Couch Surf Number Two Vespa Style

What a lovely time. Certainly different than the first. The kind gentleman met me on the corner of a Piazza. Of course I was standing on the wrong corner and he's on lunch break from work. He knew I would be pronto because I am an American. He was right; I was 20 minutes early. Finally, I spotted the blue helmet and blue and black Vespa. Off we went. FAST. I am no stranger to adventure but I did use my knuckles and fingernails to grip the leather seat. It's the lean lean lean...

Out to lunch at a typical Italian restaurant. Cheese and Prosciutto is delicious in mini warm buns. Not use to the fat strips tho. I don't normally eat turkey bacon and this was only the appetizer. After lunch, we zipped up a steep narrow cobblestone street to top our time with view and gelato. He dropped me at another Piazza to walk even further up, telling me what bus to catch to return to the hostel; the time was perfect though I was a bit shaky at the backend of a graveyard when they were digging and I only heard male voices. The street seemed to be only me. I was in Fiesole, a small community with two convents five miles outside Florence in the hills. Would the Dominicans have protected...

Coincidences. He is a mining engineer and spent some time studying in Colorado. He of course knew and had been to Climax Molybdenum Mine where I worked in the early 70s for a summer season. He was quite shocked I actually worked in the mine and blasted with dynamite. It was a real world bonding moment and I saw his respect increase. He probably met people I have met in Summit County.

He was so gracious with his time and information, giving me tips and suggestions for Slovenia and Croatia about National Parks. 

In the early morning, I walked up 463 steps to the top of the Duomo. It was another Room with a View. American women, with their husbands, look at me curiously. Are you traveling alone... I give them the outline. I was married for 30 years. Then divorced. Been single for five years. I traded in love for adventure and in the adventure, you find love...

Their follow up question is do you work...

I was a librarian but when I became single again, I mixed it all up. I work seasonal positions in National Parks, travel to see my daughters and sisters, then work some more at what comes up...

KISS 

Keep it simple stupid. I finally learned.