What can happen on a quiet summer Monday near Miasino? Well, sometimes a simple walk can lead to a little wonder. So, one late afternoon, while enjoying the coolness of the surroundings, I had one of those ideas that only the heat can inspire: “What if I stopped for a beer?”

Now, if you’re a bit like me, the idea of a cold beer isn’t just an idea; it’s a mission. This mission led me straight to the Circolo Operaio Enal Carcegnese. Yes, that place where time has taken a vacation for about three decades and hasn’t returned.

As soon as I crossed the threshold, I immediately realized I was in a kind of time machine. The wooden chairs, likely original artifacts from 1987, have aged better than many of my past relationships. The stone tables in the outdoor area stand still like the statue of a saint, ready to host card games that start in the morning and end… never.

In this scene of serene decay, the bar lady enters the picture. And here, dear readers, we must applaud. She is serious, silent, almost a nun of the Circolo, but with a more practical uniform. My beer arrives in a few minutes, cold as the heart of someone who leaves you on “seen” on WhatsApp. The price? Ridiculously low. So low that I feel like paying double, but I’m a person of principles, so I let the inflation of the last twenty years continue to not exist here.

I take my time. The beer is good, the atmosphere is good, and for a moment I think this unexpected break is the best idea I’ve had this year. I decide to thank the lady with a touch of sincere gratitude. I tell her this place will leave me with nostalgia. She looks at me, eyes glistening as if she just peeled an onion, and does something extraordinary: she smiles. But it doesn’t end there. Proudly, she invites me to the paella night, pointing to a sheet fluttering like a flag from the edge of the counter by the register. Pure strategic marketing. Take a happy customer, invite them to an event, et voilà: you’ve created a lifelong connection.

To recap, that late afternoon I didn’t just drink a beer; I lived an experience, took a dive into the past, and discovered a little world I didn’t know existed.

Moral of the story: if you find yourself near Miasino, stop by the workers’ club Circolo Operaio Enal Carcegnese. Order a beer, enjoy the atmosphere, and don’t forget to check the register. You might discover that a paella night is exactly what you need.