Our apartment building has been filled to capacity since Friday night with couples and families. All 11 rooms were occupied and you could feel (and hear) the change in energy level. A marked change from earlier when our only one other duo from Germany occupied the building. Spoiled we eye each other silently - eagerly wishing for the Italian work week to begin and our peace to be restored.
The angry buzz of Vespas has been replaced with fireworks - yes, fireworks. The first explosions took to the sky from the Porto and Marina di Sancio Cattolico - the islands main commercial port. The second surprise attack was launched from Marina Chiaiolella. Neither seemed to follow any specific plan or schedule - although the Chiaiolella district may have been the procession of St. Joseph.
Most surprising - the entire island was assaulted by explosions at between 6 and 7 am this morning. I think it was the result of some Italian mother's revenge to wake all the bleary-eyed late night revelers so they could dress for church today. Trust me - you could not ignore this early morning all-out assault on the skies and eardrums. It was a riot.
Today - Procida took on yet another completely different persona. She slept. Her shops and markets closed, most of the traffic cleared, and street emptied. We ventured out only to find gates and doors securely locked.
By mid-afternoon, peace was once again restored to our apartment building as native Italians returned to the mainland. The newlyweds have left for adventures in Croatia and Spain.
To complete the cycle, rain is coming to wash away the weekend and return Procida to her simple self. She is bathing. She is making ready to welcome her native family - one filled with voices and the familiar noise of Vespas -until she repeats the cycle again.
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