Cara Perugia, Ti Manco

I found myself with a little reflection and creativity this morning on the train, and in light of my last post, I want to share it with you. I've been missing Italy a lot lately; hearing my coworkers speaking Italian over the phone with clients has made me especially nostalgic for my time in Perugia. Here is a little slice of my life from a city a love.

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Perugia, Italy--

Perugia sits on top of a hill, where it seems that a strong gust of wind could blow it off into the atmosphere. You might forget while you walk among its gray stone streets and structures, but Perugians soak the morning sun in before it touches the Umbrian countryside. There air revives you with every breath, and its mystery makes the city magical.

There was a distinct sound coming home to that place: the echoes of heeled boots clapping the stone walls, down roads that look like halls. Our street was quiet, except for the occasional piano playing from a couple who liked to waltz in their basement. We lived in an alley that most didn't even know existed--just wide enough for three girls to walk side-by-side--though our corner owned one of the best views in town.

Our alley’s cold darkness was desirable after a long night of dancing and downing vino. But on this one particular morning, rather than waking to the taunting sounds of a Samsung cell phone circa 1995 (like most days), I woke to cackles coming through the cracks of my window.

I was jolted to my feet. My roommates and I sluggishly rose out of our beds and battled our big wooden shutters, finally breaking down our barrier from the outside world. We crowded our window to see what waited among us, only to find a mottled line of children: a mosaic of small smiling faces, still too young to value sleep.

            Waves of laughter and sunlight instantly swept across our cold tile floors, and our giggles resounded upon the discovery: our apartment’s alleyway was not solely characterized by its chill and its secrecy; we shared our street with a school.

In that moment I was overwhelmed by simultaneous laughter and tears. From that moment, the air was lighter with the kind of exhilaration that only radiates from children; their spirits are the spirit of Perugia. I will always remember that afternoon as the day I officially fell in love with a city.