In my last entry, I mentioned I met a professional black woman from Atlanta in Rome. One of my readers asked me how I managed to do that?

You know, there is always a story.

It was Friday night in Rome and, of course, yours truly needed to get out of the hostel and check things out. So I remembered that I happened upon this pub Nag's Head while sight-seeing. I've become accustomed to frequenting pubs ever since my time in Antibes, so bee-lined it there.

When I got to the pub, I ordered what is known as a Black Velvet, a concoction of Guiness stout and Irish cider mixed together. Filling but quite refreshing. But they were making it wrong. I tried to tell him but he couldn't understand my English or, at least, pretended not too. In a panic, I looked around for someone that might speak English. I begged a bloke at the end of the bar to help me before they completely destroyed my drink.



The affable fellows happened to be a couple of American boys from Portland. They helped me out and we chatted away of more than a couple of brews.

The next thing that happened, I really can't explain. Since coming to Europe where there are few to no American blacks (not unexpectedly) I have a homing mechanism for others that are like me. Sounds weird I know. But I can tell the difference between American blacks and Africans dressed in what they think is American clothing at 100 paces.

Moving along, while in mid-conversation I heard a voice behind me with an accent that was familiar. I turned and there she was closing out a bill. How did I miss her presence in the bar? Couldn't tell, except the Portland boys were pretty funny.

So I took a peek at her driver's license, which said 'California' and that was all the entrance I needed. She happened to be going to eat at a pasta ristorante that I wanted to go to, she said I should go with her and we went. Over mushroom tortellini in vodka sauce, I learned that she majored in Spanish and Italian and was fluent in the latter. And she had been to Italy nine times. Nine times. Currently living in Atlanta, the two of us had a lot to say about the American South and we had a good time doing it.

So, that's how I met a down home girl in hottest place on Earth. It really amazes me how far you have to go to meet people so close to home.

(Btw, she didn't approve of any pictures so I have none to publish. And now, I am in Valencia, which is sooo great! I'm working on a blog about my time in Barcelona (a hoot) and what I'm up to now. So come back soon!)