Cafes and
Scooters (part 2)
by Jerry Guarino
Romance. From the films of
the 1960s with Doris Day to the action-packed
Mission: Impossible and James Bond movies, Europe
provides the perfect background for love. You can
see it everywhere. Couples share coffee or wine
in a café and individuals flirt with glances as
they walk through crowds. Hundreds of people,
young and old, but mostly young adults. I
observed with interest and fantasy while
imagining what it would be like to be a twenty-something,
single and finding a mate. That’s what old
men do, harmless enough.
Food. But romance couldn’t
exist without the food. Any time, day or night,
you can find gelato, pastry or light meals. It is
a foodie heaven, especially in Rome, Paris and
Barcelona. Cafes are the location of choice,
although larger restaurants abound too. Pizza and
pasta are served everywhere, and are equal to the
best available in the States. The pizza is light,
with sweet sauce and toppings. Pasta is also
ubiquitous, but I often choose a simple spaghetti
and red sauce, pomodoro. For dessert, gelato is
the leading choice, although cakes and pastries
are tempting. I was surprised at the croissants,
sold everywhere, in many varieties, filled with
chocolate, fruit or cream. Not donuts, croissants.
I looked.
This brings me to a little
story that fits into this trip. I saw a tall,
pretty, strawberry blonde woman in her early
twenties in athletic pants and a light hoodie
coming out of a small jewelry store, the kind
that dots the alleys tourists travel. Let’s
call her Claire. From my post at the Trevie
Fountain, I saw Claire walking toward me. Other
men her age, and older, tried to get her
attention. But she wasn’t interested, until
a friend of hers, let’s call him Robert,
came up and gave her a hug and kiss. It didn’t
look like they were a couple, just friends.
Perhaps Robert wanted it to be more or missed his
chance in the past. Robert’s attire was
unremarkable: khakis, a polo shirt and running
shoes. You could tell Claire didn’t go for
the bad boy.
Claire and Robert took a
small table in a café, so I could see them
interacting. They ordered a carafe of red wine
and something to eat. I’ll bet it was pizza.
While they waited, their conversation became more
intimate. Robert kept eye contact with her and
looked down at her hands, resting lightly on the
table. No ring. He might have been planning on
touching her, but he didn’t. Friends. The
waiter brought some bread and olive oil.
I decided to get a table at
their café, close enough to hear their
conversation. I ordered pasta pomodoro and a
glass of red wine. Writers love to listen to
others, and build dialogue for their stories. Now
I could create a little romantic scene.
Claire spoke first. “Robert,
how is college? You’re going to school in
London, yes?”
“It’s good, but I
miss it here. I might transfer to the University
of Rome for my final two years, next Fall.”
“I’m happy there,
but of course, I’m an art history major. The
entire city is one big museum.”
“Do you have any plans
after graduation?”
“A classmate of mine
has connections at the Museum of Rome. I just
finished an internship this summer, and they
offered me a position after I graduate.”
“Great. Who says Art
history majors can’t find work.” They
laughed.
“So, Mr. Finance. Will
you be going to Wall Street someday?”
“No, I’m losing
interest in money. That’s why I want to
return here. Maybe switch my major to journalism
and photography. I want to work for a paper or
magazine.”
Claire perked up. This was
a welcome change for her friend. Suddenly, she
was more interested in Robert.
The waiter brought a small
pizza for Robert and a bowl of pasta for Claire.
“Buon Cibo”.
“Grazi”, Claire
said and returned her attention to Robert.
“I’m so glad we
ran into each other.” They smiled.
“Me too.” Claire
put her hand on his.
Robert made his decision.
He would transfer to school in Rome and hoped to
continue his relationship with Claire.
Robert and Claire finished
their meal and walked hand in hand out of the
café. I can finish this story.
So Europe continues to be
one of my favorite places to go. The food,
romance and inspiration for writing are ideal.
Cafes
and Scooters (part 2) by Jerry Guarino
Copyright May 2025 – All Rights Reserved
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