ok, here's an italia story...
my 2nd week there, i took the train from bologna to firenze (florence) w/out my friend, just for the day. firenze is absolutely beautiful (ever seen "a room with a view"? that's florence)...altho super touristy...even in october. so after wading through crowds i found myself down by the arno, the huge river that runs through the city. (i was lost, which was my m.o. the whole trip). i had heard that there was a large piazzelle (plaza), "piazzelle di michelangelo" on top of a hill just outside the city, with an incredible view. so i wandered in that direction, and two sore feet later, found it. totally totally worth it. crazy caves at the bottom, with little winding staircases up the hill amongst old trees. had the obligatory picture taken at the viewpoint, bought a chocolate gelato, and headed up toward the monastary at the very top. on my way up, i passed two men sitting on a stone wall in a little foresty part. as i strolled by, absorbed by my dairy indulgence, one of them said, "ciao bella". (it is so so so fun to be feminine in that country...appreciation abounds). i said ciao back and continued up the hill. at the top i rested my feet and stretched out on a bench, then decided to explore the grounds. just as i was deciding which way to go, from behind my shoulder i hear "oh, hello". it's the two dudes from earlier. altho the one who spoke was italian, he was pretty fluent in inglais, so we began to chat. he was showing his friend "omar", from chicago, around. omar didn't have much to say. italian dude, on the other hand, totally chatted me up...how was my trip, what did i think of florence, where had i been, told me his story, etc." it was beyond obvious that i was being hit on, but it felt ok. he wanted to take me out for coffee, but i was just leary enough that i declined. after giving me the double cheek kiss (a little closer to my lips than normal), they said goodbye.
i wandered around a bit, hoping to put distance between us, and explored the tombs and graveyards
. then headed back down the hill. 1/2 way down, at the caves, there's italian dude and omar again. omar waves and i.d. says "oh! but where are you going? come with us!"
"no," i say, "i'm just heading back down."
"well then" says i..d., "one kiss for you then". omar starts laughing.
"your friend is laughing at you" i say.
i.d. turns around. "what are you laughing at? do you mind?" then he stepped closer, "one kiss for you, because i like you so much."
i had two seconds to decide. survey says?
oh what the hell. i'm in italy.
so we kiss. but dude wasn't kidding about the kiss...full on tongue, first time! after it was apparent he didn't want to stop, i softly pushed him away and said,
"you said one kiss. that was one. ciao!"
and i walked back, laughing all the way to the arno...most ridiculously romantic thing ever.
except for my venice story, which is next!
my 2nd week there, i took the train from bologna to firenze (florence) w/out my friend, just for the day. firenze is absolutely beautiful (ever seen "a room with a view"? that's florence)...altho super touristy...even in october. so after wading through crowds i found myself down by the arno, the huge river that runs through the city. (i was lost, which was my m.o. the whole trip). i had heard that there was a large piazzelle (plaza), "piazzelle di michelangelo" on top of a hill just outside the city, with an incredible view. so i wandered in that direction, and two sore feet later, found it. totally totally worth it. crazy caves at the bottom, with little winding staircases up the hill amongst old trees. had the obligatory picture taken at the viewpoint, bought a chocolate gelato, and headed up toward the monastary at the very top. on my way up, i passed two men sitting on a stone wall in a little foresty part. as i strolled by, absorbed by my dairy indulgence, one of them said, "ciao bella". (it is so so so fun to be feminine in that country...appreciation abounds). i said ciao back and continued up the hill. at the top i rested my feet and stretched out on a bench, then decided to explore the grounds. just as i was deciding which way to go, from behind my shoulder i hear "oh, hello". it's the two dudes from earlier. altho the one who spoke was italian, he was pretty fluent in inglais, so we began to chat. he was showing his friend "omar", from chicago, around. omar didn't have much to say. italian dude, on the other hand, totally chatted me up...how was my trip, what did i think of florence, where had i been, told me his story, etc." it was beyond obvious that i was being hit on, but it felt ok. he wanted to take me out for coffee, but i was just leary enough that i declined. after giving me the double cheek kiss (a little closer to my lips than normal), they said goodbye.
i wandered around a bit, hoping to put distance between us, and explored the tombs and graveyards
. then headed back down the hill. 1/2 way down, at the caves, there's italian dude and omar again. omar waves and i.d. says "oh! but where are you going? come with us!"
"no," i say, "i'm just heading back down."
"well then" says i..d., "one kiss for you then". omar starts laughing.
"your friend is laughing at you" i say.
i.d. turns around. "what are you laughing at? do you mind?" then he stepped closer, "one kiss for you, because i like you so much."
i had two seconds to decide. survey says?
oh what the hell. i'm in italy.
so we kiss. but dude wasn't kidding about the kiss...full on tongue, first time! after it was apparent he didn't want to stop, i softly pushed him away and said,
"you said one kiss. that was one. ciao!"
and i walked back, laughing all the way to the arno...most ridiculously romantic thing ever.
except for my venice story, which is next!
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kingskottie:
budoviking:
Italia, que bella. My favorite place in the world. AND Venice. La Serenissima. The Serene Republic. The most profoundly melancholy yet beautiful place on earth. The ghosts of glories past still wander the alleys and canals. I feel the need to buy a ticket.