They've Started To Realise We're Here To Stay

Santa Maria

We go for a walk most afternoons at this time of year, usually 

leaving the house at about 1.45 pm. 

Not quite sure why it's that time, but whenever I look at the 

clock on Bianca's dashboard display as we head out

down Leila's Mountain, it invariably says 13.45 or thereabouts.

And as we park up down at Punta dell' Inferno & get out of the 

car, we are both aware that the eyes of any locals hanging about 

are on us, the 'stranieri'.

I find it quite amusing...they eye us incredulously

as we proceed to walk along the Lungomare hand in hand.

For here, in this little slice of heaven that is the

Cilento, the men are rarely seen out with 

their women during the day, and they certainly don't

hold hands.

Then, to make matters worse, I actually dare look 

in the eye of anyone walking towards us...

I am weighing up how I think they'll respond if 

I say 'Buongiorno' or 'Buona sera' 

(technically, it should be 'buon pomeriggio'

but that is very little used here).

But slowly, & surely, they are starting to realise that

we appear & passeggiata most days...they have

started to acknowledge us, either with a curt nod

or a smile...and some of them are

even taking the time to stop & have a chat.