We arrived a little after 1 yesterday and walked to the little wine shop owned by Giuliano's family and they called him and told him we arrived so that he could meet us and bring us up to our room.
As we were waiting we were discussing how casual Vernazza was as compared to our other destinations, there are a lot of younger, college aged, people here and a lot of bathing suits and shorts. We've found most places everyone local is made up and in jeans or skirts with fashionable boots and jackets. Here there was even a guy, all tattoos up his legs, wearing just a speedo and t-shirt walking up through the main square! That was Giuliano we soon found out.
He brought us up, up, up...unfortunately I followed the red speedo for the entire way.
Giuliano did NOT like the people, 2 Canadian women, who checked out of our rooms just before us. "my bull is a full - they have much bull for me". They had 2 big, heavy suitcases to carry up the steep steps and narrow walkways. He took one look at me and said "you a strong girl, let's go" (meaning 'pick up your bag and follow me'). Half way up he said "I can tell I a like you more already than the last a two people".
We heard a little 5 minute rant about them later and then about the "old" Americans who checked out this morning, who were too old to carry the big bags up the steps and rolled their suitcases over his thresholds (seriously, who puts a soft stone like polished slate on a threshold of a hotel room!)...I think that there is a little problem with customer appreciation. On trip advisor he is quoted as "having an acidic personality" and being "brash and socially awkward". Again with the Americans his "bull was a full" (most people would raise their hand to their head and make that "I've had it up to here" chopping motion, he always does the same action but at his knees - I think his "bull-o-meter" is low). Mom and I have had LOTS of laughs about him and his Full Bull and you know we laugh the same...teary eyes and no sound!
At least he likes us...he said he's taken two pills today "for stressed"...Man! I said to Mom "Can you imagine what he's like without them? I wonder if his wife grinds them up and puts them in his espresso"
We walked back down the stairs and around Vernazza in the afternoon and when we went back up the stairs to the room decided to have a glass of wine, so we opened one of our bottles of La Fornace wine and sat on our terrace. I can't wait to post some photos, its so gorgeous. There were no wine glasses so we had cups for the wine, which was fine.
We decided to have dinner on the terrace and so walked back into town, down the stairs, and got some salami and an apple and some bread and olive oil to add to our wild boar salami and fresh cheese that we purchased in Siena and at the organic cheese farm.
We walked back up the stairs (there are 78) and sat on our beautiful terrace and enjoyed our spoils.
The other guests were then on their terrace as well and we chatted with them for a few minutes before I noticed their wine glasses and asked where they got them..."there are only two, we'll leave them for you tomorrow when we leave. The owner is a little anal (ya' think?) and so we hide them in a different place every night so he doesn't take them back"...we've now promised them to a couple from Southern California for tomorrow when we leave, since they chatted to us for a couple of minutes and then asked where we got the wine glasses. I told them "you can have them tomorrow, tonight you drink from cups...it's kind of an initiation".
After we finished our wine we decided to go for a walk back into town, back down the stairs for a drink. Mom had another glass of wine and I had a "coffee with a splash of liquor". I got to choose my liquor and naturally chose Baileys. I got an espresso with baileys in it, not what I expected...I tried it and said "I HAVE to get a fancy coffee maker when I get home". It was unbelievable! Donatella, in Siena, had said "you ask for coffee you get espresso, it is coffee here". I should have remembered, but I've only ordered cappuccinos!
After the drink, back up the stairs to the rooms and into bed...to read through the reviews of Giuliano and have a laugh...quietly.
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