#set location

set location: vasquez rocks (North of L.A.)

I went to Elio's spot this morning. (The only reason I chose today to go, is that the weather report said today would be the only day that wouldn't rain during my stay lmao.) I took the train to Capralba and the walked about 25-30 minutes to get to his spot, which is Fontanile Quarantina (google it then you'll find out where it is). Well, at first I thought I couldn't get in because there is a gate sorta blocked the way, but actually you can go through it from the side.

Anyway, I got to Elio's spot and I could hear Elio telling Oliver "this is my spot, all mine" in my head awwwww —

But then I stared at the water and was stunned by my stupidity that how come I never thought about the possibility that I HAVE TO GO INTO THE WATER to be able to take photos that look like the scene???!!!! (God I hoped I have brought my flip-flops...) So I did. Got into the water. In November.

And you know what's the first thought that popped up on my mind?

ITS NOT FREEZING AT ALL OLIVER YOU ARE SUCH A DELICATE LITTLE FLOWER!!! AND YOU WERE EVEN THERE IN SUMMER!

So now Elio's reaction to Oliver's comment suddenly has some new meaning to me...

I took off my shoes and left them on where I stepped into the water, when I was in the middle of the water I realized my shoes would be in the photos if looking closely, because nothing would block them. But you know, by that point I didn't even give a damn when I had been stepping on pointy little stones which somehow managed to be pointy and slippery, I'm not walking back to put my shoes somewhere that wouldn't be in my photos and walking to the middle of that pond again. (Is that a pond or something?) Anyway, I'm glad I can't see my shoes in those instant photos which aren't as sharp as digital one lmao.

So after my struggle of taking photos and videos of Elio's spot, I planned to find where they first kissed. But the season is all wrong, everything looked yellow and brown and I didn't have a single clue where the damn spot was, even though I knew I was standing there according to Google Maps. So guys, if you ever wanna go there, pick what season you visit wisely lol.

After the advent to Elio's spot, I went back to Crema, and saw three groups of people that I highly suspect were going to Crema for CMBYN, I mean one girl was even in a shirt that looked similar to Elio's "face shirt"... And I was wondering what special day today was that people were coming Crema???

I walked 16 minutes to a place that I wasn't sure was open, but wanted to try my luck before I had to catch a train in an hour. And lucky I was able to get in the place Armie said they shot the scene he hates the most lol.

I know it doesn't really look like the scene in the movie without all the tables and chairs and stuff, but you can see the stage on the left under all those piled up chairs, despite the not ideal angle of this pic.

But in the gif you might have a better idea of how it looks like...

And this place even has an interesting name lol.

I wanted to stay longer, but I had to catch the train to The Train Station Elio and Oliver said their goodbye. And today I got to the station without trouble. (YAY! You know yesterday's tragedy is still vivid...)

And I was lucky to capture the moment that there's actually train stopped on the platform. The movie has two scenes with trains on the platform, one is the train arriving, the other one is Elio watching Oliver's train go.

And then I had to wait one and half hour at some place basically is in the middle of nowhere for the train back to Crema lol. But this station being the last stop of my pilgrimage feels like some mysterious coincidence.

Maybe it's because this is the iconic place of the movie that holds such powerful emotions, and just like Elio, I don't really feel ready for this pilgrimage to end yet.

I don't know, maybe this feels like some sort of closure to me, and I'm not sure I want it to end. But well, I still have some set locations that I didnt have the chance to go, so maybe someday I'll come back again?

1926 ‘The Son of the Sheik’ Set Location Keybook Photograph.

So I went to Sirmione today, it took me longer than I thought, because turned out that almost every train and bus delayed lmao, also I forgot to check the time of sunset, plus the weather is awful (rained all day, ugh) so there is one photo that turns out with strong blue tone... but what can I do lol. Anyway, I'm sure if you look close enough you'll recognize which scene that is lol.

For some reason there's a sound "ElioElioElio" in my head when I saw this place for the first time, I don't know why it affected me this much but I was so excited and took three photos of it lmao.

BTW Sirmione is a beautiful place with some attractions that you wouldn't wanna miss, there's also Lake Garda, and the scenes of Elio and Oliver going with Mr. Perlman to see what has been brought out of the water, is shot at one of the attractions of Sirmione, Grotte di Catullo, which I think you all know lol. But if you're in Sirmione, don't miss Rocca Scaligera, it's so cool!

This morning I went to the post office trying to buy some stamps (I have this habit of sending postcards to myself whenever I go to a new place) and no one speaks one single word in English lmao, thank god there it's a lovely old lady who found some girl to help. And then I brought postcards from La Povincia, the only place I saw that sells postcards... I was kinda excited to be inside the store and actually brought something from where Elio tells Oliver that he just wants to be with him, and Oliver asks him does he knows how happy he is that they slept together awwwww —

How it looks inside nowadays.

Okay, anyway, then I went to search for places that I could buy bus tickets to Pandino. And when I finally got there, I felt so emotional because that's the place where Elio SPEAKS!

Omg this whole piazza (is it qualifies as one? Or what should I call it?), they actually used every single sight of it, I took a video, sorta imitates how they shot it. I could literally SEE what Oliver and Elio do, talk and move... (I posted it in another post because Tumblr doesn't let me upload it in this one)

And you know what, that shop Oliver gets his cigarettes? It's actually there selling cigarettes lmao. (Please do correct me if I'm wrong.)

Well, and then this afternoon I was supposed to go to The Station they parted, but when I got to the station that I had to change train, I found out that several trains had been cancelled, of course that had to include mine... so I waited for an hour to take the next, and the only one today that would go to The Satation. But clumsy me couldn't open the damn door when I got there, it's stuck or something, so yeah, I MISSED the chance to get off the train. THE ONLY ONE THAT WOULD GET THERE. Anyway, it's a disastrous afternoon for me lol. But well, at least I got to take a video of that station (also in other post) during my trip back to Crema...