Saturday, Nov 4 (Day Forty-nine)
I walked through the market today to pick up some food. I ended up with my arms full of bags. It was crazy. Today I got ‘eggs from happy chickens’ and was a bit shocked to pay three euros for six of them. Tired, I handed it over and left. So encumbered by bags as I was, one got broken before I reached home!
I decided to treat myself to a coffee and squeezed into a tiny coffee bar that had one table. People came in while I was there and there was barely room for me, my packages and them too.
When I got home, I had a message from someone I knew online saying they wanted to meet for a coffee. So after a rest I set off again through the market and down the street to Via Garibaldi. I met Giovanna and her boyfriend, Marco, and had a cup of hot chocolate. We talked about her long years in London and my thoughts on Torino. Too bad we met so late in my trip since she would have been a great resource for me.
On the way back I passed by Porta Palatina and read the plaque about the gate.
And I had a few things still to buy and, after finding some limes and tangerines in the big market, I headed back to the farmers market for the rest.
Calamity!
Hardly a foot into the market area, my feet went from under me and down I went. Strange how, when these things happen to me (rarely but it’s not the first time) I feel as if I am going in slow motion where I can observe what’s happening and wonder how this will end up. I saw my left leg bend at the knee as I went forward and my foot turning as I got close to the ground and I wondered if it was going to be broken.
Once down I was pretty much prostrate, like I was doing yoga! I knew well enough that it was best to stay there while the shocked feeling swept over me and I had a sense that I was OK, conscious, and not too badly bashed up. So I stayed there and hoped that someone might come to help me.
And they did. At first they wanted to lift me but I said no and motioned to be left to stay down. Then a woman got me a chair and two men lifted me into it, even though I was still motioning I preferred to remain on the ground. It wasn’t so bad. Some people were watching me but on the whole I didn’t care. The woman asked if I wanted a glass of water and sugar so I agreed. She went to get it and came back with a glass and a bottle of water. I drank from both.
There was a man who talked to me. He spoke no English so it was funny. But I know he wanted me to try to stand so I did try and it wasn’t terrible, although I was quite sure I needed to sit down again. I tried a few times with his help to walk a few steps to test my foot. Then after a while he said ‘Adiamo! A ti casa!’ as he put on his jacket. (Let’s go! To your place). I think he asked where I lived and I pointed down the street.
And off we went. It wasn’t easy but I could do it, with him holding me up. ‘Piano, piano‘ he kept saying. Stubbornly, I was definitely pushing my luck by going more quickly than I should. And I reached my door. I had no idea how to say thank you properly but I hope he understood.
I got some ice and put my foot up. And I started my ‘what ifs.’ What if my foot is broken, what if I can’t walk any more on this trip, what if like my nan I have a heart attack after this fall, what if I can’t manage the trip home, what if I have to go to the hospital. It was a time of self-pity and huge pain. Liat promised to bring a bandage the next day and I went to bed finally.
What a day!