Lying in bed in our darkened hotel room in Morano Calabro , I could hear the loud laughter and music outside . Beneath my open window on the ancient cobblestone walkway of Villa San Domenico , Robin , Shiva , and my wife , Amy , were laughing , singing , and dancing together . Total strangers just a few days earlier , they were now living it up well into the night , despite spending a long day on motorcycles . I had retreated to the room earlier in the evening to jot down my day ’ s notes and sneak in some much- needed rest . But instead , I was laying there smiling , soaking in the joy these people had found in each other ’ s company . I suppose the multiple rounds of Aperol spritz helped a bit too .