Geppo Imagine being a farmer who lived in his small community church and ARCI which lies the desire to one day leave the village and make a day of tourism in the city of Florence.
Early morning take the powerful machine willing to travel for the first time the famous highway, you enter nell'A11 no wonder over the obligation of the toll past West Lawn encounters an electronic sign on which written "SLOWDOWN-EAST MEADOW Florence Peretola airport ". As a good ignorant think, 'You mean to say that I will go slower. Both are on holiday '. First, second, first, second, first, first ... 10 km of high and low ... Logic money back? No! The toll is paid off ... and € 1.60.
Geppo is surprised, but it goes on.
arrives in Florence and has a flash of genius, 'Do not even try to go to the center by car ... parking in the suburbs and take the bus!'.
see a space bordered by colored stripes and approaches ... Satisfied and very hopeful and out while wearing a firefighter's coat is meeting. The officer approaches the car, look at the dashboard and the windshield inquisitorial voice asks him, "Look here, 'where is allowed for residents?",
"ikke?" Asks Geppo,
"The permission to park in this car park. One sees that it is bordered by white stripes,
a "I do. Ikke I do '? A miha knew that the park could be a 'u'.
"Then you look at it, put on that other side. Where there are the blue lines and pay the parking meter to the machine. But I make them quickly or else the fine. "
Geppo sorry but consent is going to park where ordered by reflecting on how severe the brigade in Florence. 'But I always thought they were a bit' silly. Do you have a stupid son ... do you dice'ha alert ... alert ... here's a saw fools us commands us. Let me go to park, go ... who are on holiday. "
Geppo begins to scan the parking meter and reads: 1 € for the first hour, € 1.50 the second time and start counting "So, it's noon ... until one is one euro, until the two are 2 euros and 50 , until 3 am quattr'euri, but be careful if I have to do the matematiha to pay the parking ... the 5:50 am five bono god ... 'ow are the six hosta ... 7 euros, 8 am 8:50! But I've got all my 'spare change sti ... I have to go and change. And do do? Fast, inter alia, that other one looks at me. " Looking around he sees a newspaper and briskly approaches to change money. "I'll be back, eh! I'm going to get change ... "the officer yells, busy in the meantime to write a Minutes of flower to another parked car.
'And now? A n'ho ever bought a newspaper in my life ... I always read the bar. Bed, almost ... peeled here! ', "La Gazzetta dello Sport Please" all'edicolante holding out a banknote from 20 €.
"It gives me change for the courtesy that I've got to pay for parking." The newsagent looks a bit 'wrong but patiently provides a handful of coins of small and medium-cut and a ten euro note.
And so was the parking.
The bus, where to buy the ticket?
"sincere apologies, agent ... where HOMPRE dell'autobusse the ticket?" The policeman lifts a finger and points to the newspaper.
'Mind you figure shit ...' thought ...
"A bus ticket, please do," she said timidly advancing a bill for ten euro ...
"1 and € 20!"
"I'm sorry I did not change"
"but if I did the rest before!" Argues the newspaper,
"Yes, but I've got paid parking," and so saying the 'newsagent even more annoyed provides the ticket.
"Look, mica know which bus should I take to go to Piazzale Michelangelo?"
"But for those who took me for a controller?"
Geppo And so it went away, speechless with his tail between his legs.
hour and twenty feet of track! 35 minutes on the line 57, 15 minutes to wait for the connecting line 13 and 30 minutes. Geppo, of course, not knowing where he was going was standing in the middle of the car, waiting for Elvira, a lady in his 70's, informing him where to get off.
"which has the two more stops, but could see how beautiful from up there!"
"We hope, ma'am," the often repeated. Mrs.
falls and is exchanged with a man wearing a blue jacket, a briefcase and a shoulder bag. "Ticket, please" hear Geppo. Seized by a fit of anxiety Rufolo shake in your pocket and pulls out the ticket suddenly sure that it was endorsed. Upon arrival the officer
delivers it proudly. "Look, sir, that this ticket has expired" says the conductor.
"as expired?! I bought this morning! The newsagent!! The son of a bitch
...", "No look, did not understand. E 'expired because it's been more than an hour since he endorsed. Tickets are 60 minutes each way, these ".
Geppo, pale, pleading clemency appeals to the fact that would be dropped at the next stop.
"Okay, turn a blind eye. But remember to buy two next time, ok? "
" This stamp of ten, one to stop! "Quips Geppo with joy.
