Time Flies...

Time Flies…
23-10-2005
5:30 PM

It’s been a while since I’ve had time to write anything so I’ll do my best to catch up. I’m at the laundry mat with 25 mins to spare before my clothes are done. Wednesday was by far my longest stint in the office. Had meetings for 4 hours straight from 7-11PM. Then worked until 1AM, hastily preparing for Thursday morning. I still somehow managed to wake up at 6:30.

Thursday was more of the same and at this point, I began to really feel like an auditor. There’s always work to be done and in hindsight, it’s sad to think that I’m living in one of the most beautiful cities in the world and there’s little time to enjoy it.

Worked straight til 7:30 PM then it was time for Auditor Night Out (ANO). Alfredo was kind enough to reserve dinner at Ristorante il Latini. This place is near the rest of the team’s apartments. You could tell it was good since every night they pass by, there is always a line to get in. It was raining that night and there expectedly was a line. We had a huge table waiting for us and as soon as we sat down, the food started to roll in.

We started off with traditional Italian appetizers: bruschetta, prosciutto, mozzarella, tomatoes, salami, goose meat (it was decent), and a few other dishes I don’t recall the name off all capped off by a huge bottle of cabernet. After a few glasses of wine, the next course rolled through: an array of exquisite Italian dishes including different breaded soups, ravioli, a beef and pasta dish, and a some more dishes I don’t remember. Four big bottles and a table full of stuffed auditors, you’d think that we were done. But it didn’t stop there.

I undid my belt and pulled down my fly to make room for the main course: an assortment of meat including prime rib, roast rabbit, roast beef, roast chicken (catch the trend?), and veal. I had to try everything. The desert tray was amazing with too many items to list off. My favorite was the biscotti and the potent wine that you dip it in. We capped the meal off with a bottle of the best champagne, which I took as a shot cause that was the glass that it came in.

This place was straight mafia style. As I watched people pour in and out of the restaurant, I thought I was in a Godfather scene. For the entire 2 ½ hours we were there, people stood outside waiting for us to leave. I felt on display like the gorilla exhibit at the zoo. ANO dinner = 500 euros. Insane.

We headed out for the first time to Tony’s favorite local bar, the Old Stove. It’s an Irish pub (go figure) with where a lot of Americans frequent. Shot after shot, Guinness after Guinness, we closed the place down at around 1:30 AM. Not many people were there – my guess is cause it was Thursday.

I stumbled my way to the train station with Ashraf and Alfredo. Finally got to the hotel and the whole time I was thinking I absolutely needed to wake up for my 9:30 one-on-one with Tony.

Four minutes until I have clean underwear again…


9:34PM

I’ll save the team breakdown for next week. That’ll give me ample time to really get to know everyone.

Friday morning, I was hurt. Got my 6:30 wake up call but the sandman got the best of me. I finally woke back up at 9 when the cleaning lady walked into my room then back out. Holy shit – I overslept! I had 30 mins to take a shower and high tail it to the office. I didn’t even bother; figured it was better to be on time for my one-on-one than to smell good.

I hopped in a taxi at 9:20 and told him to gun it. Got in around 9:25 and tried to sign on. I definitely was hung over; the room spinning, my heart racing, my face glistening with sweat, and the whole time, my damn laptop would not come out of sleep mode. I finally hit the power button and thank God, Tony wasn’t online. I walked up to his office and sure enough he wasn’t there. In fact, he didn’t stumble in until 11AM. Said he needed to catch up on sleep considering we were out late and he knew he would be in the office late.

The rest of the day was an unmotivated blur. Next thing I knew it was lunch. Tried to work but spent the most of the day surfing the next. We decided on Mexican for dinner at 8:30PM.

I waited for Vasco to get out of his last meeting. He was in with his clients until 8:30. We finally got the restaurant, Tijuana. I step in and all I see is Americans. I figure, great. What the hell am I doing in a Mexican restaurant in Florence?!?

The service was horrible. The waiter was confused and thought there would only be 3 of us. We had 7 total. It was a logistics nightmare; all we wanted to do was take the table right next to us and put them together so we can all eat at once. The waiter said that the table was reserved and finally got it 15 minutes later.

The food was good. Three beers into it, I had the Enchiladas Nera, the spiciest enchilada I’ve ever eaten. We finish dinner and Jim heads to the Old Stove 45 minutes before the rest of us to meet Tony at 11. Vasco and I had our bags with us so we decided to stop back at his apartment and drop them off. As we are heading down the stair, in walks Jim. He waited there for an entire hour and Tony never showed; neither did we. Jim called it a night.

Ashraf ended up going home while Naz, Ashraf and I headed to a bar named Capocaccia. Good place. Strong drinks. One drink turned into 3, and two of those were Long Islands for me. Had some good conversations; more team building than anything else.

The bar is located right on the river Arno. It’s a beautiful scene (keep a look out for my next posting.)

We called it a night around 2 AM. I stumbled to the train station again but this time, I had to go sooo bad. I found a corner I thought I could use, but someone beat me to the punch. Then I saw the McDonalds and headed straight there. The bathroom is in the basement and was closed off, but I went anyways. Then I bought a bacon cheeseburger. The best meal I’ve had so far. Finally got back to the hotel round 3.

I know my blogs aren’t really blogs since I ramble on. I’m struggling to find a balance between too much detail and not enough. I’m getting hungry (and thirsty) so I’m calling a night. Tomorrow starts week two.

Go Vikings!