Man, what a day! I’m tellin’ ya, being a raftsman in Santeramo-in-Colle 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.” Spoiler alert: it wasn’t.
First off, I head to the river. You know, the Gravina? It’s usually peaceful, but today? Nah, not today. I get there, and there’s this huge pile of trash. Like, come on, people! Can’t we keep our beautiful town clean? I’m fumin’. I mean, I love this place. The old streets, the vibe, the people. But trash? Ugh!
So, I start cleanin’ up. I’m pickin’ up bottles, wrappers, you name it. I’m sweatin’ like a pig, and then, outta nowhere, this old dude, Signor Giuseppe, shows up. He’s like, “What are ya doin’, boy?” I’m like, “Cleanin’ up your mess!” He laughs, and I can’t help but chuckle too. Classic Giuseppe. Always got a joke.
After that, I finally get on the raft. It’s a beauty, man. Made it myself. I’m cruisin’ down the river, feelin’ like a king. The sun’s settin’, and the colors are insane. I’m thinkin’, “This is why I do this.” But then, bam! A freakin’ storm rolls in. Outta nowhere! I’m like, “Seriously?!”
I’m paddlin’ like a madman, tryin’ to keep the raft steady. The wind’s howlin’, and I’m just prayin’ I don’t end up in the bushes by Via San Francesco. That would be a disaster. I mean, I’ve seen some crazy stuff in that river, but this? This was next level.
Finally, I make it to the shore, soaked but alive. I’m laughin’ at myself, like, “What a ride!” But then, I see my buddy Marco. He’s sittin’ at the bar on Via Cavour, sippin’ a beer, lookin’ all relaxed. I’m like, “Dude, you won’t believe the day I had!” He just smirks and says, “Welcome to Santeramo, my friend.”
We end up talkin’ about the old days. Rememberin’ the festivals, the food, the people. Man, the Sagra della Ciliegia is the best! I can almost taste the cherry pastries. And the music? Don’t get me started!
But then, outta nowhere, this guy walks in. He’s all dressed up, lookin’ fancy. Turns out he’s from some big city, tryin’ to buy land here. I’m like, “Dude, this ain’t your playground!” I get all fired up, tellin’ him how Santeramo’s got its charm. We don’t need more concrete jungles.
He just rolls his eyes. I’m like, “You think you can just come here and change everything?” I’m ready to throw down, but Marco pulls me back. “Chill, man. He’s not worth it.”
So, I take a deep breath. I’m still mad, but I let it go. We finish our beers, and I head home. The streets are quiet now, and I can hear the crickets. Santeramo-in-Colle, man. It’s got its quirks, its ups and downs. But at the end of the day, it’s home.
I crash on my bed, thinkin’ about the day. It was wild, emotional, and a bit crazy. But that’s life, right? Just another day in Santeramo. Can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!