Once I finish I head back to our apartment and go directly to the pool. Elida is still sleeping and I will send her a text later letting her know where I am. I jump in and swim letting the water release my burdens. I see other people's sadness and am willing to talk with them about theirs but I rarely talk about my own. The water makes my soul feel at peace. This is where I am meant to be for the day and I settle in, setting up a chair and writing. I take a dip whenever the sweat begins to pour and write in the interim.
I watch the people at the pool. They come from many places converging in this camping, apartment, bungalow location resting beneath the high hills of Sorrento. There is an English man teaching his daughter to swim. Four teenage Italian girls are horsing around and being silly. They do not stop laughing the entire day. They leapfrog over one another into the pool, push each other jump and splash. It reminds me of home and today I really miss my boys. They would love to be here.
Two brothers are at the pool with their Dad. The older is trying to get the younger to try diving. I approach the father and ask if he speaks English. He says a little. I ask, "May I teach the boys to dive?" I explain that I am a teacher. He agrees. I begin my students the way I do all of my other diving students sitting on the side. I show them how to put your arms up and push yourself off with your feet. I go first and then they both try. They do great. Step two is next. Now we kneel on the side with one knee down and dive again. Once again they are wonderful. The last step is to stand on the side and jump and dive. The youngest struggles more with this but with encouragement continues to try. He gets it eventually and the Dad thanks me. The oldest son tells me I am like a fish and I laugh. It is apt description. Later their Mom and sister come down and the boys quickly ask me to teach their sister. Her name is Rachelle, just like my sister. They remind me of my family who I am away from right now. Rachelle is more nervous than the boys but she eventually gets the nerve and does well. Their Mom talks with me for quite awhile. They are from Eastern Canada and she explains how beautiful their area is. She tells the story of this part of the world in a way that makes me want to go there; there are fiestas, warm people and walking cities with night life. She says it is very European in feel.
I take a break and have lunch at the restaurant by the pool, my favorite sandwich of tomato, basil and mozzarella. The bread is crusty and delicious. I am satisfied. I return to the pool.
Elida arrives at the pool late and we sit in the sun and talk. We send messages trying to figure out our plans for the next few days. We decide to head to Florence instead of Rome. I send a message and cancel our reservations in Rome and then we arrange with Father Bruno to stay with him in Florence. We have one more night in Sorrento and we have been invited to a club. The owner wants to meet me and has been described as good-looking, intelligent and wealthy. Paz would be proud I am thinking. I agree to go.
Elida and I have dinner, just the two of us in Sorrento. We wandered the backstreets and find a tiny place tucked in beneath some apartments. There is enchanting Italian music playing and the decor is perfect, bricked walls, simple but elegant tables and only four inside, two outside. We decide this is the place. The owner is and adorable man who through the course of our meal sings and dances with his wife. Each person working there sings sweetly. The food is an obvious labor of love. Our dishes are phenomenal. We ask about the lovely music and he directs us to a Youtube link. He sits for a picture with the two of us. It was perfect. We are filled and happy.
Now we are off to meet some friends, Tawfik and Marouan, and hopefully the owner of the club, the one who had invited us on his boat that day. We have now been invited for the next day and are debating whether we have time to go or not. We have set our plans and are traveling to Florence the next day. We have to run and drop some things off with our friends first and I am taken in how Marouan holds my hand while going up the steps. We had headed to the port and Sorrento has many steps down to the port. The way he holds my hand is unique to his culture and I love his care for me. My whole arm rests on his arm as we walk both up and down the steps.
Next we head to the club. Once we arrive there are series of strange events that play out over the course of about an hour. We were ready to meet the owner when we are told he can't meet us because, "tonight he has a girlfriend but tomorrow on the boat he will not. And you are much more beautiful than the girl he is with tonight." I just laugh. There is our answer, we will not go on the boat. As things become even more strange I ask to leave. I was feeling as if our safety was being compromised and we needed to go. A series of shady people had walked in and I was not comfortable. I finally convince the others to leave as well. At this point I am thankful we had missed the boat by oversleeping. There is a whole lot more to that story and without children at home I would have stayed long enough to investigate.
We head once again to the Beer Ba. Drinks are ordered for me and Elida and when I take a sip of the one in front of me I know something is amiss. My drink is straight alcohol. Elida's is a mixed drink. I am certain someone is trying to get me drunk so that I will relax a bit but tonight my guard is up. Too many strange things have happened and I can't let them go.
