This one time in Italy

​For us that story happened while on a family vacation in Italy back in 2006.
 
After visiting family in Sicily and Calabria we began driving north towards Rome. During this time navigating the Italian roadways left us feeling like La famiglia perduta.  Unlike what we are used to in North America, there were hardly any road signs and we found ourselves lost and searching for clues that would lead us to our hotel in Capri. Needless to say that our mother, navigator and best Italian speaker of the family were stressed and in need of some relaxation. Especially after our father executed rather difficult driving maneuvers on hair pin turns up and down the mountain roads of the Italian riviera. 
 
That night after dinner and a well deserved cocktail for mom, there was a rain storm.  Being a family of 5 we the kids were in a sperate room from our parents. Shenanigans ensued.
 
After settling in the boutique hotel and discovering the plethora of noises associated with the bathroom, we made peace with the fact that we were in yet another strange hotel full of strange noises.  The next day was filled with sight seeing in the beautiful city of Capri.  We were also made privy to the many stories about haunted hotels – one of which of course we happened to be staying at.  This small and seemingly insignificant detail stuck with us although it was never discussed … until that night when the shenanigans intensified.
 
There was another rain storm, not that we could see anything other than the flashes of lightening from the hotel room balcony that overlooked and olive grove.  Being superstitious, I Emily, waited for the thunder, lightening and rain to stop before taking a shower in the bathroom with the incredibly creepy noises.  Diana decided to take this opportunity to wash her socks and hang them to dry outside on the patio adjacent to the room.  
 
Disclaimer: this is the point in the story where we disagree on the details.
 
I Emily, emerged from the weird shower only to see the curtains covering the sliding door to the patio billowing in the wind, or so I thought.  When I reached out to tamp down the billowing curtain, I realized that the billowing curtain contained the form of a solid human being I reached for the nearest hard object which happened to be the rather large book I was reading and began to smack the curtain and whoever was hiding inside it with gusto.
 
As luck would have it the person causing the curtain to billow was actually Diana who was in that moment now retrieving said wet socks and backing into the room for lord only knows what reason.
 
Our younger brother seated quietly on the bed with a view of the events that were unfolding watched.  He watched and stayed silent, just completely silent.  He saw the whole damn thing and said NOTHING.
 
This incident is now referred to affectionately among the family as the “Capri Incident”.  It is testament to mine and Diana’s over active imagination and the fact that we cannot be left alone without some shit happening.  Be it of our own making or otherwise.
 
Our next vacation together did not occur until 2013 when we decided to take on Walt Disney World.  Yes, there were shenanigans there too but this time they included a giant mouse and the Wizarding world of Harry Potter.  Alas, that is a story for another time.