#Gelato shops in Rome

[saint-alia-of]

30th of January 2023. Rome, Italy.

[saintmagx]

I Knew You were Trouble ❤️‍🔥

Part 4

Pairing: Jimmy Uso �� reader

AN: if you would like tagged let me know 💕 No specific timeline

❗️❗️Warnings: 18+, swearing, violence (this is the WWE after all) slight smut, infidelity, jealous Jimmy, bad writing, cringe story telling, the Usos (because they are a warning in themselves)❗️❗️

I’m sooooo sorry this took as long to get out, I kinda took a break but I’m back and so is our boy Jon 🥵 hope this was worth the wait 🫣

Day one - Rome, Italy

One of my favourite things about being a WWE superstar is getting the opportunity to travel the world. Because of my job I’ve been in more places that I could have ever imagined and made memories that will last a lifetime. Today we are in one of my favourite places, Rome.

One of my least favourite things about being a WWE superstar though was definitely the travel and itinerary- I get to a new place and don’t have time to see all the sights. its airport, hotel, gym, meet and greets, arena, match, then on the road again.

Me

hey, wanna sneak out and do something fun before the meet and greet?

Josh

what you have in mind?

Me

authentic Italian ice cream? Pizza? Your treat obviously 🤪

Josh

damn, you really want me to treat you after the way you been disrespecting me 😨

Me

fine 🙄 I’ll ask Jon instead - lil bitch

Josh

WAIT

FINE

Meet me in the lobby in 5.

I wasn’t really going to ask Jon, I mean how could I? This whole trip I have to try and avoid him, however I feel like fate has other plans, I was informed late last night that Jon and Josh would join me in doing press for the tour, doing meet and greets and TV appearances to get everyone hyped up for the shows. As long as we aren’t alone together nothing would happen…….right?

One thing I wanted to tick off my bucket list when visiting Rome was going to the Trevi Fountain. Seeing it there in front of me took my breath away, the beauty it holds, the history and traditions. Ugh to have this on my doorstep every day would be a dream. We had found a small gelato shop near the fountain and decided to find a place to sit near by the fountain.

“Okay, fine I’ll admit it, the gelato was a good idea.”

“Of course it was a good idea Josh, are you doubting me and my choices?”

“You know damn well I don’t trust you.” He says

Acting offended I shift myself further away from him, Josh turns to look at me grinning ear to ear.

“Don’t know what you’re smiling at, you’ve just bumped yourself down the list of what Fatu brother I like more.”

“Well number 2 ain’t so bad.”

“Try 3”

Annoyed he reply’s “3? What you mean 3, who else you know except me and Jon!”

Realising I got him right where I want him “well Joe obviously, I’ve spoke with him a few times and he is such a sweetheart, I think he might actually be my favourite brother.”

He didn’t have a come back, he just sat there eating his gelato like a grumpy little kid. I take a few sneaky pics to send to Trin, captioned “fun with your grumpy ass brother in law.”

Josh reaches into his pocket and places two coins in front of us.

“Let’s go throw these in the fountain then.”

“Wait, how did you know I wanted to do that?”

“Cause believe it or not yn but I listen to you, you are one of my closest friends and I love ya, if there is something you wanna do you damn sure I wanna make it happen. That’s what family does.”

I couldn’t see him, my eyes were filling with tears. Never in my life have i had someone care so much. We fight like cat and dog but underneath it all there is pure love and adoration for each other.

“Okay don’t get all soppy on me” he jests. “Let’s throw our coins and get back before there is a search party.”

Grabbing my hand we walk over to the fountain and throw our coins in tradition states if you throw a coin in you are wishing that one day you will come back to Rome and with every fiber of my being i was hoping that one day i would.

“Thank you” i whisper to Josh.

“Don’t mention it, though I do hope I ain’t last on yo list anymore?”

Laughing I announce “A solid 2 for sure now.”

Another part I love about being a WWE Superstar is getting the opportunity to meet the fans. The WWE universe has the best, most intense fan base in the world.

In the store where the meet and greet was happening, It was a basic set up, a long table, a seat for each of us and a backdrop with our image plastered over it. The queue was already around the block, with a mixture of kids, teens and adults all waiting to meet us.

“I’m really nervous, this is my first international meet and greet - what if no one is here for me.” I start to panic.

Josh looks at me and in his usual joshy manner tries to make it all better “yn we know no one is here for you, and honestly you are killing the mood. Put yo big girl panties on and let’s get this over with huh?”

And just like that the mood has been lifted and he has me laughing.

“I honestly hate you J.”

Jon who had been observing finally breaks his silence. “You can sit between us, that way we can comfort you if it gets too much.” Comfort me……..

A little too eagerly I agree. The first few fans come in and just like that all my nerves and panic washed away and I was in autopilot.

“How you doin now yn? Eased into it okay?” Josh enquires

“I’m fine J, I just let my ner……”

Heat. That was the only thing I could feel. My thigh tingling under his touch, Jon’s touch.

“Yo yn, you good?” Josh looks at me concerned.

