Day 59: Bar Olympia

Day 59: Bar Olympia

All morning I rode around looking for just the right light or place or thing to paint. Finally I got tired of the search and went back home for lunch. After lunch I went across the street to the bar, and I thought why not stay close to home today? It occured to me to paint the bar across the street where I go just about every day for one thing or another.

The “bar” in Italy is the hub of social life. It’s not just a place to go and have a drink (although you can do that too..), but it’s where you have coffee, meet friends for lunch, recharge your cell phone, buy cigarettes or a lotto ticket and just generally meet up before going on to your next activity. There’s a bar on at least every corner and it’s usually packed.

Bar Olympia near my house is generally crowded with the local old men who argue about politics or the soccer game. They’re always blocking the front door and gesticulating wildly so that you almost have to shout to get by. People also park their motor bikes up on the sidewalk right in front instead of on the street, making it a maze just to get in and out.

I don’t know what Italian life would be without the bar, boring to say the least!

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