What I left behind

We didn't get to the Expo until later in the afternoon. 

We spent the morning packing and running around to ATM machines to get the cash needed to pay the B&B bill. We had lunch at the local restaurant, Speedy's, returning for our fourth or fifth time during our twelve night stay. 

Once we got to the grounds, there were several things we wanted to do. We wanted to get stamps at Columbia, Uruguay and Equador. Funny how they were all South American. Uruguay was added to the now long list of countries where my husband would like to retire.

My husband didn't have a clean shirt for the trip home. He wanted something more dignified than a T-shirt. After visiting many pavilion gift shops, he decided on the embroidered shirt from Equador.  

My son wanted to get some exotic Italian chocolate for his friend. He chose two different bars, chili and lemon, from Modica, Sicily, the location where chocolate was born in Italy. 

I had picked up souvenirs earlier. I have a Foody Expo magnet to add to our refrigerator. I also picked up spicy Hungarian paprika to make goulash suppe. The sweet clerk at the Hungarian pavilion gave me an beautiful carved wooden pen. I also received a hand-made pin from Guatemala because I knew of the quetzal, the national bird and the name of the currency.  

I prefer bringing home little things, useful things like the white linen Tilley hat I bought five years ago in Perth, Australia. I wore it this whole trip. The weather was hot and the nice wide was perfect. I commented several times that it was showing it's age, wearing around the edge of the brim and dis-colored from the sweat at the ventilation grommets. 

As we collected our things after a fish-and-chips and beer stop atop the U.K. pavilion, I realized I didn't have it. Was it kicked or blown off the balcony? Did I leave it on a bench somewhere?

I started to retrace my steps, but quickly realized that it was unlikely that I would recover it.

I looked back at the Decumano, the main street, now filled with lights and people, I realized it was OK. 

We had a good trip. I left my hat behind. Something useful, that I loved, would remain.