fall | Valentina Expressions

European Street Markets

September is for me the month that changes many things. It’s the beginning of the Autumn dominated by the water element through which everything moves and changes. Autumn is not only the new season in nature, but it’s also the Autumn for people when most of us take stock of the situation and make more sensible life plans for the year to come. Autumn brings a great charge that stalls temporarily in the Winter time and explodes in the Spring with new ideas and vibrations that we have felt inside of us exactly in the dormant lulling September.
This past September, I wanted to turn the page of my events, I wanted to look ahead and evolve myself into something new. Confident I was going to find what I was looking for, I boarded the plane to Europe and stayed gone for two months. I went through Germany for the October fest, Austria and as soon as I crossed the Alpes, the warm sun of Italy appeared among the grey clouds of the Teutonic countries and my heart started to sing, I had a distinct feeling that new ideas were appearing on the horizon already.

I spent two months seeing and connecting with people with whom I could lay the foundation of new enterprises. I spent time with them going to street markets, getting ideas, talking about new things at aperitif time, and soaking in the local culture. Living in the US makes me forget that life is not only about work and being productive. Unfortunately, I have become part of a grinding society that requires us to do more and takes all our energy until we have nothing else to give. In Europe, people are more relaxed and don’t feel guilty for spending time doing nothing when necessary. On weekends they don’t even answer work-related phone calls and don’t talk business at parties. They work to live, in the US people live to work. Growing up in Italy, I knew nothing else but how to balance work and play, life was much easier. However, when I moved to the US, I felt the urge to be competitive in my work and forgot how sweet life used to be.

After so many years in the US, I miss the street market scenes, the loud people screaming about having the best merchandise, the noisy streets, the colourful conversations between vendors and clients, the bargains, the socialization, the satisfaction of having found something fashionable at a reasonable price and to have spent a good day under the sun with much humour.

At the street markets, one can find home décor items, new and vintage clothes, shoes, fashion accessories, kitchen stuff, food and much more. There is something for everybody, every size, every taste, for women, men and children. People often exchange recipes at the food kiosks, while strangers tell you how good this or that garment looks on you at the clothes kiosks.

Home Décor.

Sweaters

Winter Fashion

Jewellery

Women Clothes

Sparkle Clothes for everyday use

The bread Lady was so gracious.

Typical baby octopus of the Mediterranean.

Cheeses and cold cuts.

Olive, nuts and dry food.

Red Onions

By this time, European street markets are already decorated with Christmas products. The atmosphere has changed, in some parts is snowing and very cold, but going to the market is still a great experience, especially at nighttime. Hot chocolate, mulled wine, chestnut roasting, pastry cooking and Christmas music fill the air.

Two months later, I am still thinking of the aroma I smelt, the food I tasted and the people I met. Life is certainly different in those parts of the world, my new plans will take me there again and often. I miss that lifestyle terribly, I want to be part of it just like I was growing up there. Ciao,
Valentina

Valentina Cirasola is an interior-fashion consultant, author of 6 published books, a storyteller, and a longtime blogger. Her books are non-fictional practical ideas to apply in the home, fashion, cooking and travel.
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