It’s truly the smallest of worlds…

Because our place didn’t have working hot water when we first arrived, and we didn’t have beds to host ourselves or our friend Dayle, who came to help us set up house, we rented an AirBNB to stay in for the first couple of nights. Our host, Ilario, was amazing, helping us with bags, negotiating the impossibly narrow street up to his place, and giving fantastic restaurant recommendations. When we told him we were renting our house, he went to the window and pointed: la casa rosa, li? You could see it from his place. COOL!! (By the way, it’s about a 5-minute walk from his place to ours, so it’s odd that we can see it from his place… and vice versa!)

Then, when we knew we would need at least one more bed, I had noticed the beds in his property were quite comfy, so I asked him where we might buy one like it. Oh, yes, go to the Fratelli Ferrari shop, and tell them I sent you. Cool. We go to them, they say they have his mattress, but would need to be ordered. But they also have one a bit more affordable that’s available right away. It seems pretty comfy. They direct us to come measure our bed frame to see if we can use it, and they give us a price. Ma, consegnare? Si, alla casa tua e alla camera di letto. E il prezzo per questa? Incluso, he shrugs. Cool.

We send them measurements on WhatsApp, and say yes, it will fit, we’d love to buy it and when can it be delivered? Mind you, this is Friday afternoon, close to 5 pm. We receive a reply a little before 7: sure, how about domattina at 9:30? We’re in shock. Great, sure! OK, how do we pay you? Oh, if you want to pay with a card, you can bring it to the store.

Saturday morning, they arrive at about 9:20, unload and bring in and set up the mattress, and they’re heading out by 9:30. We’ll follow you to pay. No problem, they say. Later is fine. Seriously??? We went by later in the morning on our way to Pisa, but they were closed, and didn’t get back from our shopping excursions during their afternoon hours. I sent them a text saying we wouldn’t make it. No problem! Next week is fine. They just sent us a message to give us their hours today… no rush, we’ll see you whenever.