Tourist Boy has Two Gelatos in One Day

Scott Lyons, Staff writer

LUCCA-- A young American boy traveling in Italy made a memory to last a lifetime today when he was able to eat gelato twice in one day. Alex Lyons, 9, of El Cerrito, CA, visited each of the villages in the world-famous Parc National de Cinque Terre with his family, and ordered a gelato cone in two of the five villages.

"It was a pretty good day," Alex said. He reported that he had asked for a two-gelato day several times on the family's current trip, but that all previous requests had been denied by his parents. "I asked Mom ten days ago in Florence for two gelatos, but she told me that was unhealthy and that I couldn't even use my own money to purchase them." 

Alex's mother, Rebecca, disputed his account of past requests, but agreed that today was a special day. "We hiked several miles between villages, so I'm confident that he burned off the calories from the first gelato."

Both gelatos included two flavors on a cone. Alex purchased the first gelato in Vernazzo in the late morning, ordering a stracciatella and chocolate (due gusti in the local Italian). He purchased the second gelato in Riomaggiore in the early evening, pairing another stracciatella with mint.

"He's going to regret this when he's sick at age 80," his sister Katie told us.

Alex enjoying his second gelato.