Friday, February 24, 2017
Thursday, September 8, 2016
Giovedi
Thursday morning I hit the fabulous colazione buffet again and then sat in the courtyard to catch up on my blog and email.
I had a video chat with Insegnante Drew, where he tried to trick me with never-before-seen phrases, but I am better than he realizes and I triumphed over his pitiable attempts. Then I headed, invisibly, a la spiaggia.
SSDD... Went to Il Gigante beach... got a Sun Bed and Ombrella... had lunch at the little ristorante (they could see me there)... actually an Italian guy about my age stared my way... but packed up and left after wiping the melted cheese from his facial hair... Maybe he saw a shimmer, like a mirage on the hot asphalt ahead, but then I was gone.
Four hours with Anjin-san... back to Hotel Palme for the Modified Navy Bath... and today a Big Birra in the courtyard before cena.
Maybe I'll meet Val and Rachel again tonight.
I had a video chat with Insegnante Drew, where he tried to trick me with never-before-seen phrases, but I am better than he realizes and I triumphed over his pitiable attempts. Then I headed, invisibly, a la spiaggia.
SSDD... Went to Il Gigante beach... got a Sun Bed and Ombrella... had lunch at the little ristorante (they could see me there)... actually an Italian guy about my age stared my way... but packed up and left after wiping the melted cheese from his facial hair... Maybe he saw a shimmer, like a mirage on the hot asphalt ahead, but then I was gone.
Four hours with Anjin-san... back to Hotel Palme for the Modified Navy Bath... and today a Big Birra in the courtyard before cena.
Maybe I'll meet Val and Rachel again tonight.
Invisibility -- without a Cloak
My newfound Superpower of Invisibility extended beyond the confines of la spiaggia, out into the village of Monterosso al Mare, though with weakening strength.
I found that Americans and our Brit cousins could see me just fine. Perhaps it was the Bill for First Lady tee shirt I was wearing. At any rate, as I walked the main road I was accosted with "Hey, I like that shirt! You must be American" often. To which I responded "Vote! Early and often!!"
(Huh huh huh ... I coined that phrase myself.)
After spending 20 minutes chatting with due donne da Minnesota and due donne da Birmingham, England about everything from the dire political straits of the US and the UK, a desire to re-elect Bill in 2016, Trump as Nero, who's currently leading in the polls, Brexit, NPR and Netflix, the Americans took leave and I sat down.
And then Val (mother), Rachel (daughter) and I (sola donna invisibile) got down to important things... Like Peaky Blinders (oh Tommy, Tommy, Tommy) and Graham Norton (did he used to be The Galloping Gourmet?), James Cordon and Daniel Craig (should that have been in the same sentence??!!) Wallander and Broadchurch.... and Sherlock... sigh.... Who will be the next James Bond... Also Henry the Eight, Catholicism, who drives on the correct side, why do Americans drive on a different side, Damian Lewis in Wolf Hall, his wife in Peaky Blinders. We tackled many issues facing PBS during our 2 hours, and I feel we could contribute real solutions if asked.
During this time a group of Italians sat next to us, and one tall man with shiny shaved head (Seinfeld! Seinfeld!) smiled in my general direction as if he could actually see me, but then they were joined by friends and moved to a larger table. I never learned if the Invisibility was wavering.
I had half a birra left when Val and Rachel left... and I took my time finishing up, went for a Limone gelato (they saw me in the gelateria!!!), and slow and drippingly I strolled back to Hotel Palme. Yet again, I didn't make it to Bar American...
I found that Americans and our Brit cousins could see me just fine. Perhaps it was the Bill for First Lady tee shirt I was wearing. At any rate, as I walked the main road I was accosted with "Hey, I like that shirt! You must be American" often. To which I responded "Vote! Early and often!!"
(Huh huh huh ... I coined that phrase myself.)
After spending 20 minutes chatting with due donne da Minnesota and due donne da Birmingham, England about everything from the dire political straits of the US and the UK, a desire to re-elect Bill in 2016, Trump as Nero, who's currently leading in the polls, Brexit, NPR and Netflix, the Americans took leave and I sat down.
And then Val (mother), Rachel (daughter) and I (sola donna invisibile) got down to important things... Like Peaky Blinders (oh Tommy, Tommy, Tommy) and Graham Norton (did he used to be The Galloping Gourmet?), James Cordon and Daniel Craig (should that have been in the same sentence??!!) Wallander and Broadchurch.... and Sherlock... sigh.... Who will be the next James Bond... Also Henry the Eight, Catholicism, who drives on the correct side, why do Americans drive on a different side, Damian Lewis in Wolf Hall, his wife in Peaky Blinders. We tackled many issues facing PBS during our 2 hours, and I feel we could contribute real solutions if asked.
During this time a group of Italians sat next to us, and one tall man with shiny shaved head (Seinfeld! Seinfeld!) smiled in my general direction as if he could actually see me, but then they were joined by friends and moved to a larger table. I never learned if the Invisibility was wavering.
I had half a birra left when Val and Rachel left... and I took my time finishing up, went for a Limone gelato (they saw me in the gelateria!!!), and slow and drippingly I strolled back to Hotel Palme. Yet again, I didn't make it to Bar American...
Apres Beach
I had a terrific lunch at Il Gigante beach ristorante... basically is was a peperoni sandwich... yummy... And I spent a total of 4 relaxing hours on the beach... and headed back to Hotel Palme.
There are signs everywhere about conserving water, so I proceeded to take a Modified Navy Bath... meaning water-on-wet-face-water-off-wash-face-water-on-rinse-face-wet-hair-water-off-etc.... I always have such paranoia about being a disrespectful entitled American... but... maybe sometimes I go to far.... maybe... sometimes..... not sure.................
Then I sat outside in the hotel courtyard and worked on blog posts. Twelve tables under the pines and palms... with bar service if you want it. After a couple of hours I had a little brewski to whet, before going out for dinner. It came with complimentary (complementary?? not sure...........) chips and tiny savory pastries filled with spinach... Yummy!!!
There are signs everywhere about conserving water, so I proceeded to take a Modified Navy Bath... meaning water-on-wet-face-water-off-wash-face-water-on-rinse-face-wet-hair-water-off-etc.... I always have such paranoia about being a disrespectful entitled American... but... maybe sometimes I go to far.... maybe... sometimes..... not sure.................
Then I sat outside in the hotel courtyard and worked on blog posts. Twelve tables under the pines and palms... with bar service if you want it. After a couple of hours I had a little brewski to whet, before going out for dinner. It came with complimentary (complementary?? not sure...........) chips and tiny savory pastries filled with spinach... Yummy!!!
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