Sybil’s Leaves 2009: One Naught Gelato Flavour and Two Concerts
July 13-14, 2009
I was rather lazy on Monday after another night plagued with bad dreams (this time I was talking to Bryan all night – odd) and made a salad of cannellini beans, tuna and corn during the day, but once Bryan was out of class we scampered down our street – Via della Cometa – and went shopping for tea cups, gelato and groceries. I was attempting to give Bryan some sense of bearing that has been further complimented by a guided tour on Tuesday offered by his course and which I got to tag along for (and practice my Italian – but that will be the subject of a separate epistle).
Enjoying the view from Piazza Italia, we decided to get some gelato and I inadvertently made a dirty joke by ordering Baci and Fiche flavours together. Bryan couldn’t stop giggling as we left the shop: Apparently a fig is a euphemism for certain unmentionable parts of a woman’s anatomy and, well, Baci means kisses, so in my characteristic vulgarity, I renamed my ice cream “twat kisses” (which is apparently an appropriate rendering) and we took pictures relishing our delicacy from the square.
In the evening, I headed out to see Chick Corea and Stefano Bollani at Arena Santa Giuliana. Although I love piano jazz, I was not particularly blown away by most of this concert. Watching the different styles of the two pianists – Corea sits completely still with much passion in his hands while Bollani uses his whole body to play – I found myself doing a lot of soul-searching and feeling pretty unaccomplished. It was hard to concentrate on the music and I was genuinely surprised by how Chick Corea appeared to be the lesser of the two artists from my vantage point.
All that changed with the second encore (clearly I have no taste as the crowd went wild for these two). Corea manipulated the reaction of the crowd – using our clapping and applause like a percussion instrument to compliment his own playing and Bollani took up the accompanying role that Corea had seemed to occupy for most of the concert. I was impressed and happy to have experienced such a cool phenomenon as I made my way back to the apartment.
Tuesday was a day of increased productivity. Although I woke up late and skipped breakfast, I spent the morning in my favourite café catching up on correspondence and then joined Bryan for lunch at the bar in the Universita per Straniere. A Panini with arugula and mozzarella with a bottle of fizzy water came to less than 3 euros. We intend to eat lunch there most days. In the late afternoon, I was introduced to some of Bryan’s classmates as I attended the aforementioned guided tour through the city. All Italian teachers, conversations with them are both useful and easy for they can interpret my errors as well as correct them. I met three Natalias in a two-hour period. After the walk, Bryan and I stopped at Sandri’s to get some honeydew and whipped cream flavoured gelatos. Omnomnom. Sandri’s gelato is probably the best I have had thus far.
After a dinner of porcini-cream and chive penne with leftover cannellini bean salad, we ventured back onto Corso Vannucci to pick up Mojitos-to-Go from the Bacardi both and cioccolatini from Sandri’s (which were good, but a little disappointing). We arrived at Santa Giuliana over an hour early for Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at the Lincoln Center Orchestra – but we passed the time gorging on chocolate and catching up.
The concert WAS happiness. Whenever my mind drifted, it was to joyful memories and inspired plans – but I did not drift very frequently. I sat with my hand in my heads, sipping limoncello, and just stared at the band playing as one instrument. I LOVE Big Band Jazz – the fullness of the sound, the unpredictability of the individual solos accompanied by a steady, entrancing beat – yes, I might have compared the music to great sex (how did this post suddenly become R-rated?). I am crossing my fingers that the performance was recorded because I MUST hear Marsalis’ Offertory Hymn played at the Abyssinian Church’s 250th anniversary, particularly the third movement “Holy Ghost,” again.
As we navigated the dense crowds back to Via Della Cometa – I was still glowing, but worried that the concerts to follow this one will pale in comparison.
