Rose

In the height of the summer in Siena, there is the lovely tradition of the 'Bao'bello', or the summer festival in the Bruco contrada, where one queues up for barbequed meat and those great Tuscan sausages; where much wine is drunk and where the disco or live music goes on into the small hours of the morning. This is where we went once more last night. 'We' comprised of my guests the tall Norwegian Audun, the lovely Rose from San Francisco with her mother Lilly. 

The thing about Rose and Lilly is they are both deaf and dumb. But that was not a problem really- there was plenty of communication going on. Rose was adorable and flirted gamely with Audun, and also with some boys sitting at our table, visiting from the contrada of Nicchio. 

I think the best thing would be just to write down some of the 'conversations' that I found this morning in the writing pad. Rose's comments are in bold.

 I never went to a contrada event before.. This is nice. What is the purpose of this event? 

Just to have fun and make some money for the contrada. Giving back to the community always warms the heart. The contradas are the Life and Soul of Siena. 

What would happen if there were no contradas?  Siena would just be an ORDINARY place.

True. If the Palio was banned for whatsoever reason, would the contrada spirit still be the same?  NEVER. Let's hope the Palio lives as long as our earth.  Mamma aspetto per lei Pizza. My Italian grammar is bad, sorry!

Questo e una sera molto Italiana! I try to blend in.  It feels like you are my nonna!

La bruschetta e soggy! Si.. lora hanno preparato il pomeriggio,,,
 I think your mother has run into an adventure somewhere..Sicuramente, I hope so! Una domanda: do I look Italian? Si, tu potessi essere Italiana. Come? Occhi scuri, capelli scuri... si sarebbe possibile.

Come tu trovi il Norvegiano? He is cute? No, non carino. Ma ho visto lui con i occhiali? camicia bianca. Ti piace? Shhh! Si. 

OK vai! ma io sono sordo. Yes I know. Io scrivo un messagi a lui? Posso scrivere che 'tu piace a lei'. lei e sordo.  'Ciao' La mia amica e sordo ma tu piace a lei'.  Sono ventuno Quanti anni tu? 

IO HO 30 ANNI, MA SONO FIDANZATO! COME TI CHAMI? 

Sono Rose, Sono Americana. Tu sei fidanzato, ma non encora sposato! Di quale citta in America? San Franciso, Come ti chiami? Mi chiamo Giulio, sono stato a San Francisco! Bellissima! Buona serata, e stato un piacere connoscerti.

Piacere mio! Grazie, il mio instagram se vuoi e sancho.golini......