Man, what a day! I woke up in Ascoli-Piceno, and I swear, I thought it was gonna be chill. But nah, life had other plans. First off, I hit the streets of Corso Giuseppe Mazzini, and it was like a scene from a movie. The sun was shining, people were buzzing, and I was ready to grab a coffee at my fave spot, Caffè Meletti. You know, the one with the crazy good anise-flavored stuff? Yeah, that one.
So, I’m standing there, waiting for my espresso, and this dude in front of me spills his drink all over the counter. Like, come on, man! It’s not that hard to hold a cup! I was about to lose it, but then the barista, this cool lady named Carla, just laughed it off. She’s a legend. Made my day better instantly.
After that, I decided to stroll down Via del Trivio. It’s such a cute street, with those old buildings and all. I was just vibing, taking pics, you know? But then, outta nowhere, I hear this loud honking. I look up, and it’s a car trying to squeeze through. Like, dude, this ain’t New York! Chill! I mean, it’s a narrow street, and you’re in a Fiat. What do you expect?
Anyway, I kept walking, and I stumbled upon Piazza del Popolo. OMG, it was packed! There was this street performer doing some wild juggling act. I was like, “No way, this guy’s gonna drop something!” But he didn’t! I was so surprised, I almost clapped. Almost. I mean, I didn’t wanna be that tourist, right?
Then, I decided to grab some lunch. I hit up a little trattoria on Via dei Soderini. The pasta? To die for! I ordered the vincisgrassi, and let me tell ya, it was like a hug in a bowl. But then, I overheard this couple arguing about the best gelato in town. Like, seriously? Who cares? Just get both!
After lunch, I was feeling adventurous, so I headed to the Forte Malatesta. It’s this old fortress, and I thought, “Why not?” I climbed up, and the view? Wow. You can see the whole city! But then, I got a bit too close to the edge, and my heart dropped. I’m not a fan of heights, man! I was like, “Get back, you fool!”
On my way down, I bumped into this old guy. He was super friendly and started telling me stories about Ascoli. Apparently, it’s got this rich history with the Piceni tribe and all that jazz. I was like, “Dude, I’m just here for the food!” But he was so passionate, I couldn’t help but listen.
Then, I decided to check out the Duomo di Ascoli Piceno. It’s stunning! The architecture is insane. But guess what? It was closed for some renovation. I was like, “Are you kidding me?” I mean, come on! I just wanted to see the inside!
By the time I got back to the main square, I was exhausted but happy. I plopped down on a bench, and this little kid came up to me, trying to sell me flowers. I was like, “Kid, I’m broke!” But he just smiled and handed me one anyway. I mean, how can you say no to that?
As the sun started to set, the city lit up. It was magical. I felt this wave of gratitude wash over me. Sure, the day was chaotic, but it was real. Ascoli-Piceno, you’ve got my heart.
So, yeah, that was my day. Full of ups and downs, but mostly ups. I can’t wait to do it all over again tomorrow!