I walk out there outside the door waiting for me is 2 Italian men and 1 Russian women, she's couchsurfing. We recognize each other Nety and I. He entered me a picture earlier so I could recognize him. I did he same but I know he wanted to see how I looked...of course. Do all introductions and begin to walk. We head toward the sea, Nety knows a place that has 5€ mojitos for happy hour.
Nice is clean and easily walkable especially since I don't have to think about where I'm going. Because I'm with a local but still doing the usual memorizing streets, landmarks, and just paying attention to everything around me to return to my hostel later. We walk, talk and get to know one another. I adapt easily, Anna is quite, shy about her english. Nety talks a lot and I do as well, shocking right! I remember to slow down so they can understand what I'm saying. Even if they don't they don't ask me to repeat myself, just node their head.
Admiring all the shops and restaurants along the way, noticing the people but they're different than I imagined. I imagine them to be much more fancy, stylish, beautiful but they seemed very normal. I mean I've seen a few beautiful people, but nothing different than you have in america.
There's no breeze and it is warm, and I'm listening to everybody talk but more importantly I'm just staring in the direction of the water. My mind is at ease my heart is happy. We drink and eat tapas. It's clear from the beginning that I'm the drinker at the table. So I slow down. Another lady comes, she a friend of theirs, also italian. They all work in Nice, industry people. The are explaining how they return to Italy on the weekends to be with their families. Which is a short 20 minute train ride. The Italian girl expresses how much she dislikes France, she is only there for the money. She even goes back home to do her grocery shopping for her home in France. They're talking with their hands like you imagine it a typical Italian would do, with the accent stretched out at the end of each word like a typical italian would talk. I mock them because I like the way they sound not because I'm making fun of them.
The charcuterie and cheese board is almost identical to what we serve at my job. I'm waiting to be wowed by the food but so far that hasn't happened. After we finish we walk thru old town. It's different, cramped, everything is small. Very European, we head to a Gelato spot. An Italian guy owns it, Nety explains to me that's all natural. We pass a busy crazy busy spot but Nety explains that they use artificial ingredients to get the flavors. I get coconut and cookies, yummmmmmm we sit there for a moment enjoying our gelato. I'm exhausted from the day starting so early and ready to go back to my hostel....but we continue onto A rooftop bar. It's okay but there's no music so I made the assumption they are closing..we each have a drink...I choose champagne, while in Rome... I've already had 5 or so mojitos and feeling sober. We leave there pretty quickly 10 minutes. I am watching the bartender work...he's ok young kid. We head out, again walking down the street, but it's more quiet...we are headed to Nety place for home made lemoncello.
I thinking to myself night cap? I just want to go but I don't want to be rude and I'm fine since Anna is there and she's couchsurfing with him. We get there, walk in the building, the elevator only fits the 3 of us. We get to his door, it has 4 locks. Deadbolts locks that turn 3 times...eeekkk. we walk in, it's hot. Everything is right there. The bed, kitchen table, closet...the bathroom and kitchen are a couple feet away, literally. I sit at the table and he pours Anna and I each one. It's sour but good. It's about 2 ounces and I finish quickly because I want to go. Nety he wants me to stay so he brings out an aperitif. The smell made my head draw back, it was high in alcohol content but very smooth almost hazelnut flavor but not. I have about 5 onces of that in a New York minute. About 15 minutes has passed since we walked in. Anna is sipping hers sitting on the floor, connected to WiFi and on her phone. I get up to say bye and leave. Nety insists on walking me to my hostel. So we go, not before I ask for a liter of water. I walk down the stairs so I don't have to be in a closed space with him. He's italian for god sake! Thank goodness my hostel is literally a 5 minute walk. We arrive do the kiss on each cheek thing, and he goes in for a hug, I pat him on the back and pushing him back, nicely but so he understands. I say good night and walk inside. I'm sure I rolled my eyes when I turned around and exhaled.
So I'm back at my hostel curious who's in the room with me. I walk up the 6 flights of stairs, I enjoy it. I open the door and I see one guy on my left top bunk. There is a bag on the right bottom bunk where I was going to sleep. Dang it! Well top left it is.