“Yep fine, just got a little cramp in my leg, feel like we have been here for hours.” I brush him off, along with moving Jon’s hand off my leg. Think of Trin, think of Trin I repeat in my head.

The last of the fans come and go, it’s been a sweet afternoon watching Jon and Josh interact with everyone, you can see the love and passion they have for this business and the fans. Maybe teaming with them on this European tour won’t be so bad after all.

Backstage WWE LIVE, Rome Italy,

The crowd had been electric all night. There is no major storylines, no characters and no set of rules to follow just purely wrestling. Our match was a mixed tag match, myself and The Uso’s v Indie, Theory and Waller. Going out and having fun with everyone and the crowd is what it’s all about, the passion the fans give in return for the show you put on makes all the travel, injuries and lack of sleep worth it.

After any of my matches I like a debrief, things I could have done better, things I did great etc, it’s how I grow and learn, however fate was having none of that tonight. Walking back to the female dressing room I felt a strong pair of hands grab my arms and pull me into a secluded corner of the arena, from the way my skin was burning at the slightest touch I knew it could only be one man - and I was in trouble.

“Have you been avoiding me all day?”

“Em, earth to Jon? We saw each other at the meet and greet.” I laugh trying to break the tension

“Oh I remember..” Edging closer to me with fire in his eyes he continues “I’ve been thinking about how nice your thigh felt, and wondered what else felt nice.”

Gulp

Think of Trin yn.

Keep it light and funny yn “Plus I was busy with Josh all morning, he took me out for some gelato - I’m a busy woman Jon.”

“Yeah, Josh told me about the gelato. Is there a reason I wasn’t invited?”

His heavy eyes stuck on mine, waiting for my answer.

“Honestly it was a last minute thing, next time I’ll make sure you get an invite.” Trying to leave his hand leans on the wall behind me enclosing us in even closer. His free hand finds its place perfectly on my hip before it starts to lower slowly, like he was trying to memorise how each part of me felt before placing his hand on my butt, grabbing onto it with his powerful grip.

“How bout we skip the gelato and i give you some of my cream.”

Fire, passion, a need for only him. That’s all I felt in that moment. It consumed me. Jon looked at me like I was the only girl on the planet.

After weeks of playing cat and mouse, he caught me. His lips finally found their way onto mine, a low moan slowly released from his mouth, like a weight had been lifted from him, his hands tracing every inch of my body. I didn’t want him, I needed him and in that moment I’m what he needed too.

Tagged:

@southerngirl41

@missfamilyjeweles

@jeyusos-girl

@christinabae

@jeyusosgirl

@raya-hunter01

@harlem11680

@theogsamoanqueen

@harmshake

@alyyaanna

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@wrestlingprincess80

[sebastianswallows]

The English Client — Four

— PAIRING: Tom Riddle x F!Reader

— SYNOPSIS: The year is 1952. Tom is working for Borgin and Burkes. He is sent to Rome to acquire three ancient books of magic by any means necessary. One in particular proves challenging to reach, and the only path forward is through a pretty, young bookseller. A foreigner like him, she lives alone, obsessed with her work... until Tom comes into her life.

— WARNINGS: none, but almost main character death lol

— WORDCOUNT: 2.5k

I

Tom stayed away for a few days. He stalked around some other rare book stores but found none of what Caractacus Burke was searching for. Still, it gave ample enough time for her to forget about him. He needed to be out of her mind before he carried out his plan.

He sat at a café outside her store one evening, waiting to see her go home again. Not able to stand another cup of coffee, hot and bitter, he decided to try something he’d seen so many other locals eating. It was called ‘gelato’. A frozen treat, it looked like clotted cream and was eaten with a little spoon. Tom regretted ordering it the moment it arrived, but with each bite, he became a little fonder of it. It was cold and vaguely sweet with a drizzling of cherry jam on top. He reached the bottom of the cup before he even realised, and licked the spoon clean afterwards.

She stepped out later this time, at around six o’clock. Tom got up not long after but he didn’t follow her. His gaze trailed after her from behind a pair of aviator shades — her white shirt fluttering with each step, hair soft upon her shoulders — and let himself enjoy the view until she disappeared beyond the curve of a building that bent like a wave. Then he turned the other way, the way she came from.

The lamp lights were just coming on, bathing the marble a sulphuric yellow. He took his sunglasses off and tucked them in his shirt as he slid through the narrow street the shop was on. There was nobody around, but he could hear the echoes of other people through the walls of the nearby buildings. The area was a mix of domestic and commercial, small old flats and little shops which made it quite unpredictable. It was a very intimate setting, and dangerous for that very reason — few escape routes should anyone appear.

He peered through the glass first at the organised chaos inside, the clutter and piles of precious old things that lifetimes would not suffice to explore. Between them, Tom saw his reflection staring back. He aimed his wand at each lock and muttered an Alohomora. The spell let him in like butter.

