Monday, April 18, 2011

Goes to My Head

 This post contains juicy, juicy, scandalous behavior. If you're new to this blog and you're easily offended by the caprice of youth, don't read on. You've been warned.

After an hour of wandering windy Florentine streets, the four of us finally found the Tuscan restaurant Gianni recommended. It seemed only seconds between the time we were seated, menus scoured, food ordered, and the carafe of table wine emptied.

Soon the conversation flowed as easily as the wine down our gullets as we got to know each other.

Earlier, just off a train from Rome, Alice and I had drug our bedraggled behinds to our hostel, a small flat with one large room full of impossibly ancient bunk beds and twin beds pushed together.

We immediately befriended The Twins from San Diego, Jim and Carrie, dumped our bags under our beds, and headed off to find sustenance.

Over spicy risotto, antipasto and, of course, glass after glass of dulcet vino guzzled like juice from tall thick glasses, the four of us filled our bellies and let the laughter fly.

Aided by the crimson courage only wine can lubricate, sexual tension flew between me and Jim. He was entirely too young for me, but whip smart and oh so pretty. I wasn’t exactly hard up. I’d just left Giampaolo in Rome who was probably working his way up another favorite American girl’s skirt at that moment. But what the hell.

Jim was innocent and as the evening wore on, he became more and more tempting.  It soon became clear Alice was attracted to him too and, though it wasn’t my style to compete, suddenly I was an Olympian and Jim was a gold medal. He would be mine, at least for tonight.

Back to the hostel, with one stop at a liquor store for more wine, and the evening was just beginning. More wine. Hours of antics. More wine. We girls compared boob sizes and flexibility and we each shared embarrassing talents, including my imitation of a Howler Monkey and Tiramisu face.

Soon pajamas were changed into and we found ourselves settling in, ready to pass out. On a whim, I announced I’d be a twin sandwich and crawled between Jim and Carrie. Suddenly I was captured, pulled under the covers and subsequently under a half naked man.

Between kisses, he nervously whispered that he couldn’t do this in front of his sister. We hushed and the only other sounds in the room were the giggles and sighs of Carrie and Alice coming from one bed. Seemed she didn’t have the same hangup.

I awoke the next morning to a goodbye kiss, a view of a room full of empty wine bottles and grape-stained glasses, and The Twins leaving to catch a train to Amsterdam.



This was a post for the RemembeRED prompt: “Give me a memory of the color red. Do not write the word 'red' but use words that engender the color red when you hear them. For example: a ruby, a tomato, fire, blood. Writing has the elegance of mathematics. Try to write economically. A red cherry is redundant. Cherry is enough unless it’s one of the yellow ones from Washington state. Then it’s a yellow cherry. But, otherwise, cherry immediately wakes up the color red in the mind.”

My Tiramisu face, while demonstrating how flexible I was, on a dare.
I never share photos for RemembeRED, but couldn't resist sharing this one.
Sorry, Jim.

23 comments mean you love me:

The Savage said...Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

THAT was an awesome memory. I only wish I had such adventures. Thanks a bunch for sharing.

Fabulously Awkward said...Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

The inhibitions of a foreign country and carafe after carafe of vino di casa...

Great story!

Hutch said...Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

This doesn't help my wanderlust one bit! Sounds like a great trip/night! I just wrote about why younger guys are awesome, this post only solidifies that :)

Brandy Wilcoxen said...Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I've never had something so awesome happen to me.

Nush said...Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

Brilliant! That is the way to live life and have a blast. I mean... how else should holidays and travel be remembered? :)

meleah rebeccah said...Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

Nothing that fabulous has EVER happened to me!

Poppy said...Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I have his overwhelming urge to give you a high five. Well played.

Liz said...Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

You know it's a good story if you made Poppy proud.

Skye said...Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

this reminds me of going to Italy for spring break when I studied abroad! except I had a way less scandalous time. so, high five to you.

Cheryl said...Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

And THAT is how you have fun when you're young and in Italy!

tracy said...Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

Completely fabulous. LOVE!!!!

Katie said...Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I am utterly jealous of your youthful shenanigans!

And I am in love with this post.

Go you.

TKW said...Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

Ha! I shared a humiliating picture this week, too! I am so glad I got to see "Tiramisu face" because I was dying of curiosity. Now if only I could hear the howler monkey imitation...

Unknown said...Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

Now I wanna go off to Europe. You know, like 15 years ago... ;) What great memories and words!

And that pic? PRICELESS.

Kir said...Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

oh I'm so jealous! What a fantastic memory to share with us...and well played with Jim. I feel a "kindred spirit"

I saw all the red I needed to..:)

Miranda said...Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

Every week I look forward to your posts and every week you do not disappoint!

I want memories like this one!

Jennifer said...Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I love that this read somehow as both innocent and scandalous. I think a lot of folks feel the 'anything goes' of traveling but fewer of them actually embody it! I thought the nearly frantic pacing of your writing for this piece felt so right, because vino has a way speeding things up sometimes, coupled with the 'fuck it' of youth.

Crimson courage, nice phrase, totally borrowing it.

alonewithcats said...Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

Hot.

I wish I hadn't been so damn responsible (and anti-social and awkward and overweight) in younger days.

Jennifer said...Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

{Note to self, never, ever let Baby Girl travel Europe without you.}

That is a truly awesome story. Great memories are awesome.

Jenna said...Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

hell. yeah.

what a great story. and the picture?

girl, you ARE crazy with a side of awesomesauce :D

The mad woman behind the blog said...Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

So very jealous!
Well, except for the Howler Monkey.
Oh, I can only imagine how much trouble you and Poppy could get into.

Leighann said...Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

Oh you brought back such fantastic memories!
I love this!
So fun and carefree.
I forgot about competing with girlfriends for a boys attention and the ridiculous things we would do.
Loved this!

Jackie T said...Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

Always wondered about the antics of you and Alice. Good to get a taste :) Also, if you respond to this comment, I will be forced to vomit in your face. Go do something else! Find another younger fella to seduce for the evening :)

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