it seemed funny at the time…

Before even going to Italy this summer I had a great idea for a blog post, or so I thought…

We have all heard stories about the sleazy Italian (Greek, Turkish, Spanish…) playboys, right? How they patrol the beach as well as the after-beach, how they wear too much bling-bling and unbuttoned shirts, how they seduce and use innocent girls and promise them eternal love only to move on to the next target the minute they leave for the airport.

Sure enough, during those long days on the beach I did a whole lot of people watching and they were easy to spot alright. Like butterflies they fluttered from one flower to the next, always with a smile and a compliment at hand. They came in all shapes and sizes and ages, and they all oozed of confidence.

But you know, I think I changed my opinion as I watched them from my sun lounger. They’re not fooling anyone, they’re playing a game and the girls know the rules on beforehand. What is wrong with that?
Also, even as a lonely blonde I never had a problem. Not once. They saw my boy, they saw my very obvious lack of interest and they respected them. Only one guy (40-ish, heavy necklace on copper-toned belly, oiled ponytail, all the characteristics were there) approached me once.
- You’re still reading?
- Yes, I said. I like reading.
- So… that little boy, are you his babysitter or is he yours?
- He’s mine, I said with a smile. I am his mamma.
- Ma sei così giovane, you are so young, how can you possibly have such a big son?!
Then he left, and I can’t tell you enough how much I appreciated the fact that he respected that I was a married woman on holiday with my son and not in the market for a holiday fling.

They respected me, and for that I respect them. My original idea for this post was to secretly take a lot of pictures of stereotypical playboys and make a slideshow for which I already had the perfect soundtrack, it might have been funny BUT:
1) You don’t just pull out a camera and start photographing people on the beach.
2) They’re just people like you and me, not a species of their own, and I wouldn’t want to be exploited and made fun of on a blog.
3) The only photo I got was the one above, a shot of a school bus driver in Praiano. The shot is crap, but although blurry you still get the idea, right? The gold chains were present too, but can’t be seen in the photo. Simply hilarious.

It could have been a funny post, but I can’t make a slideshow with only one photo.

I’ll just leave you with the song, and let you imagine the rest.