Man, what a day! Seriously, I’m still buzzing from all the craziness in San-Pietro-Clarenza. Like, where do I even start?
So, I woke up late, as usual. Alarm? What alarm? I jumped outta bed, threw on whatever I could find. I mean, who needs matching socks, right? I grabbed a quick coffee from that little bar on Via Roma. You know the one? The one with the best cornetti in town. I swear, those things are like little bites of heaven.
Anyway, I was supposed to meet some students at the Piazza della Repubblica. You know, the big square with the fountain? Yeah, that one. I was running late, of course. I sprinted down Via Garibaldi, dodging tourists and their selfie sticks. Like, come on, people! It’s not that serious!
Finally, I get to the piazza, and guess what? No students. Just my luck, right? I’m standing there, looking like a lost puppy, when I see this group of kids laughing and pointing at something. I’m like, “What’s so funny?” Turns out, they were watching a street performer. This dude was juggling flaming torches! I mean, who does that? I was half impressed, half terrified.
So, I finally get my students together. They’re all hyped up about this art exhibit at the Castello Normanno. I’m like, “Sure, let’s go!” But first, we gotta grab some gelato. I mean, it’s a must in San-Pietro-Clarenza, right? We hit up this gelateria on Via Vittorio Emanuele. I got pistachio, of course. Classic.
After the gelato, we head to the castle. The view from up there is insane! You can see all the way to Mount Etna. I mean, wow! But then, outta nowhere, it starts pouring rain. Like, seriously? I’m drenched, the students are laughing, and I’m just standing there like a soggy noodle.
We duck into the castle, and it’s all cool and ancient. I’m trying to keep the vibe up, but I’m soaked and cold. One of the students, Marco, cracks a joke about me being a “wet blanket.” Ha! Very funny, Marco.
Then, we start talking about their future plans. You know, the whole self-determination thing. I’m trying to inspire them, but honestly, I’m just thinking about how I need a dry shirt. But they’re super engaged! They start sharing their dreams, and I’m like, “Wow, these kids are gonna change the world!”
After the castle, we decide to hit up a local pizzeria. I mean, you can’t go to San-Pietro-Clarenza and not have pizza, right? We find this little spot on Via San Giuseppe. The owner is this old guy who’s been making pizza since forever. He’s got this twinkle in his eye, like he knows he’s the king of pizza.
I order a margherita, and it’s like a slice of heaven. The students are raving about it, and I’m just sitting there, soaking it all in. Life is good, even if I’m still wet.
But then, as we’re leaving, I see this stray cat. It’s just chilling on the sidewalk, looking all regal. I’m like, “Dude, that cat has the life.” One of the students, Sofia, starts petting it, and it’s purring like a motorboat. I’m thinking, “Why can’t I be that cat?”
As the day winds down, we walk back through the streets. The sun is setting, and everything is bathed in this golden light. I’m feeling all sentimental, you know? Like, these kids are gonna do amazing things.
But then, I trip over a cobblestone. Classic me, right? I stumble, and everyone bursts out laughing. I can’t help but laugh too. It’s just one of those days.
So, yeah, San-Pietro-Clarenza, you’ve been a wild ride. From juggling fire to pizza and stray cats, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Here’s to more crazy days ahead!