The shop was just faintly lit from beyond the large display windows, rendering every book and smooth wood surface into a little sunburst. The air was light with dust, and dry, and cold in the way libraries often were. The pillars that held the ceiling high were cinder-black, and carved so finely that the wood seemed lace and pillow soft. A sweet scent lingered in the cavernous construction. It really was a marvellous atmosphere… Tom wouldn’t have minded staying if circumstances were different. His grandfather’s ring trilled around his finger.

Regardless of how old the building was, the interior was certainly built to order. It had a hint of the Victorian with a Renaissance flair. Tom had been in enough rich people’s houses to tell. It amused him how much they were all alike in taste, as if they were part of the same secret breed.

He stepped further in. The floorboards creaked and, looking down, a small amount of dust flew up. Curious. Perhaps it really didn’t get that many customers so often. The other shops he had visited this week all seemed to have at least another two clients while he was there… Strange, as this shop was bursting with books, and in an accessible location too. Tom could only guess that either they were prohibitively selective with their clientele, or the place had a bad reputation.

He found her ledgers tucked underneath the desk. They were split into three themes: Letteratura, Religione, and Esoterismo. He opened the latter.

It was detailed, thick, and finely indexed with the most minuscule writing. Instead of listing their catalogue, it listed all the authors they seemed to have an interest in, whether or not they held any of their books. Prices were next to certain volumes, along with purchasing dates. Others were annotated with the shop or collector that held them. From Agrippa to Cheiro to Crowley, from Novalis to Paracelsus, Roerich, and Sepharial, they had their eye on everyone. He turned toward the end, pale finger brushing through the T’s.

They had nothing by Tamisso, another author on his list, although they did have a copy of The Lost Word by Trevisan — a more recent edition than the 1870 one that Mr. Burke wanted, but still serviceable. But what he was really looking for was Torchia.

And he found him. A whole half-page was dedicated to him, even if the books were few and three-quarters of the space was empty. They must’ve expected to find more of his works in the future.

But as he was reading, the ring started feeling heavier, like its black stone wanted to pull loose. Oftentimes, the splinter of his soul that was trapped inside was a bit of a canary in a coal mine, more sensitive to changes in Tom’s surroundings than he was… He gazed suspiciously toward the ring and put the ledger down.

Tom looked up at the ceiling. It was tall and too dark to see, absorbing the most highly placed volumes like a black hole, like a void. Looking down, between the floorboards, the same infinite darkness. It occurred to him that perhaps the place was cursed. An unlikely idea given that it was a building belonging to muggles, but he’d seen stranger things. And after all, he still didn’t know who the owner was.

He looked at the catalogue again.

Torchia, A.

Key to Captive Thoughts, 1653 — four three copies

A Curious Explanation of Mysteries and Hieroglyphs, 1655 — one copy sold to H. Àristos, 1949

The Three Books of the Art, 1658 — one copy, private ownership → Luce

He scanned further down the line, and there it was: Delomelanicon.

It wasn’t written up like the others. It had no number, no mention of its year of publication, nor even where it was. All it had was a strange symbol next to it, like a plus sign with a downward arrow. Tom couldn’t guess what it meant.

But they had it, they must have. He closed the book with satisfaction and an overflow of greed, and carefully put it back in its place.

II

With the bookshop all to himself, Tom explored at his leisure. He stepped lightly, almost reverently, through its misty dusty rooms veiled by growing darkness. He cast Lumos when entering the second room, which had no windows to the outside world. A thick red carpet muffled his steps.

His first stop was at the section where she had searched for Helena Blavatsky, assuming the shelves followed the logic of the ledgers and were organised thematically as well as alphabetically. He pulled the ladder over and started to climb, holding the wand between the tips of his fingers.

Names spread before him, ancient and powerful. Some of them were only mentioned in the most proscribed of texts, others he hadn’t even heard of. It was one thing to see them listed so economically, and another to see their naked spines, crack them open, part them, and touch their wavy pages.

He had to pause once he came across a 17th-century copy of the Cyranides. How many men died for merely reading this book… What horror, what beauty. He turned to the page on the use of bezoars and smiled. The illustration braided around the page was of a watersnake, unmoving, done with an almost childish hand. It was from a more innocent time when such magical knowledge was a thing of fear and wonder, exclusive and yet renown, whispered about, admired. Not hidden away.

Holding the wand between his teeth, Tom pulled the ladder and himself a bit further to the right. Its wheels were loud enough to make him wince.

He found a wealth of books in this place that made him feel things he had not felt in a while: greed, desire, admiration… He hadn’t seen so many wonderful tomes since Hogwarts. For long moments in large swaths, he forgot his mission. Eagerly, his hands picked up any volumes he could reach without the ladder tipping over, and he sipped in eager drops the ancient wisdom, a few pages at a time, admiring the crude but honest illustrations before, with a heavy heart, putting them back on the shelf.

Finally, he reached Torchia. A few of his works were there, the same ones mentioned in the ledger, but not the Delomelanicon. Tom brushed his finger on the shelf, and it came up with a fluff of dust. Hadn’t been touched for a long time…

It occurred to him as he climbed down the ladder that they could have had hidden compartments, as such bookstores sometimes did. Borgin and Burkes did too, although theirs was hidden by magic. Muggles would have had some contraption hidden behind a painting or shelf. He cast another glance around him before moving forward again, step by heavy step. Between those dormant shelves, he saw another surreptitious doorway toward another room.

