Man, what a day! I’m tellin’ ya, being a shoemaker in Anzio ain’t for the faint-hearted. So, I wake up, right? Sun’s blazin’ through my window on Via Roma. I’m thinkin’, “Today’s gonna be chill.” Ha! Spoiler alert: it wasn’t.
First off, I head to my shop on Via delle Sirene. Love that street, it’s got this vibe, ya know? The sea breeze hits ya, and you can smell the salt. But today? Nah, it was like the universe decided to throw a curveball. I open my shop, and boom! My best tools are gone. Just poof! Like they vanished into thin air. I’m standin’ there, mouth agape, like a fish outta water. Who steals a shoemaker’s tools? Seriously!
So, I’m fumin’. I grab my phone, call my buddy Marco. He’s always got my back. “Dude, you won’t believe this!” I’m ranting, and he’s just laughin’. “Maybe they needed ‘em for a magic show?” Ugh, real funny, Marco. I hang up, still mad.
Then, I decide to take a stroll. I need to clear my head, right? I hit up the waterfront on Lungomare. Man, the view is killer! The waves crashin’, kids laughin’, and old folks chillin’ with gelato. I’m walkin’, and suddenly, I trip over a stray dog. This little guy just plops down in front of me. I’m like, “Dude, watch where you’re goin’!” But then he looks up at me with those big puppy eyes. I can’t stay mad. I scratch his head, and he wags his tail like he just won the lottery.
So, I’m feelin’ a bit better, right? I grab a slice of pizza from that joint on Piazza Garibaldi. Best pizza in town, no contest. I’m munchin’ away, and this old lady comes up to me. She’s like, “You’re a shoemaker, right? My shoes are falling apart!” I’m thinkin’, “Lady, I just lost my tools!” But I can’t say no. So, I take a look. They’re ancient! I mean, I’ve seen better shoes in a museum. But I can’t help it; I fix ‘em up.
While I’m workin’, I start talkin’ to her. Turns out, she’s lived in Anzio her whole life. She tells me stories about the war, about how the beach was a battleground. I’m sittin’ there, hammer in hand, just listenin’. It’s wild how much history is packed into this little town.
After I finish her shoes, she gives me a hug. A freakin’ hug! I’m not used to that. It’s like, “Wow, I did something good today.” Makes ya feel all warm inside, ya know?
But then, just when I think the day’s lookin’ up, I head back to my shop. And guess what? My door’s wide open! I rush in, and there’s a kid sittin’ on my workbench, playin’ with my tools! I’m like, “Hey! What are you doin’?” He jumps up, looks at me like a deer in headlights. “I was just… uh… borrowin’?”
I can’t even. I’m ready to blow a gasket. But then I see he’s got this old pair of shoes. They’re wrecked, like they’ve been through a war zone. I take a deep breath. “Alright, kid. You break it, you buy it.” He looks scared, but I can’t help but laugh. “Just don’t make a mess, alright?”
So, I end up teachin’ him a thing or two about shoemaking. He’s all eyes, like I’m some kinda wizard. By the end, he’s got a smile that could light up the whole beach.
Finally, I close up shop, exhausted but happy. I walk home along Via delle Sirene, the sun settin’ over the water. It’s beautiful. I think about the day. Crazy, unexpected, but full of life. Anzio, man. It’s got its quirks, but it’s home. And I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
So yeah, that was my day. Just another wild ride in Anzio. Can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!