The Apartment Stalker

Don't worry, we don't have a stalker creeping around the apartment.  The only stalker around here is me.  I am the lady who is constantly looking out her window seeing who/what I can see.  I watch the people going into the hotel, smoking outside the restaurant, and coming into the gym.  I actually can tell you who is at the gym by looking outside to see what cars are parked here.  That is how I decide if I want to go down there or not.  White truck man or blue Skoda guy are normal and don't stink.  Red VW man, or as I call him "Ab Man," is creepy and I like to avoid him when possible.  If the silver Megane hatchback guy is there, I am never to go down...he wears a unitard, smells horrible (like BO and farts), and always turns the music up way to loud.  But if my good friend, Blue car lady is there, I look forward to going down.

This week, as Kevin and I were pulling up to the apartment, we noticed the owner of the hotel and one of his workers were cutting down a big evergreen tree across from our apartment.  Once we made it upstairs, I headed straight for the window because I needed to see what was going on.  And I grabbed my camera on the way.  

Watching these two grown men cut down the tree with a little saw and ax, drag it to the edge of the road, and then run it across a busy street was quite entertaining.  I'm predicting they are using this tree as the Christmas Tree at the hotel, but I need to confirm this by actually going over there.

This is where the tree used to be (in the center of the picture).

It only took two guys to move it to the side of the road.

But they had to enlist the help of a third to get it across the street. 

This is just another day in my life...creeping the neighbors.  It's exciting, I know. 

The Sights at the Gym

Lately, I've been doing really well with getting to the gym at least four days a week. Most of the time, I really look forward to going, but not because I love the way I feel after a good workout or because I'm doing something productive. Instead, I love to people watch at the gym. Back home it is never this fun, but the gym here never disappoints.

The gym (located under our apartment) is pretty small. It has 3 treadmills, 3 bikes, and 1 elliptical. Plus, there are free weights and weight machines. There are also two large mirrors located by the free weights and the weight machines. No matter where you are, you can see everyone else in the gym. And this, I love!

In general, Europeans work out in the most random clothes ever. When we lived in England, I was baffled that people would work out in Keds or lift weights in jeans. Here in Italy, guys LOVE spandex and short shorts. And it seems as though women have never heard of sports bras. I know they have them here!

Last week, Kevin was at the rink and I headed down since it usually isn't busy in the afternoon. When I walked in, there was a younger couple. The guy had on his spandex and the girl had a full windbreaker warm up on. The whole time she was riding the bike, I kept wondering how hot she must be. Well, they left soon after I arrived...maybe they were tired of me staring at them. But I got a new Italian friend to watch so I didn't care. At first glance, he looked completely normal until he took off his jeans and sweater and revealed his unitard (with a t-shirt under it). But the head sweatband really made the outfit.

Not even Rob Pattinson would look good in one of these.

When Kevin got home, I couldn't wait to tell him. He didn't believe me though. He said I was a liar and there was no way someone would wear that to the gym. But today, Kevin had to eat his words when my Italian friend, complete with his unitard and head sweatband, showed up to the gym while we were there.