Man, what a day! I woke up in Bagnara-Calabra, and let me tell ya, this place is a wild mix of beauty and chaos. The sun was shining, the sea was glistening, and I thought, “Today’s gonna be chill.” Spoiler alert: it was NOT chill.
First off, I hit up Via Roma for some coffee. You know, the good stuff. I’m talking about that strong espresso that kicks you in the face. I ordered it, and the barista, this dude with a mustache that could rival a 70s cop, gave me a look like I just asked for a unicorn. Like, c’mon man, it’s just coffee! Anyway, I got my fix, and I was ready to tackle the day.
So, I’m walking down the lungomare, right? The sea breeze is hitting me, and I’m feeling all philosophical. I mean, how can you not? The waves crashing, the mountains in the background, it’s like a postcard. But then, BAM! A seagull swoops down and steals my cornetto! I’m standing there, mouth agape, like, “Did that just happen?” I swear, that bird had a plan. It was like a scene from a heist movie. I was mad, but also kinda impressed.
After that, I headed to the local school. I’m a typhlopedagogue, which is a fancy way of saying I teach visually impaired kids. I love it, but man, today was a rollercoaster. The kids were wild! We were doing some tactile activities, and one kid, Marco, decided to turn it into a food fight. Flour everywhere! I was laughing and yelling at the same time. “Marco! We’re not baking a cake!” But honestly, it was hilarious.
Then, outta nowhere, the fire alarm goes off. I’m thinking, “Great, just what I need.” We all pile out onto Via Nazionale, and it’s chaos. Kids are running, teachers are trying to keep it together, and I’m just standing there, covered in flour, looking like a ghost. But then, I see this old lady, Nonna Rosa, who lives nearby. She’s got this huge basket of fresh bread. She starts handing it out to the kids. I’m like, “This is the best fire drill ever!”
After the excitement, I needed a break. I strolled over to the beach. The sand was warm, and I just plopped down. I was thinking about how Bagnara-Calabra is this hidden gem. The views from the Castello di Bagnara are insane! You can see the whole coast. But then, I remembered the time I hiked up there and almost died. The path is steep, and I’m not exactly in shape. I mean, who needs a gym when you have Bagnara’s hills, right?
As the sun started to set, I decided to grab some dinner. I hit up this little trattoria on Via Garibaldi. The owner, Giovanni, is a legend. He makes the best spaghetti alle vongole. I ordered it, and while I waited, I chatted with some locals. They’re always full of stories. One guy was telling me about the time he caught a fish so big, it could’ve been a shark. I was like, “Dude, you sure it wasn’t just a big sardine?”
Dinner was amazing, but then I got a text from my friend. “Emergency! Meet me at the piazza!” I’m thinking, “What now?” I rushed over, and it turns out, they just wanted to show me a new gelato place. I mean, come on! But hey, who am I to say no to gelato? We ended up trying every flavor. I think I gained 5 pounds in one night.
Finally, I headed home, exhausted but happy. Bagnara-Calabra, you crazy little town, you never fail to surprise me. From seagull heists to flour fights, you keep life interesting. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!