But the Beer Ba is an interesting place full of interesting characters and I don't need to drink. I warn Elida to mix my drink with something else and I stand and observe the people in this bar. My favorite two characters play off one another perfectly. An older version of our sandlot, these boys are singing their hearts out, free and unashamed. Each time a new song plays they are able to repeat every word. They belt it so loud that the people upstairs in the garden could easily hear. One is thin with blonde hair that is in a fohawk but larger, wider and softer. He sings the loudest and leaves his soul out there each time. His side-kick is dark-haired and chubby but he can move. He slides down the hallway with his hand out looking a bit like Michael Jackson, grabs a beer from the cooler and slides back to the bar. The walls of the bar are covered in old newspapers and I look at them searching for key events in history but find none.
I return to the table and talk with Maoruan several times but I am still observing the people, the culture and appreciating everyone that comes in and out of this place. Some get one shot and leave and others linger. Some go downstairs and dance and others talk.
Marouan and I talk about how he learned his languages. Marouan explains that he can never get enough when he is learning. His teachers loved him because he was so inquisitive. He still continues to acquire knowledge and says he will never be filled completely. He is always thirsty to learn more. He found he was good with languages because he would sit, listen and practice. He now calls me his English teacher. He asks many questions about how to say things. His heart is heavy and his eyes sad but once in awhile they light up and you can see his true beauty. I take a break and dance with a man who has a limp. He is cute in his red shirt and it is fun to dance with him. When I return to the table there has been a fight. Marouan's female friend had sat down to talk with him while I was dancing. Tawfik started a fight with her. Now Marouan is upset and so I take him up to the bar while Elida tries to counsel Tawfik to apologize. This takes quite some time as the man is stubborn and doesn't see the need to apologize. Marouan and I practice English at the bar, borrowing a pen and napkin and writing down key phrases.
As we are standing there a man strolls up. He is stunningly attractive immediately making me take a deep breath and step back a little. He is wearing white pants and a navy blue button-down shirt with white trim. It is contrasted against his dark skin, dark hair and green eyes. I cannot help myself. I smile, raise my eyebrows and flirt. Marouan is standing between us but it doesn't matter. He and I flirt back and forth while standing at the bar and finally speak. I am sober and I know my judgement is not impaired tonight. I have learned so much about Marouan. He is the type of man who will sacrifice for others because he feels it is right and courageous. He stands up for what he believes and protects his friends. I am still talking with him and flirting with the other guy when Elida strolls up with Tawfik for the grand apology. They head outside and I stay wishing to speaking with the beautiful stranger.
Aldo and I speak. I explain the situation about who I am with. He asks if I would like to go with him. That was the easiest answer to give, "yes". We head out to the street to see if the problems with my friends have been resolved. They are still working on it. Finally I have to explain to Marouan that I will be leaving him to continue my conversation with Aldo. He understands but it is with sadness. I am conflicted but I make the decision to go anyway.
We walk away and kiss on the street. His kisses are perfect. I get to trace his fine body and we talk. We catch a scooter ride to his car and it is thrilling. I am sandwiched between two handsome Italian men, Aldo behind me and his friend driving. My hair is flying and we are speeding through the streets. His car, of course, is as sexy as he is, a black sporty Audi. Aldo obviously works out as much as I do or perhaps more because he has strong biceps, and sextants. His whole body is framed perfectly by multiple tattoos.
He is the epitome of Italian sexy, the voice, the body and the kisses. Any American girl dreaming of an Italian man would dream of a man such as him but I wonder how many would appreciate his inner beauty as I do. He does not have sadness in his eyes but light and thirst. His eyes show excitement and wonder and a need for adventure.
As we talk throughout the night I tell him about my boys and show him a picture and he tells me something I will never forget, "You have the perfect life," he says. I look at him puzzled and he explains, "You have already been married, you have two boys you love, a job you love and you are free to be here with me." This is just the thing I need to hear and I take it to heart. I have repeated it everyday since. I am thankful for the gift of appreciation he has bestowed on me. He asks if I want to take a picture of him to remember him by and I say no, "I will remember you, trust me." The memory of his beautiful body and soul are etched in my mind forever.
He has wonderful dreams of coming to America and I hope and pray he will pursue them. In our dreams we find our joy. We are meant to pursue our passions as it is our way of connecting with God and others. My goal is always to leave a little of my beauty and joy behind when I travel, something people can think of when they need a smile. I hope I have done well with my time in Sorrento.
The time in Sorrento broke me free, free from my harsh judgement of myself. Free to love and be loved in all the ways the world experiences love.
Aldo is right about my life. I have a younger son who picks me flowers and gives me endless hugs and kisses and an older son who makes known his bold wishes for me to find love so that I will not have to do everything for myself and by myself. It is a beautiful, perfect life.
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A private meal in a tucked away place
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