Half awake, I stumbled out of my friend’s apartment to retrieve Adrian, my son. Gathering my thoughts I press the down button for the elevator. Mental checklist engaged. Doors open, I’m immediately disgusted by the reflection in the mirror.. Almost tempted to slap a Covid-19 mask on my face to avoid shocking the public below. Too late the doors shut and I’m too tired to care.. Insomnia is a bitch. Doors open, the nice smell of the basement greets my nostrils as I walk towards the glass door that leads to the busy world of Arezzo.
I make my way out of the building but still remain inside of another building, a tunnel structure that leads to the roundabout where my munchkin awaits. To my right there’s an all male barbershop, the window has a decal with a bearded skull wearing aviator sunglasses,(the logo has since ditched the glasses) very hipster. To my left are vending machines with iced tea, coffee, and an assortment of snacks. What’s NOT hipster is the advertisement next to the coffee vending machines, it’s a woman with cinnamon colored skin, completely naked except all her lady parts are covered with spoons… Well played graphic designer, I hope you got promoted. This ad has been here as long as I can remember. I guess naked ladies are timeless. After exiting the tunnel there’s no sign of my husband, in my mind I review my schedule for the day and enjoy the overcast sky and breeze.

The roundabout is called Piazza Guido Monaco, the man that invented the music scale (musical notation). That’s right folks he is from Arezzo!!! There’s a giant statue of the Monk in the center of the roundabout, he is facing the direction you would walk if you are headed towards the train station. His back faces the direction of the historical center. I’m located directly behind his left shoulder, if he were able to turn his head he could wink at me. The modern, busy roundabout is a home for four main bus stops. Huddled under these four marquee boards, blinking with amber lights and bus numbers, are the citizens of Arezzo all trying to get to their respective jobs or schools.
From the bus stop closest to me arises a man passionately speaking, hand gestures and all. I mind my own business, I have been known to make a fool out of myself and respond to people that have an earpiece in making a hands free phone call. This man joined me under the tunnel structure doorway, his volume and gestures intensified. He looked exactly like Robin Williams, if Robin Williams had fired his personal stylist and made his great escape from an insane asylum. He had on grey sweatpants and a raggedy stained red shirt, layered over his shirt was a pleather satchel. He had knock off Tevas, you know the brown ones that grandparents wear with socks in the summertime? Yes he had those on but had enough sense to leave the socks at home.
After playing fashion police with this poor soul, I realized he was NOT on a phone call!!! Homeboy was talking to himself!!!! Very loudly I must add. I tried not to smile, engage, or stare. He muttered something about a doctor.. Then swiftly took off running like an olympic sprinter to the opposite bus stop across the piazza. I saw him climb in the L21 bus, this pleased me, because that is the same bus I take home in the evenings. I sure do hope I see him again. Until we meet again… He was a very entertaining character to witness, all before my first espresso of the day.