Shave and a Haircut, Two Bits.

 Here's some real excitement.  I got a haircut.  It had been 10 weeks since last time and things were getting a bit shaggy.  Barbering in Sicily is a profession and a real art form going back hundreds of years.  I asked Vincenzo for a recommendation, and he steered me toward his parrucchiere (barber) right down the street, a guy who's been around forever.  I asked Vincenzo's son, Alessandro, and he said Vincenzo's barber was fine, but I'd walk out with not much hair left.  He steered me to his, Diolosà, (which I think might losely translate to "God only knows"), and gave me directions on how to get there.  

I set out one morning last week, and found the shop, first walking into what turned out to be the women's side, and they directed me around the corner to the men's.  I wasn't sure if I needed an appointment, and walked in to ask.  There were about 6 empty chairs, and they said come on in.  I had practiced how I was going to explain how I wanted my hair cut.  I've been spoiled by having the same person (Trish) cut my hair for about the last 30 years.  All I do is sit in her chair and she does her work. I had found a picture of me shortly after a haircut, and I showed this to the young guy who was going to cut my hair.  I explained that it had been 10 weeks.  He seemed to get the picture.  

We started off with his assistant giving me a shampoo.  He then started the cut, asking me a question about how I wanted the back.  I only got part of what he said, and rather than asking for clarification, I just said fine, whatever you said.  The haircut was fine, and I ended up with the shortest cut in back that I've had since my brother and I were dropped off at the barber as kids in the summer with instructions for us both to have heinie cuts.  (Does anyone still use that term?  I just looked it up, and found it came from a crewcut haircut from the stereotypical German soldier's haircut, and may be a derogatory term going back to WWII.)   

Anyway, the cut looked fine, and it will grow back.  I had not shaved that morning thinking I may also get a shave with the haircut.  This place looked a bit more on the modern side, and i wasn't sure if they did shaves and I hadn't asked at the outset.  I should have known better, as I'm sure shaves are a standard option at any barber in Sicily.  So, after my cut, the young barber, looking at my scruff, asked if I also wanted a shave.  I said certainly.  Then, back for my second shampoo, and return to the chair for the shave.  I got lathered up with a hot gel, and then shaved with a sharp straight edge. His assistant, who may have been an apprentice, readied the straight edge with a new blade.  The shave was followed by the hot towel that felt great.  I was a new man, and and oh so beautiful. 

I had no idea what all this was going to cost.  The only other time I had a shave was in Palm Springs at the suggestion of Lynn and Daniel.  I think that may have cost about $40.  Here I was given a tab for 18 euro. I added a tip of 2 euro for a total of 20 euro, less than $23 for everything.  

I think I will next go to Vincenzo's barber just for a shave.  I have a feeling that the old time barber's shave may be a bit different than the young guy who did mine.  I will try it out and report back.  I could easily get used to someone else shaving me every morning.