OUR MAN in EUROPE/dave delacroix/Part 16: Down on the Beat!

Part 16:  Down on the Beat!


Back on the Street...it ALL comes back. Memories of a thousand towns, pre-Berlin Wall breakdown Europe, USA, Canada; the same highs, the same lows.

Givers? Charitable hearts? The kids, as always, are great, wanting to touch the Guitar, much to their mother's consternation:

"C'mon, lady! Cough up that Euro!"

Fashionistas, dismissive, but OLD ladies, always the givers...knowing I'm some mother's Son...down on the Beat.

Business guys, oddly, always prepped to chip in a Euro, Immigrants, sharing their change; the ocassional "stone cold" beauty, but with a heart of Gold, the one you want to really meet...but never do! -a Court of suitors, no doubt, like Penelope, swarming....whilst she awaits her Ullysess?...

Of course (I use that expression a lot) there's ALWAYS the (capital P) Parasite who cycles by, circles like a Great White, then stops, parks his Ass, sits TOO close and "ogles" away the potential business: why, infact, I stopped jammin' to write this Blog, hoping this "piece of shit" will starve of stimulae and piss off!

He'll sit for a while, waste my business hour, NEVER donate, then cycle away in all his Spiritual (sic) bankruptcy.

(There he goes...)

The mid afternoon street has gone dramatically quiet; hoping Tuesday's are not thee Dead day of the week....

...But back to my Public! - Then, there's the "clueless" gaggle, opposite me in the Mews, wondering if they can get that latest designer hand bag in their size...? The dim wit Mommas, gathered with carry-cart babies,
"CIAO-ing!" at the top of their voices; MAN! -it's Perambulator gridlock!!!

 The sneak who wants your iconic photograph but does not want to pay.

The dum gals who, sitting next to you,  munch down on Gelato or Donner Kebabs and kill your starving gut with intoxicating aromas.
...Man! I've seen it all!

Then there's (as here) the Piacenza (Italy) cops. A Hareem, for chrissakes! -Never outside of Lindsey Lohan in Switzerland have I seen such gorgeous cops! In peak fitness, uniform wrapped, blonde braided hair, glossy white side arms and holsters, plus the usual "gizmo" belt for lipstick, Mace... and spare bullets!

Ever greet two cops with: "Enchante, ladies"...?

Try THAT one in Denver, babee, and you're going DOWN with the accompanying MIRANDA warning of:

"If you DONT have a Priest (for last rites) one can be provided at no extra cost to your surviving family members.
A Rabbi or an Iman can also be supplied "on request" should you still have breath in your body...due to our restraining methods, which - incidentally - are absolutely for your own safety."

Yup! Italy's a different planet, and with Piacenza's fair haired Police Officiers, it's quite another "situ":

"PUR-LEEZE CUFF ME!!!"

Need I go on?

Interesting thing about busking in Italy, though; just sitting, there on smoke break or just sitting with your guitar all fagged out...people STILL throw money in the Hat, sometimes MORE than when you're actuallty playing!?

(A hint?)

-Fricked if I know!?...


c 2010. San Lazaro, near Borgomaro, Italy/dave delacroix/our man in europe