Europe adventure. Day 12 of 34.

Written at the Borgo Antico Cafe in Florence on day 15.

I had blueberries and more leftover pasta with meat sauce for breakfast at Kenzo's house. I offered him food, but he didn't want any. He made me delicious espresso with a machine I had never seen before. It's like a tiny little tea pot and you put in the espresso, water and then put it on the stove. So cool.

Kenzo showed me some interesting YouTube videos and some of his family after breakfast. We listened to music and I have him a postcard of the Trinity Library as a gift. I got ready to leave, and then in the afternoon we went our separate ways. I caught a metro to the Termini Station, where I left my luggage for the day.

I was standing in the shade outside of a museum near the station, map out, when an Italian guy came up and offered to show me around. A little hesitant, I agreed, and it ended up being a great afternoon. His name was Jesup, and we walked around the city, I took a lot of pictures, we talked for a while, and then I went back to Termini to get my luggage.

I didn't have a host for the night, though I had sent out a general message to the people in Rome the night before and gotten at least twelve replies. Sadly, nothing was definite. I was a little stressed. I tried for about three hours to contact a host and plan to meet, but kept getting more and more offers to host me and no confirmations or quick responses. Kenzo also offered again, if I needed to. My phone was losing battery, though, and still I didn't know where I was going.

I finally found one host who was at the station, but I went right outside to meet him and couldn't find him anywhere. After waiting for that host for a half hour I tried another who had just offered. I quickly got a reply and directions on where to meet him. Relieved, I left to catch the metro to our meeting spot.

Giacomo picked me up in his car and was a gentleman from the start. So kind, polite, friendly. I was so, so happy that I had found such an amazing host. His house was beautiful, a bit away from the city, but spacious and nice. He brought me out that night on his motorcycle, and he drives very fast, but also very well. I loved it.

In the center of Rome we met his best friend Gabriele and a girl named Lucy who was staying with his friend. Both of them were great and I spent a while talking to Lucy and drinking a glass of Prosecco. Giacomo danced with me at the pub and then at an outdoor disco later on, after his friends left. It was a blast the whole time.

After having a few drinks riding a motorcycle out of the city was a bit daunting, especially at the speed Giacomo drove. Yet I trusted him enough that it was fine. He went even faster than the way there and got us back quickly and alive. It was very late by then, so I went into my room and slept. Soundly.

Now I think I've been taking up space at this restaurant long enough. Time to find a map and start exploring Florence.

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