A GIRLIE BLOG; GUYS: YOU CAN SKIP THIS ONE
01 August 2015 | CASTELLAMMARE, ITALY
LIL
I'm writing this blog, sitting in Futura Moda, a quite nice hair salon in the town of Castellammarra. Even though I do give up certain 'luxuries' on these trips, eventually I need to take care of 'hair issues'. (If anyone on Marco knows Renee at Rick's, you can tell her that my haircut in May was FABULOUS and lasted 8 weeks....but it was time.)
Ken needed to get a new pair of glasses. We found an optician who spoke very little English, but in French, we managed to negotiate the deal. You can imagine how bad my hair must look when before we left the shop, Ken asked the optician's wife if she knew of a hair salon for me. In French, she directed me to this place.
Going to a new salon is always a source of high anxiety for me, particularly in a foreign country where my communication skills are non-existent. Given the situation, I just decided I would have to chill out and go with the flow. There is that moment: there is nothing I can do. I did feel better when I saw the staff: all nice and normal looking. I worry when I see techs with pink mohawks.
Gino, the owner, spoke almost no English, but was a good communicator, if that makes sense. Ancora una volta, Google translate era il mio salvatore. He brought a L'Oreale folder with different color hair swatches. I had never had to pick like this before. Usually the colorist figures it out. I wasn't too worried. Anything would be better than my orange colored hair. We picked a color. It came out fine.
Now for the main event: The cut. I spelled out all of my hair quirks on Google translate. (not too short on the bangs, not too many bangs, short layers on top....etc.) I think these words don't translate directly because Gino, the rest of the staff, and the other customers were laughing hysterically as they read the words on my phone. Gino said something about Sharon Stone...either that I look like her or he would make me look like her. Meanwhile, everyone in the shop was gathered around trying to get 'our story' (three months around the world or three years, across the Atlantic or Pacific....) A young school aged girl did fairly well in translating.
When we first arrived, they were suggesting a 4 PM appointment (which wouldn't have worked for us since we had a 5 pm shuttle back to the marina) but promptly switched gears and kept the salon open through their lunch-time closing (from 1-4) and the entire staff stayed. I don't know if it was Gino's entrepreneurial spirit or...if he felt sorry for us two ragamuffins. I was so glad I was able to enjoy the moment. Whitney Houston, Bob Seger and Bruce Springsteen played on the stereo, They even served us expresso. And...they had the best free wifi; we were able to update 20+ apps in less than a minute.
In the end, I could see Gino was was an excellent hair cutter. We all became new BFs; the young girl wanted a pic with the Captain, and Gino wanted a selfie with me. We have to go into town on Tuesday to pick up Ken's new glasses. I think I will visit my friend Gino and get a mani-pedi. (The Captain had his pedi today.....just so you don't think it's always about me.)
And....girls, how cute is he! We might have to import him to Marco. As Ken said when we left the salon...."you had way too much fun".
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