortable in the sunshine). While the shadows were chilly, any chance we got to walk in the sun was welcomed, and we soon found ourselves moving at a slow pace as we made our way to Fortezza del Priamar (an ancient fortress by the sea). It was another chance to wander through ruins and play a bit.
After the fortress, we made our way to the beach, where we ran from waves, skipped rocks, and dared Grayson to go for a swim (he did not accept our dares), and then we wandered into the older portion of Savona to seek out a lunch spot. Ellanora was hopeful for pizza, and we found a spot on the corner of Piazza Goffredo Mameli. We were the only tourists in the place, and we all enjoyed pizza before heading to a Gelateria for more Gelato (of course!). The walk back to the ship took us by bakeries, meat & cheese shops, produce shops, and a spot Ellanora stopped to buy a scarf for her hair.
The afternoon was pretty quiet, as we relaxed on board the ship. Ellanora and I spent some time in the pool (indoor), and after dinner the boys convinced Ellanora and I to join them for a dance party on one of the dance floors.
We’ve just arrived in Marseille, France for another day on our own schedule. Tomorrow we’ll be back in Barcelona (which we are all excited about), before flying home on Tuesday.
Learning to Move Through the World 