A mildly disturbed older man is carrying a large sign and pacing back and forth in the piazza. He looks harmless enough... A three-minute day-trip in Italy
There are no accidents. Deja vu. The traveler just repeats, follows tracks and smells pizza. Like a slug leaves a trail that never is straight, but somehow finds its way to the edge of a lettuce 🥬 leaf consumes and leaves. tracks to follow.
.. my preferred ‘terms for such delightful convergent moments are ‘serendipity & ‘happenstance.. At such ‘points in Time & Space.. (the ‘space being a Tourist Magnet 🧲) it’s hardly ‘accidental’ & more ‘inevitable - that people’s cross paths.. recognize similar folks & accents that are clearly Not Local .. (this is where ‘the curious cat’ excels .. & ‘boom shakalaka’ the ‘connection is revealed .. peeled like an onion or peach haha .. ! Lovely Tale ! & Image ! Alas - highly unlikely i’ll visit Italy & will revel in its culture, mystique & romance ‘virtually .. and while delighting ‘in fresh pasta or ‘bouillabaisse.. (not an Italian sounding name.. nor is ‘Ceviche.. which reveals my more ‘Mediterranean Tastes’ eh !) 🦎🏴☠️💋
Right you are! I am sorry you never got to Italy, my friend. I will never get back, so I spend a lot of time watching movies online that are made there just to soak up that atmosphere. By the way, Italian fish stew is called cioppino ( chuh-PEE-no) or Zuppa di Mare. Yum yum!
While you're off on adventure, its comforting to have a moment of home. Maybe it breaks a spell or just cracks the doom of being alone in a place that is NOt home. It <has> to be a whole different feeling if you are there by choice, planned, with mind arranged first...certainly not as happy if put there unwillingly or by surprize. I need premeditated Will to enjoy being somewhere else.
Hard to find predictability on the road. "Best laid plans ..." and all that. What we find outside of the itinerary is often what makes travel so thrilling -- to me any way. Thanks Kate. I hope your old cat is hanging in there..
exactly .. it’s almost akin to ‘pinging & getting a response .. confirming your compass setting relative to ‘home base.. ‘musical even .. ‘relief ! (r i kidding ? moments ! ho ho ! 🦎🏴☠️🧨
These serendipitous meetings are the ones we know of. I wonder how many "came real close to meeting" we have just missed. Like degrees of separation. It is a small world. Enjoyed this, Sharron.
What a nice story! The "watch-out-for-scams-in-Italy" part of me was expecting the man to suddenly excuse himself and disappear without paying, after eating the pizza he ordered to share.
True indeed. There seemed to be a conduit between Santa Cruz and Truckee as well. I guess Santa Cruzans like to hang out in interesting, happening places. That said, I haven't met anybody from Santa Cruz in Minden. SoCal, yes, Santa Cruz, no.
BTW, judging by that picture of the piazza, and even the rooftops photo, Bergamo appears to be a city that is well-care-for. Not a scrap of paper or crumbing ruin to be seen. Am I being delusional here?
Not at all delusional. The stewards / guardians of these small, walled medieval cities are absolutely fastidious! Pisa. Lucca. San Gemignano, Perugia, etc. Except maybe not the case in southern Italy or Sicily? Judging only by the environs of Naples. ( Euw!)
I've heard that the north is a tad more like Switzerland in some ways while southern Italy is more lax in taking care of things. At least, that's what I've "heard."
That would account for a lot of the dishevelment, but there's probably a bit of tax evasion involved when the assessors base the value of a house on its outside appearance.
Sharron, something similar happened to us. For many years, we had a motorhome and traveled to Mexico for the winter. One year while we were there, we noticed three motorhomes with Utah license plates. Of course we had to introduce ourselves only to find that one of them lived about three blocks from us. The other two couples in the same city. Small world for sure.
At first, I thought he might have been hustling you. Happy he turned out to be genuine and generous. How did those ancient cities survive the wars intact?
And read, understood and enjoyed by a human being!
Thanks, Sharon.😊
banana slugs know no bounds
Go SLUGS!! 👍🏻
There are no accidents. Deja vu. The traveler just repeats, follows tracks and smells pizza. Like a slug leaves a trail that never is straight, but somehow finds its way to the edge of a lettuce 🥬 leaf consumes and leaves. tracks to follow.
Go SLUGS! Thanks Richard!
It used to slay us that no matter where we went, there was someone there that knew my son, Josh.
How cool though that you met someone from home again! Small world!
It sure is! And shrinking minute by minute! Thanks Kim.