'What a beautiful yard! ' Geppo think admiring the view behind the wall of stone and cement. It's almost one and a half in the afternoon, takes a fresh breath of wind accompanied by a soft autumn sun regenerating. Geppo a good farmer, he pulls out his sandwich with mortadella Taking the home, but leaves the water bottle in your backpack. 'Oh no! - Think - We need a good birrino '. He looks around and sees a Spartan serves as a refreshment kiosk, though devoid of seating and tables.
"A Peroni Please tell us,"
"3 € and 50" says the shopkeeper.
'Orco Judah', think Geppo, but has already while the bartender served beer and uncorked on the counter ... a Geppo you just have to pay.
finished the sandwich, Geppo, stalls and starts to turn for tablecloths or street vending sites put on display on a sheet on the floor. Turn that turns you is hit by a bag marked, apparently, Louis Vitton distributed by a national of Senegal, that Omar. 'You know what a gift it would be for my Gabriellini!' Think impressed.
"Sorry, boss, how much you want for that?" Said the dealer did not waste any time, collects, hands it to show it to Geppo and casually says, "let's go ...". 60
"No, no, too. Do not do more than 20 "replica firm,
" forty on! "Said the vucumprà. Geppo not being used to negotiate turns on his heels and leaves. After two steps, a voice just behind him,
"Dude, where are you going? Friend?! "It frightens
. The Senegalese has gathered his belongings quickly making a bundle with the sheet and is next.
"Okay, okay 20, by" the seller says showing resignation. Geppo finds himself holding the bag, is speechless, but now the deal has been concluded. Not only have to pay ...
The bill is blue is gone from his wallet, but the bag you want. Try to open it by sliding the zipper, but ... you jam in a poor stitching that is caught between the mesh. Geppo think, 'What do you want to be?! It is only a hinge '. Placing it in your backpack, it should be satisfied ... but the bag was closed.
Turn, turn, turn ... the banks of the Arno, the market of San Lorenzo, Piazza Santa Croce, the Duomo ... and so on and so forth ... Geppo the illusion of having learned the mechanics of tourists: walk a lot and just sit.
's almost 21:30 and our balzoso farmer is beginning to be hungry and near Piazza San Lorenzo restaurant sees a spartan appearance and decides to stay for dinner, thinking, 'It can not be dear, one serves at the table fork '.
"Good evening, sir. Tell as well? "
" So listen, I have not seen the menu but I saw it ... there fhori the blackboard, "
"Yes, sir, are the dishes of the day," replies the waiter.
"Here, in fact. So first, spaghetti harbonara; second roast beef with roast potatoes and for 'sweet
...", "Let's next?" Suggested the waiter. Geppo nodded.
"Drink?"
"Mah ..
wine ..."," I bring a bottle of red that goes well with meat
...", "Yes you see here, perhaps of our parts , here, because wine is too strong in the south and the north is too expensive ... Sa barolo, barbera ... too much money, all right? "
" Very well sir. "
Geppo had got an idea of \u200b\u200bwhat it spent. He had seen on the board that the spaghetti would have cost € 10 and a portion of the meat with vegetables 15. 'The wine than ever will it cost?! - It was said - I told you that I will not spend 'too'.
Geppo is excited by the idea of \u200b\u200bthe dinner, because that restaurant is also equipped with television is transmitted on the Champions League and excellent schiacciatina that prepares the table. 'Bona! Schricchiolente way I like it. Too bad it's over. But one requires the other end or else I get to greedy and FOR look bad '.
comes first, comes the roast beef and all accompanied by an excellent wine. Morellino di Scansano 2006 vintage. Geppo, the third glass is no longer relevant to the issue of good figure and wears a towel by way of extolling the gag soccer team winning.
Sazio dinner but does not order the cake has to be made to bring the coffee and ask for the bill. Is surprised that the account is brought into a closed folder, but does not waste time to see what the cost is coming to the dinner ... "44 €! - Exclaimed loudly - you can not! It will be wrong. " Wonder is about to read quietly, "the diec'euro harbonara, uindic'euro the Harn, 1 euro coffee, SIXTEEN EURO WINE e. .. TWO EUROS COVERED?! Or is the icché the cover? "A little 'impaired makes a gesture of appeal to the waiter timidly approaches.
"Look here, 'she tells me what I'm' covered 'that I wrote' ua? I can understand why you let me spend sedic'euro of wine but if the money does not do ...",
"the Lord has covered the service" replied the waiter so embarrassed. He continues: "you pay when you sit on a seat, bread, washing laundry, the dishes and the service." Geppo not understand.
