retiredmartin

February 2026. Pavia.

For those bored of foreign muck, here’s a Bass mirror from Turin last night.

Quite a bit of travel to go before we get there, though.

A week in Italy was enough to confirm the greatness of Genoa, tick a new country, finally see what Turin is all about (food) and revisit a small city that charmed me a decade ago.

€11 euros brings you through the Val Polcevara valley to Pavia, an ancient university town of 70,000 (and falling) to rival Durham, that gets few visitors and seems quite pleased about it.

A dreich day, not the best conditions to explore the cobbled streets, but you’ll get the picture.

Mrs RM had produced one her trademarked “city maps with key points marked with random objects“, bears 🐻 in this case,

but plans stalled at the first hurdle as the cathedral has micropub hours, so we get to have a long lunch at Miscusi in the Piazza Duomo.

I’ve got into quite an argument about this place on Instagram, noting the efficiency of a system that allows you to peruse a menu, order and pay from your seat (hey ! Like a Spoons),

and how this puts the focus on the quality of the food (fresh pasta made in full view) rather than on “service”. “But I LIKE being brought the menu and having my glass topped up by an underpaid waitress relying on tips” screams the angry American.

2 meals, glass of wine, bottle of water, 2 coffees for £30 before tip.

Anyway, I’m not popular in America in seems, which is a shame.