III

The place grew labyrinthian. Tom felt as though he was disturbing a tomb, and without even needing to his steps grew gentler. The ring around his finger ached again, but he ignored it.

He was exploring a glass case with a pyramid of skulls in the corner of a room three doorways from the entrance, further in the building and blissfully chill on the exposed skin of his arms and neck, when suddenly he noticed something about the creaking of the floorboards: he couldn’t hear it anymore.

Tom looked down, his shoes soft on the carpet, and shifted his weight. No sound, but there was a bit of a tilt beneath him as the wood moved. He moved to the side and toed the carpet away. At first glance, he noticed nothing strange, but when he cast Revelio, a piece of metal shone and the edges of a trapdoor revealed themselves before him.

“I’ve got you now,” he grinned.

He stepped away, grabbed the edges of the carpet, and folded it further back. It was a trapdoor alright, large enough for two people to fit through. The area was clean, as if it saw regular use. Could it be a secret way into and out of the shop? Well, he’d seen her always use the front door, so it was most likely a storage area.

He dug into his trouser pocket for something, anything that he could use, and found the Swiss army knife he’d gotten from Clement. The thought occurred to him that it was a misuse of a gift to rob a bookshop with it, but that thought died quickly in Tom’s heated mind. He had a job to do.

He slid its blade between the folds of wood and pressed the handle down. Marvolo’s ring squeezed and pulled at his finger, and Tom cursed at it to be quiet. The trapdoor undulated at the strain as he moved the blade around, but the thing was as good as nailed down on all sides.

“Come on, you piece of muggle trash, open,” he hissed between clenched teeth.

He pushed, edging the wood upwards, and the bit of leverage made it flap as far as its hinges would allow. Holding the wand between his teeth for light, he moved it slightly, checking in every direction for a keyhole. The only thing he found was a burn mark that shone in the faint light, small and round and crested. It was probably a hidden button or a kind of keyhole, the kind of which he’d seen before in a couple of places both at Hogwarts and elsewhere. Tom grinned, moved the blade there, and pressed harder right beneath it.

“Aaaah!” he groaned, nearly dropping the wand from his teeth.

The ring was shooting pain all the way up his arm now, and his muscles strained. He clenched his teeth and pressed the blade in further, deeper, but the longer he tried to get it open, the more useless the attempt seemed, and he was overcome with a feeling of wrongness — as if he actually cared that he was trespassing.

He got up, sighed, and wiped the sweat off his brow. The feeling of guilt that had been bubbling in his stomach crested and crawled up his bones until he felt the sickness in his throat. He was overcome with the desire to leave and put this place behind him. A traitorous thought…

No, he wasn’t feeling sick. That nasty little door was enchanted. There was probably a curse on it, not too dissimilar to those placed on Egyptian tombs, meant to ward prospective thieves away. The emotions that swirled in his breast, the guilt, the shame, none of it came from him. It was something he was forced to feel by whatever enchantment guarded the place. What an insidious little spell… He frowned and pointed his wand down at the trapdoor again.

“Finite incantatem.”

Nothing happened.

“Finite incantatem!” he said again, more clearly and imperious.

The trapdoor mocked him with its silence. Tom looked down at his wand as if it were impotent.

“Of all the damned… Revelio,” he cast again, but nothing new appeared. “Alohomora!”

And that was when it struck him.

The spell worked, but just for an instant before it was undone and something fired back at him. A shard of death crawled up his spine and pooled inside his heart, pushing him backwards into the sharp edge of a table. The lamps on it rattled from the impact.

He felt dizzy for a moment, his body numb and cold, then nauseous when his senses came back to him at once. Pain billowed at his lower back so hard it filled his throat with bile. He clung to the edge of the table and kept himself just barely standing, managing the breath to groan.

“By Salazar’s f-fucking… Ow!”

Among all the sudden pain, he noticed that his arm was numb. The ring had stopped hurting him. It got its point across… The door was cursed, and so severely that, if not for his Horcrux, he surely would have died.

Tom clenched his teeth and hissed at the bothersome little entrance, cursing it in parseltongue. He kicked the carpet back over it and rubbed his aching hip where he already felt a bruise forming. There was nothing else he could do there, at least not tonight. He’d have to go back to his hotel, hopefully not limping all the way, and plan his next steps.

“I’ll get you yet,” he muttered with a parting glare. “And whatever mongrel of a mage made you.”

[sixhours]

Hi! I’m here with a jar of caramel sauce for the Pedro Scouts Ice Cream Social and a question.

Your dating profile lists one of your life goals as trying every gelato shop in Rome. Which Pedro boy reads that and swipes right?

Yummm more caramel sauce!

Oh this kind of sweet, manic energy can only belong to dear Javi G. He’s game for a gelato tour of Rome for sure. 💕

[bluestar22x]

Hello! I have a tub of sprinkles and a question for you for the Pedro Scouts ice cream social.