"Hey, waiter, I want to say that in those diec'euro of spaghetti does not include the washing apron ?!!!" Of this,
" I do not know what to say sir. The name is the principal? ". Geppo denied, he left a note taking only 5 € 50 € rest and delivering the remaining money to the waiter saying ... "My Beautiful, flee from this bunch of thieves. Listen to me! "
are the 23 and 45, Geppo is tired, away from home and car. Do you remember the street where he had parked, but it is too tired to take the bus. Do you see a taxi parked and repeat 'I am on vacation or not ?!!'.
ago entered the taxi just in time to announce the destination and then collapses into a deep sleep and fatigue that caused by wine.
"God is awake." It is the voice of the taxi driver.
"Ah yes, sorry. How much?! "
"Do not worry, - kindly reply - are 12 euro and 50 cents,"
'Shit, I thought less' reflects to himself.
Geppo over € 15 by refusing to receive the rest, and thanks goes out of the taxi, which promptly starts.
The road is practically deserted no man walking hurriedly, a few windows open, closed shops and bars, street lights turned on and above with no cars around. Not even to Geppo! Do not be alarmed. He knows that there must be because it is far safer to have it closed in the morning on his arrival. Begins to turn around, walk disoriented but suddenly freezes ... recognizes shop where he bought the Gazette newspapers, still browse among other things ... but no trace of the machine. You see a sign, though, and with tears in his eyes says: "At this point occurred the removal of a car. The owner will be found during Panciatichi Street. " Geppo begins to run towards that goal. Knew where the street name because he was impressed by the journey on the bus that morning.
The car was there, motionless, almost smiling parked it not strange that someone had used a yellow iron unit at the left front wheel. Geppo not give up and hopefully try to remove it, but fails. He tried again in vain. He decides to ask for help. Although the road was a deserted truck with big ran through the spinning brushes probed all its features like a metal detector and leaving a wet trail. The body says "Quadrifoglio, Florence." Geppo wasted no time and turned to do with their despair. The machine was not just moved, but removed from the tow truck because of that site and road cleansing initiated by midnight that night. The gear wheel is called the "jaw" and prevents you from leaving home and traveling, it can be removed only by the person who applied, or by the company's tow truck at a cost of salt ... or 130 EURO! 90 and 40 at night to remove the no parking. In
while the operator was explaining how it had come Geppo the matter was silent and slowly left speechless. At the end he could barely whisper a sad thanks and bows his head when he hears the engine of the truck wash the streets again.
Geppo, hurt pulls out his wallet and count the savings remaining: 30 €, not enough. Start walking to wander ... ... he could call home for help ... but too ashamed. He had told his mother and his girlfriend who wanted a full day of freedom, even leaving the mobile home voluntarily. For the first time during the day feel loneliness in my bones.
Arrived in a road traffic is able to convince a taxi driver to take him to the station for only ten Euros. Geppo would like to take a nap, but another problem the axle ... needs the bathroom. The carbonara and roast beef are doing reaction with red wine and coffee causes stomach infinitely ...
At the railway station of Santa Maria Novella rejoices when it sees the sign of salvation on which says "Restrooms "..." track 5 'O icché I do on the track?!' he thought. Obviously, the sign indicated that the bathrooms were at the track above, not behind.
There they are within walking distance, but something stops him ... still a sliding door that opens and closes the entrance of the few people at night. Approaching Geppo note that the gentlemen in need almost a kind touch button to close the door and it opens automatically. Geppo touch him gritting his teeth, but nothing ... and then he realizes how he was really the thing: it is not a button, but a crack, no key ... requires the insertion of 1 Euro! Outraged and upset
takes a coin-silver and bronze inserts, you open the door and runs into the bathroom, after which they are intimately about his business.
Geppo looks tired and embittered the tracks waiting for the Intercity night that will take him in Prato, then will invariably call home.
You always see in his day and reflects the fact that in the end did not commit any particular crime, it has not acted instinctively or sprovvedutamente too. He has simply taken for granted that what for him is simple - where there is room to park, drink a beer bottle on a public bench, go to a restaurant and make a full meal - it was so easy, even in complex societies, such as those large cities. At this very moment he realizes that he has committed his most egregious error! Do not assume that life is simple, unpretentious, because now it costs too much!
How did we get used to a company like this?
Lorenzo Querci
