Procida is too small to get directionally lost on the island for long. If you wander in any direction far enough you will meet water and eventually a familiar place or two. It is the perfect place for the directionally impaired - and I know a few people who need to spend some time here.
I woke up early this morning and decided to revisit some familiar places. Familiar streets under the early morning sun light look completely different - it still surprises me.
Today's post is about getting lost in Procida while wandering on its streets and watching people go about their daily routines. They are a quiet crowd until they gather in small flocks. Then - they can become animated and noisy.
Most of Procida's residents will not acknowledge strangers in passing. We are reminded that we are strangers each day as we jealously watch friendly smiles and greetings between locals - and denied us.
We walk. We are determined to make this place our temporary home. We are persistent.
Slowly - twelve days later - more and more familiar faces from our frequent walks say 'hello'. It is exciting and encourages us to behave like tourist - smiling and greeting everyone we pass. We bask in the glee of success. Given time - we could fool ourselves into believing that we belong here.
Forgetting for a moment or two - that 9,995 of the 10,000 residents will not greet these strange Americans who walk the same routes over and over again.
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