Padova - Day 3 - Saturday 30th August 2025 - Balkan-Georgia Trip - Day 3/34 - City 4/20 - country 4/11
- eusts6
- Oct 18, 2025
- 3 min read
The lack of sleep and NO WORK meant that I slept like I hadn't slept in an entire year! I was wide awake at 06:00 but decided to turn over and snooze some more. Finally up and about, I went out and grabbed a cappuccino and a chocolate croissant before going for a walk.
I wanted to find a bookshop, but as it was still early, most were still closed. I headed to the university area to revisit my old house and the chemistry buildings and again felt the emotions from 33 years ago. I tried to contemplate how fast 30+ years can pass by and how this was such a wonderful part of my life. Sabrina was one of my friends from that time and place, so I called her to make arrangements for later. In the meantime, I finally found a small bookshop and had a nice chat with the owner and her son, who kindly put my books in my rucksack.
I had received instructions to meet at "via del Portello." The name was not familiar, but when I reached it, I immediately recognised it from my university days. It is right at the end of via Marzolo, the street where my old house was and the university. There was a distinct large gate dating from Venetian times that I also recognised, and this is where I would buy a slice of pizza on a Sunday when the university canteen was closed. One of my old friends, Massimo, used to live here. I actually found another bookshop, but again I was still too early.
Sabrina arrived and it was quite wonderful, we embraced and then sat in her car savouring the moment before driving off again to Fossò. Even though I have been backt to Padova over the years, our memories flood back to sipping coffee in the 1990s on via Marzolo, no mobile phones, no internet.
When we arrived, Roxy the dog was nervous and kept barking. I think he picked up on my negative work vibes that I was trying hard to lose. I met the boys and Niccolò's girlfriend Giulia for the first time; they had literally just returned from a rail trip. Sabrina set the table, and we had a lunch of pasta and a wonderful bottle of Bardolino wine.
After a long and luscious lunch Sabrina, Samuele and me went to Padova by car. We parked the car in the uinvesity area, so we decided to stop in front of Fusinato and take a selfie for old times sake.
Samuele was meeting his friend and me and Sabrina went to bar "Code" for a cocktail together having an apperetivo before dinner.
Later Giorgio arrived and we went for food at a restaurant that specialises in food from Emilia Romagna. I chose teci cacio e pepe which was absolutely amazing, washed down with white trebbiano wine. Thanks Sabrina for a lovely day together!
We parted ways and I went to an Enoteca, it was very close to my renatl place, although the wine was nice it was very boring. I checked on Google I found a great place called "Il Gottino" the little drop. I ordered a valpolicella and quickly befriended Michele and Michele one from Veneto and the other one from Toscana. We ended up getting on very well and ended up buying rounds of drinks for each other.
We eneded up buying each other a few rounds of drinks before moving on to bar "umbe" where one of the Michele's bought a "Johnson" ? They left but I stayed on drinking a pino
nero from Alto Adige until closing time.
In a word #Padova
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