Things have not slowed down here in Ascoli Piceno. On Friday morning Shannon, Jane, and I decided to get a little rest and relaxation in and headed to the nearby beach town of Cupra Marittima. A short 40 minute train ride away and we arrived in sandy paradise. Our hotel was right on the beach so we threw our stuff in the room and ran to our chairs to soak up some rays. We swam in the Adriatic, took naps under the hot Italian sun, and engaged in a little gelato action. A very choice way to start the weekend. For dinner we hit up different bars for appetitivo - when you order only drinks they bring you food too! As it grew into night we decided to get some night swimming in. It was so copacetic to be in the warm water and look up at the stars, until someone cut us off. That someone would be a jellyfish. The jellyfish decided to give Shannon a hug and me a couple high fives. We got out of there pretty quickly. The next morning we passed on the swimming but still got a couple hours in at the beach before we headed back home.
Last night. Anyone who was talked to or lived with me for the past week knows that I have not shut up about the Lion King since I heard it was happening here in Ascoli. Being a theatre lover, actress, fan of Disney, and lover of all things Ascoli, this event could not have catered to me more. For the past week I've been sitting in Piazza del Popolo, my anticipation growing as I watched crews set up the stage. Hang and focus is a lot more fun when you're sipping a cappuccino watching other people do it...
The show was amazing. It was all in Italian but I actually understood most of it (it helps that I know the story like the back of my hand and the show is written for children). I really loved hearing the lyrics in Italian and comparing them to the English version. For example, Scar's "Be Prepared" song is "Saró re" in Italian, which means "I'll be king". Others were more similar to the original, like "He lives in you" was "Viva in te, Viva in me". The actors were impressive and the costumes and props were so elaborate. It was a great evening. During curtain call, the director came out and looked so excited and happy that I cried. I know how great of a feeling putting on a show is, especially when they only had one performance, and to have the magic of theatre happen in the magical setting of Piazza del Popolo made me really emotional. As people left, they played the English versions of "I Just Can't Wait to be King" and "Hakuna Matata" and I danced my heart out.
Shannon, Jane and I went to Murph's for a nightcap of vino bianc and mozz balls. Afterwards, Shannon and I headed over to Porta Romana for a beer festival. Now, even though Porto Romana is a rival district of mine in Quintana, I decided to be a bigger person and show my face there. I got a great blonde beer, but afterwards I was so tuckered out that bed called to me.
Today I woke up depressed that I only have 12 or so days left here. And I know it's more important to be happy and that spending the next two weeks in a state of dread is not the way to live. I went to Cafe Meletti to cheer myself up with a Nutella cornetto and TWO cappuccinos. There I met a man who grew up in Ascoli but moved to Australia when he was 19. He comes back with his family for a couple weeks every summer but he said he's much more Australian than Ascolano. They were really nice, but talking to them I could feel my eyes welling up with tears. I get why he would want to leave, hell, I've pretty much all but abandoned Chicago myself. But I was jealous that he got to choose to leave, whereas I'm being dragged away from Italy by my lack of a visa, need to get a wisdom tooth out, and impending obligation of school.
Tomorrow Bar Lori opens back up and that will be amazing. Today, I'm enjoying the dolce far ninete - the sweetness of doing nothing. Ciao!
No comments:
Post a Comment