53. the great Italy.

At Leonardo da Vinci International Airport, the main airport of magnificent Italy, as well as its grand capital, the Carsons arrived at 9:30 in the morning after a long eight-hour flight and wait times. A city that bears the weight of years and bitter stories that shaped the wonderful city, emphasizing the traditions lived by the Italian population. Among the greatest curiosities of Italy are the dialects that can be heard in different places.

The preferred language is Italian, as well-known, followed by some regional languages such as Sicilian, Venetian, Milanese, Sardinian, and surprisingly German, French, and Slovenian in the border areas occupied by these countries. All due to the territorial changes that European societies have undergone over different periods, the most recent being World War I. A tradition that shapes a culture rich in diverse and non-repetitive customs of its citizens, forming the incredible Italian heritage.

The representative song of the 1990 World Cup is "Un'estate italiana" by Edoardo Bennato and Gianna Nannini, a ballad with rock influences. Despite the dominance of Grunge, Alternative Rock, and Pop-Rock in the 80s, the 90s marked the last great era of rock and the birth of genres that would explode and establish themselves for the next 30 years, such as Rap-Hip Hop, Pop, and electronic music.

Argentina did not perform well in the early matches of the World Cup, suffering an unprecedented loss in their first game, which was seen as the curse of the previous winner. However, they managed to qualify extraordinarily in their last match, and Colombia's surprising draw against Germany are moment that Billy would surely take advantage of to place some bets.

He saw the Branovich women at the airport, who had arrived a day earlier due to the impossible ticket purchase made in March. The airport terminal reflects the well-known phenomenon of the World Cup, with multiple shirts of different colors - the electric blue of the Italian shirt with a white collar and some red lines, the petrol green of the Germans, the white of the English and Germans, the characteristic yellow of the Brazilians, and the striped albiceleste of the Argentinians.

In his first life, it was the first World Cup he saw, and he has a long memory of the events of that tournament, which would later be exploited in the upcoming World Cup held in the United States.

-Finally, we reach the city, and the traffic jams keep happening all the time. Your idea of reserving a hotel in the city center is good, but getting here is a nightmare, - said Claudia, hugging Billy.

-Well, we just need to take a taxi ride. I'm exhausted. I'll be more than happy to hear everything you have to tell me. These have been days of a lot of stress, - said Billy, as he has been constantly drawing and participating in sports betting, not resting properly.

-I visited my new school, my new place of accommodation,- said Claudia.

-How's the summer, as unbearable as California? - said, Billy.

Claudia, totally sweaty from the European summer, could only fan herself and comb her sweaty hair sticking to her forehead. -Silly. It's been interesting. The heat isn't as strong as in California. They say the real problem is the winter, - said Claudia.

-Ohhh, I'm sorry I'm taking you away from the wonderful warm climate of Austria. Italy has a suffocating heat that makes it hard to breathe, - said Billy, chatting with Claudia as their parents walked ahead, looking for a taxi to take them to the hotel.

-How much did they pay for the hotel? - Claudia asked out loud, thinking about the luxurious four-star hotel.

-I have no idea; Dad took care of everything. About $15,000 for all 20 days, but my calculations could be wrong, - said Billy.

The prices for the World Cup are insane. We made the reservation in March, and most of the hotels near the Olympic Stadium were fully booked. That $12,000 is just for the hotel rooms and the dinner buffet provided by the hotel. Everything else comes out of the guests' pockets.

He received a punch from the blonde woman next to him.

-Ouch, that hurts, she's crazy! - Billy reacted to the punch from Claudia.

-Well, it's a fortune. You, rich people, don't understand how valuable money is, but with $15,000, I can go to college without worrying for a whole year. Next time you give me a gift, worry about my mental and emotional well-being. Now, let's just enjoy every day without rest, or I'll feel guilty about all the money you spent, - said Claudia.

-That sounds great, although I'll have to take care of a few things. We can go to the Pantheon, and we could even catch a World Cup match, - said Billy.

-Bah, I don't like football, but for your sake, we can go watch some games, - said Claudia.

