The living in Italy days

Generally living in Italy is a whole sack load of fun but there are things to get used to and little idiosyncrasies to overcome.  The best way to look at these things are as a challenge – where else can you live where going to the post office  is a challenge or getting the internet connected an achievement.  Having said that there are those days when the challenges wear you down and every now and then there is a little break down – we call these the “I’m living in Italy” days. Days when you want just one thing to be easy or efficient, days when you long to be able to talk to someone who shares your experience, days when all you want is a hug from a loved one. When these days hit the only thing you can do is remind yourself that you chose to be here and get on with things.

It was in this mood that J called me on Sunday morning and we convened over coffee to talk.  Talking is about all you can do in these situations – Italy will be what it will be and none of us are arrogant enough to demand that it change to suit us but it is good to know that it is not just you who has days like these.  After talking through our various living in Italy stresses we had to think about just what to do for the rest of our Sunday.  Given that we were both less than enthusiastic about life at the time. On a whim we decided to hit the beach.  T joined us and after a rush home to grab togs and towels it was on the road to Jesolo.

 

Having been blessed with Australian beaches for the best part of a decade Jesolo comes as a bit of a shock to the system.   It boasts that it is one of the longest beaches in the world and I’m sure it would have been beautiful once.  Today it is over developed with ugly beachside hotels so much so that it actually makes Benidorm look picturesque.  Like many a European beach the acres of sand are covered with almost fascistly neat rows of sun loungers which cost a pretty penny to use.  The water is shallow and way to warm for me who has got used to swimming in the ocean but as it’s the most accessible beach from Treviso it serves as the default hang out for the summer.

Back in Treviso and feeling pretty shiny

As the season is not yet in full swing the place was mercifully empty after a walk along the beach it was time to do some serious lazing in the sun.  Snoozing and chatting in the warm sun watching T’s pale Scottish beauty turn to an angry shade of lobster red our souls began to revive and life began to seem beautiful again.  Like almost every seaside town Jesolo is filled with cheap souvenir shops selling tacky items that for some reason are the most desired objects for children – knock off sunglasses, animal figures made entirely of shells, paper thin sun hats and novelty ashtrays.  While I never want to make a purchase I love exploring the tackier side of tourist life.  A final stop at a bar where the Asian style sofas went part of the way to disguising the fact that you are actually situated at a busy roundabout in Italy then it was back to Treviso with our souls revived and newly purchased sunglasses on our faces. 

 As we got back to Treviso the sky darkened and the heavens opened.  Treviso was the same as we left it but our moods were up and ready for the next challenge that Italy will inevitably send our way.