Your dating profile lists one of your life goals as trying every gelato shop in Rome. Which Pedro boy reads that and swipes right?

Cheers! 💚

Sounds like something Javi G would do.

(and I totally would want to try every shop - though my tastes aren't refined enough to care if it's gelato or regular ol' ice cream)

That gif looks so good. Rainbow sprinkles for the win.

[adolin]

there's a street in central Rome that I firmly believe has the greatest concentration of gelato shops per square metre than anywhere else on earth

[nerdieforpedro]

Hello Nerdie! For the Pedro Scouts ice cream social, let me shower you with sprinkles and ask you a question.

Your dating profile lists one of your life goals as trying every gelato shop in Rome. Which Pedro boy reads that and swipes right?

Surprisingly, the first Pedro boy that comes to mind is Javier Gutierrez. Somehow, he would discover Nic Cage’s favorite flavor of gelato 🍧 He’ll find it and wonder, there’s so many flavors, it might be fun to go with someone next time.

This is when he swipes right on my profile and asks what is my favorite movie, I tell him he’ll laugh because as a child is was Beauty and the Beast and now The Princess and the Frog 🐸 and I wanted them to be humans a bit longer. We’ll discuss why as we try different flavors of gelato and traipse around Rome.

Some of the gelato will be eaten on the beach, I’ll explain that sand gets in curious places and he’ll tell me not to worry about it. I’ll tell him I’ll give it an hour and we end up staying for four.

A wonderful trip ❤️

[expatesque]

Incredibly excited for your Italy trip, as someone who studied in Rome I would like to politely request photos from your time there 💛 in exchange I can tell you that the Gelateria Regusto in Trastevere is the best gelato shop, and that a little hike up Janiculum Hill at sunrise is truly unforgettable

Lovely recommendations, thank you! I promise photos will be coming!

[nancyfmccarthy]

The Perfect Gelato

My search for the perfect gelato continues. Today we found a real contender at Gelateria La Romana. The gelato was excellent. Also in its favor, this gelateria had a toasted almond variety. Almond is my flavor of choice from Bologna but this is the first time we have seen it in Rome. The downside to this shop is its location, very far from our apartment and no place near anything that we frequent. BUT, when we got home , I discovered they have multiple locations….one just a 15 minute walk from us. Eureka!!!

So after two weeks in Rome, approximately 14 different gelato shops, here are the current standings:

The best: Gelateria del Viale in Trastevere

2nd place (but a close contender): Gelateria La Romana, multiple locations.

3rd place: Tre Scalini in Piazza Navona

But the race is not over. I have ten more weeks of tasting ahead of me. It is tough duty but I am up for it.

Paul let them add whipped cream to his cone today, which he is wearing on his face!!

[archoniluthradanar]

I'm a fragile human who feels depressed, and imagining what my Volturi lovers would do to cheer me. (I need cheering!)

Aro Knowing I love the beach, he will surprise me with a last minute vacation to Mykonos or the Amalfi Coast, maybe both. We find a private beach so even he can lie out and enjoy the sun without being seen by anyone, as he's sparkling in the light while we sunbathe in the nude. We go on donkey rides, wine tasting tours (I taste, anyway) and tours of the local church architecture (although neither of us is religious). Caius He would take me to a dude ranch, where we'd spend the week riding, fishing, riding some more, star gazing at night, riding again but not on horseback (wink), and enjoying cookouts (he begs off eating, making excuses no one questions; I refuse to have him pretend, preferring he not have to upchuck it all). Lastly, we'd camp out, making love in a tent under the stars.

Marcus He would drive us to Rome where we would walk hand-in-hand, or with his arm draped around me, while we toured local sites with him narrating the history he lived here. Then he would take me shopping, no limits, he pays. Then he would politely watch while we sat at an outdoor cafe, only me eating some of the local cuisine. He'd buy me chocolate gelato afterwards while we walked the Villa Borghese park, where he would push me up against a tree and kiss me breathless. Why do vampires not exist, at least the ones we love?

[senjuushi]

Event Translation — Brand New Journey ~Italy Expedition Volume~

Episode 2: Land of Beauty and Sunshine

—Piazza del Plebiscito, on the coast of the Gulf of Naples.

Cutlery: Mmm~! What great weather! Both the sea and the sky are bright blue... it’s really kinda pretty...! 

Marks: Master, I’ve researched sightseeing spots for you! The Collosuem, cathedrals, and Giotto's Camaderie​ are all famous! And after that, we can ride a boat on the canals. Let’s do all of it! 

Cutlery: Hahh... you’re too stupid. The Colosseum is in Rome... the most famous cathedral is in Milan, I think. It’s Giotto’s Campanile, not Camaderie, and that’s in Florence, anyway. 

Cutlery: Venice is probably gonna be the last place we go, right? All of that is in the North, and the cities are scattered all over, anyway, so there’s no way you can go to all of them. 

Marks: What did you say...!