-That sounds awesome. We just need to buy some shirts, and our days in Italy will be fantastic; you can't doubt that, - said Billy, grabbing the girl's hand and twirling her around, as if they were dancing, a habit he acquired during his dance practices at Notre Dame school.

-Look, Dad already got a taxi! Let's go. It's still early; we can do something in the afternoon, - said Billy.

The small taxi turned out to have an impressive three-dimensional space for its size. Today, exactly at 3:00 PM, Argentina was playing their qualifying match, and later, Germany would play against Colombia. Billy was already eager to know about the bets.

In Italy, betting houses have been around since 1948, initially created as a means for the reconstruction of the Olympic Stadium. Shortly after, betting houses would become pioneers in betting applications, which are famous in the sports world through web applications.

For the European market, the maximum bet is 3,000 euros due to the issues that have arisen with betting houses, similar problems that led most states in the USA to end and prohibit betting in almost all states, leaving them restricted only to Las Vegas. The Italian betting houses are dominated by the Italian Society of Betting, known as (SISAL), and they hope these values will change to attract bettors from other countries.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

You need to be 18 years old to place bets in Italy, so Billy's father will oversee making the sports bets while Billy spends his evenings watching football, enjoying delicious meals with Claudia, and visiting marvelous museums, and places he probably won't be able to see shortly.

-These traffic jams are a mess, - Claudia said aloud.

-Calm down, Clo, we'll be there soon, - Livy replied.

"Clo" is Claudia's mother's nickname for her, like the "Blah blah" used by the Branovich women's father and grandfather.

- Ich bin verzweifelt, Mutter, - Claudia said. It was the first word she learned in German. In Vienna, luckily, English is spoken, but German is the predominant language, along with others like Hungarian, Czech, and Slovak.

-You've learned German too. How long have you been practicing? - Billy asked.

-It's the only word she knows. She's repeated it numerous times these days, - Livy replied, looking back at Billy in the back seat. She signaled to the taxi driver to stop somewhere between the traffic light and the street.

-Right here is fine, - Livy said.

-Thirty euros, - the taxi driver said in broken English. A smile highlighted his angular face.

Livy was about to pay the taxi fare but was interrupted by Thomas, who paid with a 50-euro bill without giving her time to protest.

-Ah, the Carson charm, - Livy teased her father.

-Excuse me! But you came for us. Allow me to win a few rounds, - Thomas said, giving a long smile, the kind he gave to his clients.

-I felt sick in that damn car, - Claudia said.

-I'm confused about the exact location of the hotel. Where did we get off? - Billy asked, looking around.

-We got off ten minutes away from the hotel. Mom talked to the employees, and it's better to get off at the main streets and walk a bit or take a small cart to go through the secondary streets. They charged us a fortune the day before yesterday at night, - Claudia explained.

-At your service, my dear guide, - Billy said, adjusting the luggage. - Which way? -

Her gaze followed her mother, who was talking to Thomas Carson.

-Mom, which way? - Claudia shouted.

-Up the steep one, - Livy replied.

Claudia looked up and nodded her head.

-Let's go, I've figured it out. We have a lot to do, so let's hurry to the hotel, - said Claudia.

She tried to lift Billy's luggage but ended up standing still and almost falling immediately to the ground.

-What do you have in here, rocks? - Claudia said, attempting to lift the suitcase with little success.

-Just the essentials for a man, - replied Billy.

-Hah! You packed all your school books, - the girl responded.

-Just a few necessary ones. I couldn't resist, and I brought you a special gift so that you won't forget me and can keep yourself entertained during your evenings in Vienna when the winter keeps you indoors. Though they say it's a historic capital with numerous museums, my gifts are here to lift your spirits, - said Billy, a bit anxious as he had to pay an extra fee to carry these books in his luggage.

-Another gift! I won't accept it. It's not fair that you won't let me prepare something for you. The trip itself is enough, Billy, - Claudia said.

The frustration was palpable; Billy's gifts always threw her off balance. It was obvious he would come prepared with new gifts. During their stay in Vienna, she barely had time to eat.

-Come on, it's just a few things! - Billy insisted.

