July 14, 1986 -- Florence (or Ulf is mising!)

Here is my journal entry from July 14, 1986, a day that all the campo italia members remember well.

" We got up late as usual. We finally got to Florence and immediately the group broke up and went separate ways. We had a tour of the museum, very nice but tiring. also went to the palace, very beautiful especially the ceilings. We had lunch at the restaurant of some local government official. Shopping sucked. I didn't buy a thing. We missed the rialto bridge entirely. I did get a picture of it. Sat for a while at Guidici's Bar (Remember to tell the Guidici family back home about it. I wonder if they are related?) It was time to meet at the bus again. Ulf was missing. Bruno grande told us that we had to be at the bus at 5 or he'd leave without us. Well, he wasn't joking. He left without Ulf. Ulf was the only one not there. The bus was in an uproar. Bruno would not stop and wait. We were scheduled to be at some farm of a Lion's member for dinner. Well, we got to the farm and no one got out of the bus. There were many arguements with us and Bruno. He was embarrassed in front of the lion memeber of course. we did not care. Some people were really hungry and did get off but the majority of us sat there, we searched our bags and purses for snacks and shared with the others if we found a candy bar or some other snacks. Solidarity! So we sat in protest until Bruno ate his dinner and we set off for the camp. Ulf has no or very little money, speaks no Italian and a little English. By now everyone is very upset. It has gotten dark and we go back to Florence. We want to look for Ulf. 5 guys get off to search for Ulf. Bruno tells them to be back in 45 minutes. 5 more leave to search. Suddenly bruno says, in 3 minutes we will leave. Great now 10 more are missing. he says that if you get off the bus and stay in Florence and are not at the camp in the morning, you will be sent home. As the bus starts to leave, 5 of the boys are seen approaching. So we leave. Now 5 are in Florence and Ulf. bruno says "we will look for the other 5" We don't, we drive straight back to camp. no one can sleep. We are all tired but too stirred up. everyone is angry at bruno grande. it was such a wonderful feeling. We had a big sit in and everyone was together. We were back at camp for about a half hour when suddenly in walks ULF!! It was too funny. It seems that as soon as he realized that the bus had left without him, he went to the police to ask for help. 5 are still in Florence. Finally at 7 a.m. the 5 boys are back! can go to sleep now."

Ok, that is what I wrote. Who were the 10 boys who went to search for Ulf? Any of you have a story to tell about that night? What about the 5 who came back at 7 am? Did you walk around all night? What did you do? I hope someone writes a comment to this. It was a special night. One one hand horrible and one the other wonderful. We were so united and I think that is what made the camp so special.

Please write your commments! ciao.