My Lizzie McGuire Moment in Florence

Blanco. My favourite Florentine bar. I had an absolute blast dancing the night away alongside everyone, getting lost in the music. Becoming immersed in this city has been such a profound experience, and I don’t want it to end. Then, he showed up. His name was Michele (akin to Michael in English) and he refused to let me go after swaying together for more songs than I could count, without a kiss. I played coy and hard to get, even though deep down I was longing to know what the Italian language would taste like. How his dialect would brush up against my lips, how he’d communicate with the nape of my neck. 

Posso assaggiare?

We exchanged numbers prior to his final (failed) attempt to get me to stay, but that didn’t stop him from finding me once again before I departed the establishment for good. With one swift grab of my hand, I missed the last shuttle bus and my only ride home. 

But, boy did he drive me wild. 

He whisked me off my feet onto a cobblestone wall nearby and kissed me ever so passionately, his tongue beguiled me. He caressed my body with supple hands that left me quivering and we didn’t give a damn who saw us. 

I’ll never forget his eyes; an unplumbed blue like the Amalfi Coast, able to see right through every inch of me. His taste like Amaro, a bittersweet liqueur - symbolic for this moment that neither of us wanted to escape as I would be leaving the country forever in 3 days’ time. 

The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore (Duomo), Florence

I vowed to see him again as I hopped on the back of his vespa and embraced him from behind. I still don’t know if I was holding onto him for safety or the sexual tension burning between us. He drove me back to my place allowing our worries to surrender to the wind, with the pavement racing us. I felt foolish and free. We kissed one last time leaving nothing but lust between us, ugh if only I didn't have work 5 hours from now! I wouldn’t see him again until my last day in Florence, where he would meet me at the train station to bid me farewell. With tear filled eyes, he pleaded for me to come back for him someday. A little romance that ended just as soon as it began.

A blisteringly beautiful Italian summer with an epilogue that will eternally remind me of what dreams are made of.