-I hope it's either a cheap gift or something impressive that leaves me in awe. My friends' boyfriends give them heartfelt letters and poems written from books borrowed from the library. You could learn from them, - Claudia remarked.

-Well, they're not poems, but they are similar. It's something you'll surely like, - Billy said.

After all, the comics are his creations, made by him. There's nothing to worry about.

-I'll think about it, - the girl replied.

-Do you have the itinerary for our vacation? - Billy asked.

-Oh, well, Mr. Carson, I did a study on all the places I can take you to, so I have a tour prepared for us to eat deliciously. The best places my interviews could offer, - said Claudia.

-I can't wait to visit the places you have in mind, I hope there are at least five places that serve amazing pizza, - said Billy.

-Hmmm, we'll adjust the schedule to go to two more pizzerias, - the girl replied, deepening her voice and pretending to have a mustache with her index finger.

-Ahhh, that makes me happy. I hope everything will be documented in the report. My pizzas are all I have left, - Billy tried to be funny.

The stern look Claudia gave him reminded him of behavior seen in Disney movies.

The wonderful Hotel Eden appeared in the distance, and Billy could see the charm represented by the luxurious villa amidst houses and buildings, representing the establishment. - It's quite beautiful, - he thought.

Now they just needed to grab something to eat since breakfast had been a ham and cheese sandwich with lettuce. On the other hand, the room had its charm, with the luxurious bed with red wooden profiles and metal decorations.

-Looks like we'll all be sleeping in the same place, - Billy remarked.

The main living room had a small fridge and two long pieces of antique furniture with some more modern aspects. The table, on the other hand, had a simple design for a more minimalist look. Everything fits perfectly together.

-Don't worry, there are three bedrooms, each with a large bed. I sleep in one, and who knows, maybe we'll take advantage of the moment and sleep together," Claudia teased flirtatiously.

-Don't even think about it, young lady, - Livy said from the balcony.

-Mom, stop eavesdropping. I'm flirting! - Claudia exclaimed.

-Come with me to the pool. We have some things to discuss while the men get comfortable and organize their luggage, - Livy said.

-Fantastic, - Billy said sarcastically.

-I'll see you later today. We'll go to a nearby restaurant, - Claudia said.

She entered the room on the right with her mother, and later, they came out cheerfully to bid farewell to Billy, similarly waving their hands to the farewells given ninety years ago.

-Well, we have some time to catch our breath. Your girlfriend is quite bold,- Thomas said.

-Father, she's just joking around. She tends to joke like that when she's nervous, - Billy explained.

-I understand, son. Just be careful. You're a fifteen-year-old boy, and mistakes can happen at any moment. It's better not to do anything foolish; unintended pregnancies at this age are very common, - Thomas said, feeling somewhat uncomfortable.

Being a father can be uncomfortable, but it's something they never did with him.

-Father, no... I would never. She's still a child, - Billy reassured.

-She's older than you, and I'm telling you this because it's one of the reasons I don't talk to my parents. In my first year of college, I got your mother pregnant. It's something I don't regret, but I hope you don't fall into the same mistakes. I faced many difficulties, - Thomas explained.

-Mistakes? - Billy asked.

-Don't joke around, Billy. You know what I mean, - Thomas replied, losing his patience.

-I'm sorry, Father. I promise to keep a level head, - Billy said.

Thomas nodded and ended the conversation as he went to his room and closed the door as a sign of needing space. For now, he had to organize his suitcases. The gift he has prepared for Claudia is the complete collection of Hellboy, eight books with 300 pages each, along with the new volumes released in December of last year and June of this year.

Among them are "The Lion King" and "Hercules"!

"Hercules" is a Disney movie from 1997, which is part of the list of films he wishes to release with Pixar before the 2000s. He hopes that the numerous companies he's investing in will allow him to produce all the movies he has planned for these years.

His exhaustion was evident, and he could almost feel his eyes blinking in total exhaustion. They arrived at the San Jose airport around 3:00 PM and reached Italy at 8:50 in the morning. He managed to sleep a few hours on the plane, but he was still exhausted.

...