“Put your robe on the hanger,” the massaggiatrice said to me in Italian.
I was wearing board shorts and Calvin Klein briefs (in case you needed the image).
“Now take those off but sdfjl;aghnasmdfnsdfj.” I didn’t understand the last part, so I responded with my stock phrase of not being able to understand Italian sometimes.
“Okay. Your swimming clothes…” “Yes.”
“Are you wearing anything underneath?” “Underpants.”
“Okay. Take the shorts; leave the underwear.” “Understood.”
The important matter of how much clothes to take off demands further confirmation.
So began my first spa experience, a full-body oil massage in the Hotel delle Terme Santa Agnese in Bagno di Romagna, a popular spa town in Emilia-Romagna. The scent of steam and sulfur is apparent upon entering the city as thermal water flows naturally here. Bagno di Romagna consists of one main street and a large central piazza. Each of its many shops are charming and friendly, and the town features high-end, even Michelin-starred restaurants. The BlogVille team was lucky enough to dine at such a restaurant with the distinguished leaders of the Emilia-Romagna tourism board.
It was perhaps one of the most festive nights of the year in spa towns across Emilia-Romagna, La Notte Celeste, when all the spas in Bagno di Romagna open to the public and the town celebrates with live entertainment throughout its streets. Of all the local festivals I’d been to, this was the most fun. Families stayed out late as both young and old danced to festive music, a blend of Italian and classic 80s tunes.
It was also a complete honor to be invited on stage to say a quick “ciao” to the audience in the main square. It’s inspiring to see such a small town so welcoming to bloggers, something I feel is still misunderstood even in America. The festival also celebrated the importance of water with a team of little kids dressed as water droplets (cute) and a long film about water and space travel (strange but cool).
And while we were interviewed by an Italian film crew, I bit the bullet and responded in Italian, scratching off one from my bucket list of things I didn’t know I wanted to do.
I suppose my Italian isn’t entirely bad.
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