Cutlery: Come on, (Player Name). Forget about this guy, and come get something to eat with me. After that, it’ll be sightseeing in the South.

Cutlery: We handled the Outragers right after we got here, so we can take it easy from here on out, yeah?

*flashback begins*

—a few hours earlier. After the group arrived at the airport, they had to find a taxi. 

Cutlery: So this is Italy, huh... Even the atmosphere feels different than in England. 

Marks: Master, it seems that there are a lot of pickpockets targeting tourists in this area. Please, be careful. There may be the mafia here as well, so I’ll remain vigilant of our surroundings. 

Civilian: KYAAAAH!!

Cutlery: Eh!? That was a scream—

Outrager: Kill... destroy, it all... 

Marks: Outragers! 

Cutlery: So suddenly...! 

Marks: Who cares! Let’s take ‘em out! 

*flashback ends*

Cutlery: Who would have thought we’d run into the Outragers just after leaving the airport? Now, there’s still a few days until we’re supposed to go back. 

Master: 

More of them might appear, so we should be careful.

We can relax, but we also have to stay vigilant. 

Cutlery: Yeah, you’re right.

Marks: Ah, Master! It’s an ice cream stand! 

Cutlery: That’s not ice cream. It’s gelato. It’s a specialty of Italy, and there are well-known shops selling it everywhere. 

Cutlery: C’mon, let’s go get some! 

*the scene changes to a bridge by the waterfront* 

While they sat on a bench and ate their gelato, the three looked over a tourist book to decide on their next destination. 

Cutlery: What about here? San Carlo Theatre! I remember Charlotte saying that she saw “Gianni Schicchi”​ there once, and really enjoyed it. 

Marks: What? Who’s Gianki Steak?* That sounds tasty, so it might not be bad.

Cutlery: Gianni! Schicchi​! It’s a one-act opera, where he plays the—

Civilian 1: Kyaaahh!!

Cutlery: What is it this time...!?

Civilian 2: Help! A car crashed, and it fell into the ocean! 

Master: 

We have to help! 

The driver is still inside! 

Marks: Wait, Master! I’ll come with you! 

Marks: Cutlery, hold onto our guns! 

Cutlery: H-Huh, wait...! 

(Player Name) and Marks jump into the ocean. 

The driver had managed to get out of the car, but had fallen unconscious. (Player Name) pulled him to the water’s surface, where Marks and the other two haul him back onto dry land. 

Cutlery: Are you two okay...!?

Marks: *cough*, I’m fine...! Master, did you inhale any water!? 

Master: 

I’m alright! 

Nope, I’m good! 

Master: 

Are you okay?!

Hang in there! 

Rescued Man: Uh... *cough*, *cough*...

Rescued Man: ...ed, I’m saved! 

Rescued Man: I was distracted by a gorgeous lady by the roadside and looked away, and that was it! Ahhh, I really messed up! Gahahaha!

Cutlery: What’s up with this guy? He’s way too perky. ...he doesn’t need any help. 

Benetta: ......

Carcanore: ......tch.

Rescued Man: You’re my saviors! Grazie infinite!

Master:

I’m glad you’re not hurt. 

Be more careful, next time.

(CHOICE 1) Rescued Man: Haha, you’re pretty impressive, you know that? By the way, you all are...?

(CHOICE 2) Rescued Man: Ahh, I’m really regretting not doing better about that! By the way, you all are...?

Rescued Man: Judging by your accents... are you British? You must be here for sightseeing, then! Welcome to Naples! 

Bonito: I’m Bonito! I’d like to show you my thanks properly... but everything I have is in the sea right now.

Bonito: Ah, I know! I still had a map in my pocket! You’re welcome to take it, if you’d like. I’m truly grateful! 

Master:

Y-Yes... 

(What a rough handshake...!)

Marks: Hey, don’t swing Master’s hand around like that!

Bonito: Well then, let’s hope we meet again someday! Ciao!!

Cutlery: Eh, h-hold on...! 

Carcanore: Yo, I see you got out unscathed! 

Bonito: ...ngh!

Carcanore: Grazie! For saving this guy and all. We’re really grateful. 

Benetta: Indeed. Thank you for your efforts. 

Bonito: Y-You two...! Hey, what a coincidence to meet you here!!

Marks: What, are they friends of yours?

Bonito: Ahh, that’s right. This guy is Carcanore, and the one beside him is Benetta. 

Master: 

(Those are both the names of Italian guns)

(There shouldn’t be any Musketeers in Italy, though...?)

Carcanore: Ahh~ah, you guys are soaking wet. We’re close to where I live, so how about you shower off there? 

Carcanore: Let’s go, ‘kay! 

Marks: *pant*... *pant*...! 

Cutlery: Hey, what are you doing?

Marks: The seawater got in my nose...! 

Cutlery: C’mon... don’t blow snot out of your nose in public. Here, use a handkerchief. 

(Player Name) and the others got into the car belonging to Bonito’s friends, to drive with them.

