Man, what a day! I swear, Pontremoli is a wild ride. I woke up thinking it’d be just another boring day installing radio gear. Nope! Not in this town.
First off, I hit the road on Via Garibaldi. Beautiful street, right? Old buildings, cobblestones, the whole vibe. But then, bam! My van starts sputtering. Great. Just what I need. I’m like, “C’mon, not today!” I pull over, pop the hood, and it’s like a scene from a horror movie. Smoke everywhere. I’m sweating bullets.
So, I call my buddy Marco. He’s the car guru. He’s like, “Dude, you’re in Pontremoli. Just grab a coffee at Bar Centrale while I come.” I’m like, “Fine, but hurry!” I stroll over to the bar, and wow, the espresso hits different here. It’s like liquid gold. I’m feeling a bit better, ya know?
While I’m sipping, I notice this old guy at the next table. He’s got this wild mustache, like a cartoon villain. He’s talking about the “Festa di San Geminiano” coming up. Apparently, it’s a big deal. I’m thinking, “I should check it out.” But then, I remember I gotta fix my van first.
Marco finally shows up, looking all smug. He takes a look and says, “Dude, it’s just a loose wire.” I’m like, “Seriously? I freaked out for a loose wire?” He laughs, and I’m just relieved. We fix it up, and I’m back on the road.
Next stop, Via Roma. I’m installing some fancy radio stuff for this new café. The owner, Lucia, is super chill. She’s got this cute dog named Pino. Pino’s just lounging around, and I’m like, “Man, I wish I could be a dog.”
While I’m working, I hear this loud commotion outside. I peek out, and there’s a parade! Like, what? In the middle of the day? Turns out, it’s a mini carnival. Kids are running around with balloons, and there’s this guy juggling. I’m laughing so hard. I mean, who juggles in Pontremoli?
After I finish up at the café, I decide to check out the parade. I’m walking down Via Cavour, and it’s packed. Everyone’s smiling, music’s blasting. I feel this wave of happiness. It’s contagious! I grab a slice of pizza from a street vendor. Best pizza ever. I’m talking crispy crust, gooey cheese.
But then, outta nowhere, it starts to rain. Like, really rain. I’m soaked in seconds. I’m cursing under my breath, thinking, “Of course, this would happen.” But then I see Pino, the dog, running around in the rain, having the time of his life. I can’t help but laugh.
So, I duck into a little shop on Via della Repubblica. It’s filled with all these quirky trinkets. I find this ridiculous magnet that says, “I survived Pontremoli.” I buy it, thinking it’ll be a funny story later.
Finally, I head back to my van, drenched but happy. I’m driving home, and I can’t stop smiling. Pontremoli, man. It’s got this charm. The streets, the people, the unexpected craziness. I’m exhausted, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
What a day! I can’t wait to tell everyone about it.