When I was child, my parents had some friends in Cleveland, Ohio, who had a nice home overlooking a golf course. My parents were about to go off to Europe on a vacation and the Cleveland woman said; “Why Travel? We’re here!” …and now many years later, I understand her statement. Why leave a place if you really, really like it? Me? I like my Tuscan town and its Views…even more than the Views of the Cleveland golf course. But each to their own. This week I am having coffee and meals with some travelers from the States who tell me the views here are from their ‘Bucket List’. Mission accomplished. Soon they will go on and see other things. Tonight, when I join them for dinner, I will ask them the ‘Why Travel” question.
So. Why am I Here? One of the reasons: This little town has a Fashion Show…one hour long, one night a year. Me? I’m a male from Ohio – not given to ‘Fashion’. Or to “Fashion Shows”. But this one is something else. At one end of our Piazza there is a little shop filled street called the ‘Borgo’. One night a year the store (Named “Quarante” – or, ’40’ – after its address) hosts a show. They roll down a red carpet a couple hundred yards long, put benches along both sides and dress up various local members of the community to stroll down the red carpet and show off the goods. Some of the models are very young, some are quite the opposite…all are happy to be strutting down the lane. The crowd claps, laughs, waves at the models. – and the models tended to wave back. It is a good time. The woman who sells the newspapers, magazines and such – modeled this year. So did two of the waitresses from one of the popular caffe’s. So did some of the local waiters. I think the guy who fixed the plumbing problem in our bathroom was sporting a nice brown leather jacket. Nobody from Paris or New York on the runway; but who needs that?
I hear, next week, a local band is going to play and march around in the piazza, in celebration of one of our favorite Saints. For me, better things happen here than were on my bucket list.
