The Summer Arrived on a School Bus · Week 27
By Luca Bonafede · July 5, 2026 ·
A lot can happen in a week.
Some weeks start with a plan. This one started with a date: July 1st, Canada Day, the day summer officially arrives in St. John’s.
I began it behind the counter. A morning shift as a barista at Terre, the café at the Alt Hotel on Water Street, which meant something more than coffee. It was my return to hospitality after nearly ten years (baby Luca in Australia, I hope you are laughing).
Then I walked out into the pedestrian mall, and the city did the rest. I truly enjoy being there. It felt like one of the best summer days I have ever had, and St. John’s is a city that is really unique.
A few days earlier, the staff party had happened to coincide with my arrival. It was not the first time. It has happened to me in Amsterdam, in several companies, and in Australia, so once again it ended up feeling like a welcome party. It was held at Clarke’s Beach, and we got there on a North American school bus, which I boarded for the very first time. I loved every minute of it.
On the way back from the party, we sang “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers (2003). The moment was so intense that I even saw people tear up. A lot of alcohol was also involved, which may have helped, but I prefer to give the song most of the credit. That is why it is the soundtrack of this week.
What I realized that night is how much I had missed hospitality people and their unique way of enjoying Life. There is something special about the energy, the friendships, and the atmosphere.
With summer in full swing, even the workouts seem to come a lot easier, and I am reaching a physique level I have not had in years.
I spent the end of the week stuck on the road up to Twillingate, on my way back to work: more than four hours, and counting, since I haven’t arrived yet. I will tell you more about what happened along the way in the next post, because I still do not know how this story ends.
None of this was on a calendar. It was only the present moment, handed over one scene at a time, to someone who stayed open enough to take it.
A reminder that Life can change quickly when you stay open to new experiences.
Damn, I love this island!
A lot can happen in a week.
Thank you, and ciao for now.
Luca Bonafede
St.John's, Clarks's Beach, Twillingate, NL, Canada 🇨🇦