Honestly, I was minding my own business and trying to speak Italian to our waiter at lunch and I must have butchered it because he laughed at me from the table across the way. then he tried to ask me a question (wise ass) in Italian knowing full well I didn’t speak the language. I’m engaged in him now. Growing more curious by the minute…… I ask him directions. He’s kind to oblige. I glean from him that he’s a Leather ware designer.. his family is 700 years in Florence . Leather is his family trade. catherine is about to birth their Son. Her ankles are swollen with anticipation! She said she hopes he’s as anxious to get out as she is to meet him. he proudly tells us he’s made a living providing the “second skin” to the rich and famous. He speaks 7 languages and has visited 44 of the United States. Catherine is a Texas born Florence transplant. He studied in Sweden and Rhode Island (RISDI). He is dressed in Luis and Dolce and his man purse is his own design. “Go ahead, Touch it”, he says over lunch…”go ahead…” I leaned in. I sheepishly admit it was worth fondling. But wait, who says things like that to someone you’ve barely met yet? “Go ahead, touch it…, for reals?” Catherine pipes in and says “I know he’s a lot,”. they are with their cousin Fernando the engineer. Catherine is excited as her family is arriving this week from the States to help with the new born who will be named Noah or Ayden. they met 10 years ago while her roommate worked at his shop. Catherine hated him. Because “he’s a little much”. This Sagittarius Italian 13 years her senior born on December 15, Won her heart tho, and he settled down. (the details just rolled like sweet soup accidentally spilt. Well, once it starts there’s no sense in stopping. He worships Catherine. They have a 4 year old daughter named Aida… he is very much in love with his life. I give him my card and say email me a photo of your boy, please. He beams at my interest and assures me he will be in touch! we hug goodbye and he gives me his card. He encourages us to stop by his shop. He designs and makes all his clothes in house. I remind him we have no luggage and are leaving in the morning…. He says, “Madame you come to my shop today or twenty years from now you will be treated like family”! On our way to cooking class… we stopped in for another hug…we left with 4 original custom built designs by Fillipo.
yeah, they were more expensive than the magnets I planned on buying… but he surely treated us “like family”…
4 Comments
5/7/2022 02:46:58 am
Loving your travels Annie! Heading for The Cinque Terra myself in June! Can't wait to see Italy - I've never been! And. how on earth did you get all that???
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Sandi
5/7/2022 10:08:04 am
I was so surprised to hear from you but so happy you’re enjoying your trip already us Italians are very friendly people you know have fun!!
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Anonymous
5/7/2022 10:49:33 am
I miss u. See you soon
Mike Wozniak
5/7/2022 10:40:25 am
Thanks for sharing the story. Not only are you an awesome person, but you are an awesome writer. Wish I was with you to share in the stories!
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