.. my preferred ‘terms for such delightful convergent moments are ‘serendipity & ‘happenstance.. At such ‘points in Time & Space.. (the ‘space being a Tourist Magnet 🧲) it’s hardly ‘accidental’ & more ‘inevitable - that people’s cross paths.. recognize similar folks & accents that are clearly Not Local .. (this is where ‘the curious cat’ excels .. & ‘boom shakalaka’ the ‘connection is revealed .. peeled like an onion or peach haha .. ! Lovely Tale ! & Image ! Alas - highly unlikely i’ll visit Italy & will revel in its culture, mystique & romance ‘virtually .. and while delighting ‘in fresh pasta or ‘bouillabaisse.. (not an Italian sounding name.. nor is ‘Ceviche.. which reveals my more ‘Mediterranean Tastes’ eh !) 🦎🏴☠️💋
Right you are! I am sorry you never got to Italy, my friend. I will never get back, so I spend a lot of time watching movies online that are made there just to soak up that atmosphere. By the way, Italian fish stew is called cioppino ( chuh-PEE-no) or Zuppa di Mare. Yum yum!
much appreciated ! Yum !
While you're off on adventure, its comforting to have a moment of home. Maybe it breaks a spell or just cracks the doom of being alone in a place that is NOt home. It <has> to be a whole different feeling if you are there by choice, planned, with mind arranged first...certainly not as happy if put there unwillingly or by surprize. I need premeditated Will to enjoy being somewhere else.
Hard to find predictability on the road. "Best laid plans ..." and all that. What we find outside of the itinerary is often what makes travel so thrilling -- to me any way. Thanks Kate. I hope your old cat is hanging in there..
exactly .. it’s almost akin to ‘pinging & getting a response .. confirming your compass setting relative to ‘home base.. ‘musical even .. ‘relief ! (r i kidding ? moments ! ho ho ! 🦎🏴☠️🧨
These serendipitous meetings are the ones we know of. I wonder how many "came real close to meeting" we have just missed. Like degrees of separation. It is a small world. Enjoyed this, Sharron.
Golly, you're absolutely right. I never considered that.
30 years ago I met a a fellow with the same last name as mine. We started talking. Turns out we are cousins. We still see each other.
👍🏻😊
Small world stories are always fun….
Small world, indeed. Thanks for reading, Wade.
What a nice story! The "watch-out-for-scams-in-Italy" part of me was expecting the man to suddenly excuse himself and disappear without paying, after eating the pizza he ordered to share.
Hah! Just when we think we have people figured out, they surprise us! ( Gotta hang on to the passport and wallet, though... wherever you travel ! )
It is a small world.
Serendipity?
Synchronicity? is that a word? If it wasn't before, it might be now.
More often than not, oooo, yes.
How about atop a hill on a remote Carribbean Island and someone says, "I know your daughter Soleil, she's my dance teacher!"
An uncommon name, yes, but HOW did this person know she was my daughter???
Lovely! The thoughts your words bring.
Amazing story!
True indeed. There seemed to be a conduit between Santa Cruz and Truckee as well. I guess Santa Cruzans like to hang out in interesting, happening places. That said, I haven't met anybody from Santa Cruz in Minden. SoCal, yes, Santa Cruz, no.
BTW, judging by that picture of the piazza, and even the rooftops photo, Bergamo appears to be a city that is well-care-for. Not a scrap of paper or crumbing ruin to be seen. Am I being delusional here?
Not at all delusional. The stewards / guardians of these small, walled medieval cities are absolutely fastidious! Pisa. Lucca. San Gemignano, Perugia, etc. Except maybe not the case in southern Italy or Sicily? Judging only by the environs of Naples. ( Euw!)
I've heard that the north is a tad more like Switzerland in some ways while southern Italy is more lax in taking care of things. At least, that's what I've "heard."
In general terms, the north of Italy is relatively wealthy, the south is poor, Sicily in particular.
That would account for a lot of the dishevelment, but there's probably a bit of tax evasion involved when the assessors base the value of a house on its outside appearance.
Sharron, something similar happened to us. For many years, we had a motorhome and traveled to Mexico for the winter. One year while we were there, we noticed three motorhomes with Utah license plates. Of course we had to introduce ourselves only to find that one of them lived about three blocks from us. The other two couples in the same city. Small world for sure.
Wow! Great story. I feel it is more common than we realize.
My wife and I bumped into neighbours from our street in Spain once. They seemed completely nonplussed by the serendipity!
It just seems impossible. Especially if one is in a place that's not on usual tourist itineraries.
It really is amazing how often something like this happens.
Yes, it is. A random day in a random town in a random month - and there is your mailman sitting next to you in a bar. So funny!
At first, I thought he might have been hustling you. Happy he turned out to be genuine and generous. How did those ancient cities survive the wars intact?
Luck, I imagine. Thanks for your comment, Ken.