Notes:

*Here, Marks misunderstands “ジャンキーステーキ (jyankii suteiki)” as “ジャンニ・スキッキ (jyanni sukikki)”. “ステーキ” means “steak”, so he assumes Cutlery is talking about food.

[kpagrandtour]

Today was a day full of adventure and joy! I’m really loving this trip, and today capped off another day where I got to get closer with everyone in my grade as we embarked on awesome journeys!

Today we started out by eating breakfast at the hotel. It was super good as always, and I continue to eat food that has been really great! After breakfast, me and some other people went to the Duomo, which is a super big church and our guide yesterday said that this specific location was the 4th biggest church in the world, not just in terms of size, but also the volume of people who attend there, which really shocked me. The overall size of the building itself was really intimidating but it truly was beautiful. We hiked up about 460 steps to the top of the cathedral and the view was killer! We pretty much saw all of Florence from that view. It was an experience I will never forget not just because it was awesome, but it was a workout! Who knew that 460 steps could be so hard? I for sure didn’t!

After the Duomo, we went to go see the Gates of Paradise. These are famous golden doors, with panels depicting Biblical scenes. We made an estimate of how much the doors were worth, and I believe that we came up with about 30 million, which is wild! The doors themselves are big doors. I work with doors all the time at work and they did not even come close to the size of these doors! It was truly a awesome experience!

Then we went to a leather shop, where there was a lot of cool stuff in there. It included wallets, purses, journals, and so much more. My mom ended up buying a purse that was super pretty.

After the leather school, we embarked on a journey to find lunch, and we did! We found a small restaurant near the Saint Croces. I had lasagne, and I can say it was the best lasagne I have ever had. I’ve tried a lot of new things, but Italian lasagne is one that I will never forget! Then we went to go get some dessert. We got some more gelato, which everyone in my class loves! I got mine in a cone and I had milk and chocolate flavored gelato. It was super good! By far my most favorite dessert of all time!

After that, we walked around for a minute, unsure of what to do. You would figure if you were in Florence, Italy, that you would have some idea of entertainment planned, but we did not! Me and my mother went back to the hotel and decided to relax there until it was time to check out of our hotel. On the way back, my mom was thirsty so we stopped and got something to drink. We went back to the hotel and relaxed upstairs until everyone else arrived.

After everyone came back to the hotel, we went to a train station and got onto a train to head to Rome. The train ride itself was pretty uneventful, at least for me. I just read pretty much the whole time. It was a really cool experience to ride on a train and I’m super blessed I got to do it with the best people!

After the train we arrived at our hotel by walking there and proceeded to eat dinner at a restaurant and I had lasagne again. It wasn’t as good as the one I had earlier today but it was really good.

Overall today was a good day and Europe has been amazing and life is good in the neighborhood!

-Tyler Schuler

[anonsally]

Day 5 in Rome

A fairly low-key day.

We left soon after 9am and took a crowded metro to the station closest to the Vatican. We weren't going to go in, we just wanted to visit a different neighborhood! We admired St. Peter's from the outside, saw the staggeringly long line for the Vatican museums, and went into the Vatican Post Office trailer to send a postcard to my father-in-law, who collects stamps.

Then we wandered around the outside of Castel Sant'Angelo. A Spanish family saw me using one of the standard city drinking fountains the way the Romans do -- you can block the downward flow of water with your hand to make the water spurt up through a small hole in the faucet thing so it's easier to drink from, if you aren't filling a bottle. It's also good if you want to spray water at your head! Anyway, the Spanish family followed my example and tried it out. They were delighted and asked whether all the water fountains can work that way.

We found a shady spot to sit in the park surrounding Castel Sant'Angelo and just rested a bit. I didn't have binoculars but I did spot several birds, including (finally) a Eurasian blackcap (I'd been hearing them all over the place) and a blue tit.

We ate at a restaurant in the area and then went back to the shopping area. A young Italian couple (teenagers, I think, who were presumably not from Rome) also learned from my way of using the water fountains! We found a fair trade shop (I used to shop at those a lot when I lived in Rome) and Wife bought a top, as she hadn't packed enough clothing and we were sweating through everything. But the gelato shop we were looking for was closed, so we took the metro to another one we wanted to try. They had a lot of flavors! I chose apricot and apple-cinnamon-almond. Both were nice.

I was having a hard time coping with the heat and the crowds. We rested in the hotel and cooled off.

Then we went out to meet a friend of mine (former flatmate, originally from Venezuela, but her father was Italian) for dinner. I was excited because we got to take the C line of the metro! It's new; I think they were only just starting to investigate it when I left Rome in 2006, and the part closest to the city center only opened in 2018. It is driverless! But it doesn't run very frequently.

It was great to see my old flatmate and catch up, and we had a tasty dinner together (I loved my radicchio risotto!) before taking the tram back to the hotel. The tram passed another favorite gelateria and I resolved to go there the next day.

