Man, what a day! I’m tellin’ ya, being a bartender in Soccavo is like riding a rollercoaster blindfolded. So, I roll into work at my little spot on Via dell'Università, right? The sun’s blazin’, and I’m already feelin’ the heat. I’m thinkin’, “Today’s gonna be chill.” Spoiler alert: it wasn’t.
First customer walks in. This dude, I swear, he’s got a face like he just lost a fight with a pizza. He orders a Negroni, but like, he wants it “extra bitter.” I’m like, “Bro, you sure you ain’t just bitter?” But whatever, I whip it up. He takes a sip, grimaces, and says, “Too sweet.” I’m like, “Dude, it’s a Negroni, not a cupcake!”
Then, boom! The door swings open, and in walks this group of tourists. They’re loud, like, “Hey, we’re in Italy! Let’s get wild!” They start ordering all these fancy cocktails. I’m just tryin’ to keep up. One lady wants a spritz, but she’s like, “Make it with prosecco from the best vineyard!” I’m thinkin’, “Lady, I’m in Soccavo, not a vineyard tour!”
So, I’m mixin’ drinks, and the vibe is all over the place. I glance out the window on Via Giuseppe Mazzini, and I see this old man feeding pigeons. Like, seriously, who feeds pigeons anymore? But he’s got a whole crowd of ‘em. I chuckle, thinkin’ that’s the most action those birds have seen in years.
Then, outta nowhere, my buddy Marco shows up. He’s got this wild story about a cat stuck in a tree on Via G. Marconi. I’m like, “Dude, you’re a grown man. Call the fire department!” But nah, he’s convinced he can save it. I’m just shakin’ my head, pourin’ another drink.
Around 5 PM, the place starts fillin’ up. It’s like the whole neighborhood decided to hit up my bar. I’m behind the counter, and it’s chaos. I’m pourin’ shots, mixin’ cocktails, and tryin’ to remember who ordered what. I swear, I’m like a bartender octopus.
Then, this couple comes in, and they’re all lovey-dovey. They order a bottle of wine, and I’m thinkin’, “Great, more work for me.” But then, they start arguing. Like, full-on shouting. I’m just tryin’ to serve drinks, and they’re throwin’ around words like “divorce” and “custody.” I’m like, “Can you take that drama outside? I’m not a therapist!”
Finally, the night winds down. I’m exhausted, but then this regular, Lucia, comes in. She’s like a ray of sunshine. She orders her usual—an Aperol spritz—and we chat about the neighborhood. She tells me about the new gelato place on Via Roma. I’m like, “I gotta check that out!”
As I’m cleaning up, I think about how Soccavo is wild. It’s got its quirks, its characters, and its moments. From the old man with the pigeons to the tourists who think they’re in a movie. It’s messy, it’s loud, but it’s home.
So, yeah, that was my day. Just another crazy, beautiful mess in Soccavo. Can’t wait to do it all again tomorrow!