August 12, 2014

The Great Pizza Throwing Incident of Pompeii

Since I've alluded to the "Great Pizza Throwing Incident" of our Euro Trip at least three times (here, here, and here), I figured it's about time I tell you just exactly what happened.  (And no, the pizza shown above is not the one that met a swift, untimely end...)

It began innocently enough, as do most awkward and embarrassing situations.  Overcome by hunger and seeking the cool relief of the Pompeii ruins' one and only air conditioned building, we went into the cafe to buy an overpriced slice of pizza, a coke, and a Peroni.  It was a hot (91'F/33'C), sunny day and at least half of the tourist horde could be found inside this cafe.  We placed our order, somehow got bamboozled into buying keepsake aluminum Coca-Cola bottles, and turned with laden trays to find two empty seats somewhere in the noisy seating area.  My heart sank as I scanned the room, seeing no available seats.

"Oh, look - over in the corner there are some open seats," Danny said.  Sure enough, a couple sat alone at a table with six seats.  We began to weave our way through the narrow space between all the tables and made it to the corner.

"Uh oh!"
"Are these seats free?" Danny asked.  "Si, si," the gentleman said and gestured.  Danny squeezed in behind him, and I followed suit on the other side.  I raised the tray up to my chin level to clear the heads of the gentleman's companion and the tourists behind me.  The tray, already precariously loaded with a Coke, a pizza, napkins, utensils, and the ridiculous aluminum Coca-Cola bottle, shifted, and as my purse got caught against a chair behind me, the whole tray went flying.  It was like a slow-motion scene.  I could only stare, aghast, as my pizza flew across the room, smashed against the bottom part of the wall and slid to the floor, accompanied by a dust-storm of napkins and the thundering of my Coke hitting the chairs.  It's always nice when a room full of people, representing dozens of nationalities and speaking many languages, all turn to see the mess you've created!

Anyway, it could've been worse.  The pizza didn't land on anyone, I didn't break any glass, and after another 5 euro bill, I had a replacement slice.  Too bad it wasn't the best pizza I've ever bought!

And unfortunately, this was merely the first installment of mishaps while in Italy.... stay tuned for more traveling mishaps!

Ever been in an embarrassing situation while traveling?  Dish it out!

Linking up with other bloggers on #TravelTuesday!

17 comments:

  1. haha oh wow that is so unfortunate! I can only imagine how much it sucks to see your food fly away and land on he floor! At least that kind of anecdote make for interesting memories :)

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    1. It's definitely funny to me now. :) I would've given *anything* to disappear when it happened though!

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  2. LOL oh no! You're right, it totally could've been worse! And hey, some of those travel mishaps make for the best stories down the road! :)

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    1. Oh it's totally hilarious now! I was able to chuckle about it later that night, and it does make for a good story!

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  3. hahaha oh dear. I think I would pay to see that on video ;)

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    1. So would I! It's funny now that I'm safely far away from all those people staring at me, haha!

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  4. Hahah! Best story. Sounds like something I would do. Did anyone burst out laughing?!

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    1. Um, yes. My husband. ;) I was too busy ducking my head and trying to clean up my mess to notice if anyone else was!

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  5. Oh no! I can't imagine anything worse when you're already hungry and worn out. But so good that you can laugh about it now - (minor) travel mishap stories are the best cause we all have them! :)

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    1. I was able to laugh about it later that day (albeit feebly!). I had a few other faux pas/mishaps on the trip, so it was merely the beginning!

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  6. Oh my god, hahahaha! I bet you were so mortified! When I was reading this I was just thinking "please don't say it hit anyone!" and thank goodness it didn't. It definitely could've been worse!

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    1. Mortified is the perfect word. But now I just think it's funny. :)

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  7. Haha oh no not flying pizza! But I'm glad you didn't hit anyone...and that you got a replacement slice ;)

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    1. Bahaha, yes, it was a flying pizza! Thankfully it didn't leave too much destruction!

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  8. Haha oh god, I'd have been mortified. I don't think I could have stayed and bought another slice. I think I'd have to have just left a little red-faced, never to return!

    http://ablogbyrobert.blogspot.co.uk/

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    1. I definitely contemplated that course of action! However, as there is no other place within the ruins to buy lunch, I didn't really have much of a choice. But none of the other tourists laughed *too* derisively (although my ears were burning, so maybe I just didn't hear it!), and I was laughing about it later in the day myself. Could've been way worse! :)

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  9. Hahaha! For a second I thought the pizza landed on somebody's face :) It could have been worse!

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