Small Town Europe

While visiting Trury in northern Italy, I just couldn’t help but notice the human kindness I endured. It may be nothing different than what a visitor from Europe may very well experience in small town America, but none the less it charmed my pants off.

We had driven to the center of Castiglione Olona with Trury and Masi (her husband) to film and capture the essence of Trury. The town was so small I didn’t even know we were in the center of it when we parked. I hadn’t much battery left in my camera due to my own shortcomings, so we filmed a little and decided to hit up the only local pub/restaurant in the vicinity to have a cold drink and charge the camera. After all, we weren’t finished shooting, the battery was practically dead, and it was hot as the devil that day.

Though the camera was purchased in the U.S., I have all the necessary equipment to charge it anywhere in the world..... except (apparently) in Italy. Anyone familiar with how Italy’s plugs are mildly different from the rest of Europe’s can feel my frustration. In certain hotels, however, they may have both Italian and European plugs for travelers. In Italy, the outlet holes are the same space apart, but are ever so slightly smaller. This throws everything off.

We ordered beers, and I tried to plug my camera into the only socket available according to the bar owner. When I told my friends it wouldn’t fit, they instantly knew why. They mentioned this to the owner, and he disappeared into the back room. Minutes later he reappeared with a brand new power strip for all European plugs straight out of the package. All this while he was serving the rest of the restaurant.

When I approached to pay the bill afterwards, he undercharged me. I know so because the till was much more than the amount he accepted. In other words, he saved the day and saved me money. Now that’s what I’m talking about.

Keep the faith.