Well, there's Anna...
And Gloria (left)
Franci
Cristina
Clara
And Veronica
I knew we were going to become good friends when they started calling me their "American Pussy."
~
In the interest of time, I've left out some of the random fun things that I've been doing over the last couple of weeks with these guys, but now seems like a good time to catch everyone up! Rewind two weeks:
For some reason while I was at work, I spent the entire day battling a really bad stomach ache. Maybe all the gelato I'm eating is making my pants a little tight! But late in the day, one of my coworkers brought in some sweets, and my other coworker mentioned (in front of my manager) that I wasn't allowed to have anything because I wasn't feeling well. Five minutes later I was sent packing! After going home and resting for a bit, taking medicine, and enjoying some hot tea, I finally felt better. Thank goodness for that because I had plans that evening to go up to the mountain for dinner. Although I had expected to go to a restaurant, I was taken by surprise when we pulled up to a large house set in in a clearing on the mountainside. There were about fifteen people outside, but tables set for more than forty. There was a large fire going, several men taking turns chopping wood, and two huge slabs of some type of meet slow roasting over the embers they pulled out of the fire. Right after I arrived, the truck with the wine pulled in...over fifty liters. Although I opted out of drinking for the sake of my still slightly sensitive stomach, I'm so happy I was able to go. With classical Italian music playing throughout the house, the smell of the burning fire and cooking food, and a cup of wine in the hand of nearly everyone over the age of (my best guess) twelve, it was probably the single most classical "Italian" night I've experienced since getting off the plane in Milan two months ago. What a great night with great friends!
The following weekend, we finally got a break in the weather! I haven't said much about it, because frankly it's depressing, but there were about three weeks of either solid rain, or cold and cloudy weather. Finally, finally, last weekend we got some sunshine! Anna and I went to the beach to get some much needed sun. After we finished goofing off and taking selfies galore, I laid down for a couple of minutes before I heard Anna yell, "Franci!!" I looked up, and there at the end of the dock was Franci, smiling at us from his boat, holding out his arm to help us on. We went out for a few hours, stopped for a while in front of the Villa Balbianello to swim, then went around the only island on the lake, and finally stopped in Lecco before heading back to Bellagio for aperitivo at Lido.
A few days later Gloria and I meandered over to the Villa Melzi to see some of our friends (including her dad) sing in a concert for the Festival of Bellagio and Lake Como, where the choir arrived via decorated boat and sang a hefty repotoire including their own rendition of "Kumbaya"...
Then, the next day, Cristina and I decided to have dinner together at the Sporting Club. I had risotto with some type of weird and expensive mushroom, and Cristina ordered a pasta that looked like tiny little maggots. It may be no surprise that the better part of the meal came when two guys we know from Bellagio came and sat at the table next to us, and treated us each to a glass of wine. I think Christina drank hers a little too fast though, because she seemed a little confused when our desert arrived. We each ordered creme brûlée, and it came with some fresh fruit and a small dish of chocolate gelato.When she finished her gelato, she picked up the small black dish that it was served in and smelled it. "It's chocolate!" she said. So, we both proceeded to try biting into these little dark plates. Little, dark, plastic plates.
Me: "Cristina, this is plastic."
Cristina: "No, no no no. It's chocolate! I'm sure!"
She figured it out eventually. Over the next few days I would periodically look at her and say, "It's chocolate! I swear!" and we would both break down in fits of laughter. Sometimes hanging out with her makes me feel like I'm in middle school again! She brings out the kid in me. I'm looking forward to her coming to Cleveland in February to spend some time with me!
But the highlight of the week, obviously, was my 21st birthday! Woot woot! Although a little less exciting since I was already legal here, I had a pretty fun day. Here are the details:
I woke up early (ok, so I didn't get off to the best start..) and took the bus to Como where I finally got to go to the market! I left with my pockets a little lighter, but enjoyed a morning of shopping and eating. My arms full of bags filled with clothing and jewelry, I took the 1 o'clock bus back to Bellagio, arriving in time to shower, do my hair, and get ready for aperitivo. We went to a Campari party (a type of liquor I had never even heard of before arriving here, and frankly I'm only now starting to like it...) for pre-dinner drinks, and then to Trattoria San Giacomo, a great local place, for dinner. I enjoyed some delicious ravioli, red wine, and the best chocolate cake I think I've ever had. Afterwards we went to the sporting for a while, then took a trip to the lake to try and escape some of the intense heat that wouldn't go away even long after the sun set. Although out of the eight of us at dinner (everyone pictured above went with me) I was the only one who made it into Lido, I was greeted by all of my American friends as well as many of my coworkers. It was a fun night!
Despite having fun, it really impressed upon me how much I missed home. I finally realized what I have there that I don't have here: the friends and family that make occasions like this truly special. Although it has been wonderful getting to know my Italian squinzie, it would have been really nice to spend this day with my family and friends in Ohio. At least now I know, after this amazing experience, that home isn't always where the heart is, but instead...."home is where your mom is." ...and dad, and dog, and best friends.
22 days til home. Never in a million years did I think I'd be counting that down with even a hint of excitement.
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