A Rooster's Welcome

by Lisa Gemperline (United States of America)

A leap into the unknown Italy

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We arrived just before the golden hour that ends the day. Our drive from Rome uneventful yet enjoying the respite to our weary feet. The light reflecting off jagged cliffs danced upon the sea as we twirled around the switchback of coast. Now, awakened in the back seat my heart took notice of the death drop to the water as I knuckle-gripped the headrest and uttered words that I don't usually use. Between laughing and terror we clung to the road as mini trucks zoomed between us and the cliff. The panic and anxiety found me as the sun dipped lower and the shadows forced the sea to a black abyss. The distant lights were a welcome focus as I longed to be safety off the serpentine track- the only road into Positano. We found our way to La Taverna del Leone. We were invited inside to an almost vacant room decorated in blue and yellow stripes with gold Lions and the smell of garlic and other heavenly spices. Hungry and grateful we ordered pizza with ensalada mista. Marco our server, was charming. As we left Marco, the wind continued it's fury as we found our compact car. With complete darkness settling over the sleepy hanging village we started on the road again toward Villa De Amore. Anna our host should be waiting for us. With maps and a landmark for location we traveled along slowly looking for clues. We found the said fence and clearing where Anna had said to park the car. We got out of the car with gusts of angry wind swirling our hair, scarves and nerves. We didn't know where to go so we looked up into the darkness. After standing along the narrow road we heard a faint voice sung by the wind. L-i-s-a? Then again. We yelled back into the darkness. The wind was making it hard to hear but we then saw a flicker of light. Standing high above us on a ledge was a tiny flash of light with Anna attached. "Put your bags in the elevator" she yelled. We thought, "What elevator? We can't even find a building! “Clank. Thud. Screech. As we hiked up a dozen stone stairs, we saw it. A metal tub attached to a rope and pulley. We laughed and quickly went to work. After putting our suitcases in the makeshift elevator, we asked, "Where do we go?" Anna yelled back, "Climb the stairs." With an enormous Italian moon big enough to scare the winds, we started the climb up the double stone stairs toward the darkness. The wind howled. We stopped to rest and to wonder at the moon. We arrived at a small white structure clinging to the rocks. Anna called to us and opened the Villa to welcomed us in. I felt far away from home, longing to be back in my familiar comforts. With the sounds of the wind reminding me that I was a stranger, we quickly undressed and pulled the sheets over our heads to drown out the sound. Nestled under the covers holding onto each other we drifted off to the lullaby of unhappy winds, telling us to go home. The heavy darkness was our blanket. I heard a hoarsely crowing rooster through the stillness. As the sunlight seeped through the floor length shutters I thought I must be dreaming. Then the rooster again, a tooting horn and an unexpected feeling of adventure to be waiting. I tiptoed out of bed not to wake my husband and our friends in the next room. I slowly made my way to the shutters and tried to quietly open them. Quiet solitude made me aware of my heart pounding in anticipation. Then the moment that will stay with me forever. An unforgettable blue calm expanse on the edge of Heaven. The sea stretched as far as I could see as it became one with the sky. The bright air, the moisture on my skin, the joy of seeing eternity. I threw on my robe and walked onto the balcony. I dared not look down. Curiously, I did just that and the Rooster crowed again to welcome me home to my own Amalfi.