Took the train from Palermo back to Reggio Calabria. It felt grueling and I wish I had known there was a business/first class option (I wandered into that car looking for a restroom that was functional when we had stopped at Messina to make the ferry crossing). The seats on my train were two and two facing each other with a table. Great if you’re with a group. Not fun if you are a single guy joined by three Italian girls (now, Italian boys would have been another story). The train is loaded onto the ferry and transported to the mainland. I had to make a connection there. My connecting train was a minute early. My train from Palermo was 25 minutes late arriving. I barely made the connection.

I got back to Reggio, stopped for a bergamot gelato and walked up the hill to by Airbnb. Stopped at the supermarket to buy some ground beef because it was siesta time and I knew it wouldn’t be busy. I wanted to make some bolognese for dinner.

Once I got settled, I checked Grindr. A few guys had written. One German, who wrote in German, who sent a face photo that was not that different from the face photo on his profile. Like, what was the point of that? I blocked him. Another guy who was over 100 miles away. No photos. Delete.

And then this guy I had forgotten about.

I don’t check Planet Romeo much because I have never met anyone there, but it’s on my phone. I checked it the other night and this cutie who had written me before, contacted me again.

The conversation started - “nice stash” (I have a mustache and goatee) “I would love to cum on it”.

He had a nice body photo. 22 years old. But not much more info. I asked for a dick pic and he sent a nice one.

I forgot about this interaction but when I checked Romeo again, he had written again asking when I’d be back. He was in Reggio. I told him and he wrote last night telling me to let him know when I was here.

I forgot because I don’t use Romeo much.

But there he was on Grindr, messaging me. He said we met on Planet Romeo.

I checked his profile one more time, and he was definitely hot.

Long story short, he just left.

He was absolutely adorable. Beautiful curly hair and a face that reminded me of Michaelangelo’s David. Really cute, tight body. He was dressed fashionably in jeans and a polo shirt, very Italian looking, very nice. He was super cute. Can I say that enough?

His dick was enhanced in the photo, of course, but it was a nice one. A good solid 6 inches at least. Very hard. It was big enough, and I’m glad it wasn’t bigger. He liked face fucking rough.

He finished by doing as promised and came on my mustache.

It was a nice welcome back. I said it before, and I’ll say it again, I absolutely love Reggio. Not just for the fact that it seems easier to meet quality guys here, but it just felt so good to get off the train and walk through the beautiful deserted streets (it was siesta time). In the other cities I visited, the streets seemed to be always filled with tourists during siesta. The supermarket in Napoli was crazy. My supermarket here had no line.

If you’re looking for a place to just hang out and enjoy la dolce vita, check out Reggio Calabria. You’ll have the whole place to yourself!

10 hours ago, joizy said:

You’ll have the whole place to yourself!

Not if you're there at the same time, there won't be anyone left for us 😝

4 hours ago, floridarob said:

Not if you're there at the same time, there won't be anyone left for us 😝

I’m leaving soon, and there will be plenty for you. Seems most guys are looking for something new, not something permanent.

I don’t know how you guys feel about Chat GPT, for some reason it is controversial, but since my trip to Bari last year, I have been using it to help with travel planning. It helped me find off-the-beaten path places I could go to from Bari and was great. I am using it a lot on this trip. 

I’ve also asked about cruising places and escorts in Italy but it said it can’t tell me those things.

But last night I was curious, since I feel like my experience in Reggio Calabria is different from Palermo or Napoli and I wanted to know why.

Here is a little of what I got from Chad (my nickname for Chat GPT) about why Reggio Calabria is different from Palermo and Napoli:

 

1. Smaller dating pool = more visibility
   Reggio Calabria is much smaller than Napoli or Palermo, so there are fewer users overall. In smaller cities, new or distinctive profiles stand out more — people are curious about someone new, especially if you’re from out of town.
2. Local curiosity and openness toward visitors
   In smaller southern cities, locals can be more curious or enthusiastic about meeting travelers or people from outside their usual circle. You might come across as interesting, worldly, or confident, which draws people in.
3. Demographic differences
   In Napoli and Palermo, there’s a wider range of people on the app, so competition can be stronger — especially among younger or more image-conscious users. In Reggio Calabria, there may be relatively fewer openly gay men your age, which could make you stand out more to those who appreciate maturity, experience, or confidence.
4. Cultural and social dynamics
   In some smaller or more traditional communities, many men might not be openly gay in public life — so they rely more on apps for connection and are quicker to reach out when they see someone approachable and genuine.
5. Your profile and presentation
   Sometimes subtle differences in how your profile “fits” local expectations (photos, tone, bio, etc.) can make a big difference. In Reggio Calabria, your profile might align especially well with what local men find appealing — whether that’s your age, style, or demeanor.

We went on to discuss this more and then Chad helped me narrow down some places in the north where I might have similar experiences. I think this is worth further research.