While checking some photographs for my nowadays workflow I passed through a group from not long ago that I didn’t have a good look at then.
And they still today make me feel scary again, because they are at least thrilling and that night was, well … you’ll see. I decided to tell the story for you.
As you know I’m not very interested in documentary photography. But today here it comes a scary story from the real photography fiction.
I arrived at midday to the village during a short trip. Piazza Armerina is in the centre of Sicily and I had in mind to spend the night for getting back home the next day.
After a tasty meal I asked to the restaurant owner for a place to spend the night.
He talked me about two different places and I phoned them. But no way. The point is there was a kind of scientific symposium just that day. And everything was complete.
At the end I could find a place I considered as absolutely horrible after having a look, but I had to book it. No other chance!
I didn’t have even the opportunity to meet the owner; the woman I talked to by phone jut told me where the place was and sent someone to meet me there.
A sinister man opened the door of an old house . A wide entrance room absolutely gloomy, with a kinda reception desk, seemingly not having been used for centuries . I got inside an equally gloomy room with two beds, let my bag there, and got the key from the man and went out of that place for a walk and a dinner.
And that’s about that walk…
Well, first I got the car because the main reason to arrive that village is the impressive Roman village containing astonishing mosaics, like that famous one showing the first bikini girls ever 😉
And many more.
As I returned in the evening, I parked the car at the b&b door (I think b&w makes it more thrilling), I remember its name right now:
And walked the streets of the beautiful medieval village
The camera was an underwater digital one that needed high ISO in the low light situations. So they are a bit more noisy than usual, which adds a bit of mystery to the story.
Here some more shots of the night stroll
Fantastic, as you see.
But the tale continues, because first to return I had a beer in a bar and a nice talk with the owner, a local girl, and some other ones.
Later, I had a nice dinner and got back to the b&b for a sweet dream.
BUT
Yes, but.
I got there, brushed my teeth, put my pyjamas, got to bed.
And I need no prologue to say that after several turns in that bed in the dreary room I started listening strange noises. Scary!
Even now, with those photographs and this post I feel really that same uncomfortable sensation.
And, what’s what I did?
Of course I decided to get out of bed, wear my clothes, get the bag, let 50€ and the keys on the entrance desk and close the door.
Never in my life had a similar experience before.
It was about midnight and I got the car and went to the bar (that’s a verse).
Told the story to the nice woman with another beer and asked for a place to spend the night.
It was not easy really but I finally placed my bones on the bed of one of those timeless, tasteless and nonsense hotels you can find in many towns and I wouldn’t ever have chosen.
That’s it.
I survived.
Till now.
Hope you like it.
Thanks for reading and for your comments and support.
Have a lovely week
Incredible black and white nighttime shots.
Gritty grain in gorgeous graphics! 👍