Thomas Mann MARIO AND THE MAGICIAN The atmosphere of Torre di Venere remains unpleasant in the memory. From the first moment the air of the place made us uneasy, we felt irritable, on edge; then at the end came the shocking business of Cipolla, that dreadful being who seemed to incorporate, in so fateful and so humanly impressive a way, all the peculiar evilness of the situation as a whole. Looking back, we had the feeling that the horrible end of the affair had been preordained and lay in the nature of things; that the children had to be present at it was an added impropriety, due to the false colours in which the weird creature presented himself. Luckily for them, they did not know where the comedy left off and the tragedy …show more content…
The excursion is a favourite one for the restless denizens of that pleasure resort, and a Fiat motor-bus plies to and fro, coating inch-thick with dust the oleander and laurel hedges along the highroad-a notable if repulsive sight. Yes, decidedly one should go to Torre in September, when the great public has left. Or else in May, before the water is warm enough to tempt the Southerner to bathe. Even in the before and after seasons Torre is not empty, but life is less national and more subdued. English, French, and German prevail under the tent-awnings and in the pension dining-rooms; whereas in August-in the Grand Hotel, at least, where, in default of private addresses, we had engaged rooms-the stranger finds the field so occupied by Florentine and Roman society that he feels quite isolated and even temporarily déclassé. We had, rather to our annoyance, this experience on the evening we arrived, when we went in to dinner and were shown to our table by the waiter in charge. As a table, it had nothing against it, save that we had already fixed our eyes upon those on the veranda beyond, built out over the water, where little red-shaded lamps glowed-and there were still some tables empty, though it was as full as the dining-room within. The children went into raptures at the festive sight, and without more ado we announced our intention to take our meals by preference in the veranda. Our words,
The waitress came back to our table. She came down to the kids table and started asking what we wanted to order. It was my turn, I was a little worried about my order going in correct since she could hardly understand us.
immediately ushered over to a table full of food and was told to eat. Stephanie was also handed a
The name and business relationship of the person(s) being entertained or taken out for the meal; and
which I now feel as most severe evil” (6) describes how his feelings got out of hand.
A thick fog of distress and anxiety seemed to hang over the plaza. We were all there for similar reasons. But everyone appeared uncomfortable as they remained spread about the space.
The four waiters spread out silently. Before the weary travelers knew it, the first course of the tantalizing feast materialized before them.
In the Spring
As I sat alone at my small table for two, I looked at my watch and noted the time of 12:10pm. As I glanced at the menu I slowly began scanning the dining area. As I suspected the lunch crowd was pretty full and I counted 36 customers in the dining area. My waiter arrived at my table and introduced himself. His name was Tony, although I am sure his full name was Anthony. He was average height, slim build, olive complexion, and dark hair. He was very polite and asked if I would like a drink before ordering and after my response he turned and retrieved my beverage. When he returned he asked if I need a few minutes to look over the menu and I responded that I did. Before leaving, he proceeded to tell me the lunch specials for the day and even made a recommendation. I thanked him as he turned and walked away.
As part of the experience, more attentive service is given to the patrons, whereby a waitress and chef is designated for each party. Since there are only two tables - with each table serving up to eight patrons at a time - the waitress and chef are not overwhelmed. The direct attention given to the patrons by the chefs is savored by patrons; Rocky prides the company’s extensive three-year formal
Everyone went around the table and introduced themselves by first name and then stated that they were an alcoholic. We, the observers, also introduced ourselves and the reason for our visit out of respect. That was a little special to me.
The specialist clinic had a (…insert word here) feel to it, enraging the feelings of uncertainty and anxiety confined within. And as the gap between the doctors room and I diminished time began to go slower and slower, it felt as though I was walking a marathon, a marathon of emotions. The thoughts which occupied my mind were not of assurance but of cynicism.
to inhuman evil. There is a sense of dramatic irony as we see what the
I will start by stating that I would think of the place of the meal or the setting; where I would eat. Like in most parts of the world and with most people, I would rather sit and enjoy my food at a table. It can be at home, a workplace, school, or at any restaurant, indoor or outdoor. This is one of the most recognizable form for meals, a common theme,
After we were assigned a table, we searched through the menu for the perfect meal. The interior of the place was homey and warm. The atmosphere excited and joyful. As we waited for our meals we talked about everything that had been going on. I told them about the weird
I have spent approximately 5,735 hours sitting at a dinner table with my family. Some of those hours dragged by and some of them ran out in the blink of an eye. Many hours took place around a huge mahogany table that seemed to extend for miles, while others occurred around a tiny folding table, barely big enough to contain the food and conversations being passed above it. However, one of the things that has always stayed that same, no matter the table or the topic of discussion, was the people that sat around it. Family dinner is such a profound time of the day; a time when everyone can come together as one. Throughout all of these years and all of these dinner tables, I have come to learn that relationships are sacred.