[jessiepurves]

cinque

The thing I am looking forward to most as I study abroad is the chance to see so many sight-seeing locations. While in Italy, we will see countless famous works of art and architecture such as the colosseum, the Duomo, and Michelangelo's statue of David. I am most excited to explore the colosseum and learn more about the history of ancient Rome first hand. Learning about how the colosseum was taken apart for building materials after having been such a significant part of history was very surprising to me. I hope to learn more about other aspects of ancient Rome, specifically their creation and use of aqueducts. During our free time in Florence I am excited to do some shopping at the local stores. I hope to find a nice leather shop and get a jacket or purse, something that will be a beautiful souvenir to remind me of my time in Italy. I also plan to do some early birthday shopping while I am there as my sister’s birthday is about a week after we return back home. (Act surprised Julia!!) I am also looking forward to being able to try some local food and attempt to eat my weight in gelato!

[icouldntfindquiet]

What was your experience like in Italy? I've never been and really want to go! Where did you go/what did you do? Do you have any recommendations?

I liked it over there but I’ve only explored 5% of the country so I’m probably not the best person to ask. 🙈 We went in October 2018 so before the pandemic. I can’t comment on how things are now.

Long post! The rest is under the cut.

We went to The Dolomites, Venice, Cinque Terre, and Rome. I heard Florence is beautiful so I’d like to go there someday but we didn’t have enough time. My favorite to least favorite was The Dolomites > Cinque Terre > Venice > Rome.

I would like to preface by saying their eating schedule is different from what I’m used to. Their afternoon siesta is a thing, more felt in The Dolomites than in Rome. And restaurants open later (like 7 pm, I think). Though there are some restaurants open earlier! Again, more felt in less populated areas vs. main cities. Italy has good food but I’d try to avoid tourist traps. We made the mistake of eating at some touristy places and the food was just meh. But if you put some effort into finding where the locals eat, you won’t be disappointed.

You also have to be careful. Just be aware of your surroundings! Beware of pickpockets, being shortchanged, and the prices of things. We accidentally bought €8 gelato (didn’t think it’d cost that much!). 🙈 As a tourist, I could feel that some locals don’t have a lot of patience with tourists. You can feel their frustration at times but I wouldn’t let it bother you too much. The people have overall been pleasant!

The Dolomites - if you’re willing to rent a car and drive—do it! Just note there are curvy roads going up the mountain. We were teetering on the edge of off-season so a lot of places (restaurants, shops, etc.) were closed so that’s something to keep in mind. But if you enjoy nature, hiking, and beautiful views, this is the place for you. We did some hiking (I was out of shape, lol) and visited Lago di Braies. I imagine canoeing out to the middle of the lake must’ve been amazing but we didn’t do it because it was pricey. The weather can be an issue too. It didn’t rain for us but the clouds can obstruct your view and make for some moody photos. It was also cold up there!

Venice - I heard about certain places being smelly but we lucked out and the smell didn’t bother us as much. You should go to Piazza San Marco but don’t eat there. The pigeons are SO aggressive! We made the mistake of eating in the outdoor area and the pigeons are SO bold, they literally sat on our food! I’m not kidding you…they attempted to throw themselves onto our food several times. The restaurant staff saw and didn’t offer to change out our food. Never again. 🙈 Other than that, it’s a nice place to walk around and go shopping but it’s crowded.

Cinque Terre - made up of 5 colorful towns. You can take the train easily to all 5 but the cost adds up and after some time, they all look the same. 🙈 It’s a fun place to explore at a slower, laidback pace. Also, if you go up, you get a lot of great views! We went to all except for Corniglia (I don’t remember why). But of the 4 we went to, Vernazza was my favorite view-wise (gotta go up) and you need to go to Manarola for the classic photo.

Rome (and Vatican City) - I think Rome would’ve been a nice experience if it wasn’t as crowded. There were just long queues to get into anywhere, like for The Colosseum, The Pantheon, and St. Peter’s Basilica. And it’s nearly impossible to get a photo of Trevi Fountain without people in it. 😆 If you don’t mind waiting, the view is worth it! St. Peter’s Basilica was definitely worth the wait! I’m not religious at all but you can appreciate the beauty of those places.

I guess I didn’t expand on what I did but we mainly did the main tourist attractions. Even though Venice and Rome are further down the list, I still recommend that you go but be prepared for crowds. If we had more time, I would’ve gone to Florence as well because I heard it’s a beautiful place! I’d love to go back again someday but perhaps visit different places next time. Sorry for the long post. I hope you enjoyed it and can go someday! You’ll have to tell me all about it. ☺️

[king-39]

Start Your New Year in the City of Lights: Paris, France

There’s no better way to welcome the new year than in Paris, the City of Love. Whether it's standing under the sparkling Eiffel Tower or exploring the Louvre Museum, every moment feels magical.

Top Experiences in Paris:

Watch the Eiffel Tower light show at midnight.

Walk along the Seine River and enjoy romantic views.

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Indulge in French cuisine: croissants, macarons, and fine wines.

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Join the countdown in Times Square—a bucket-list experience!

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Witness New Year traditions at famous shrines like Meiji Shrine.

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Explore ancient sites like the Colosseum and Pantheon.

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Watch the Harbour Fireworks at midnight.

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