Luciano Pavarotti Nessun Dorma (Read story below!!)

Описание: I wanted to share a Pavarotti story with you. Not a personal story but still a great one about Pavarotti and worth sharing. I was in Cleveland in April and was entertaining some clients downtown. We ate at Lola (Michael Symonn's restaurant) I recommend the perogie appetizer. Well on the way out I arranged for one of those uber cabs and I asked for a large car or van. On the way down we had a van I expected the same on the trip back to the hotel. But when our ride came is was a long black cadillac. The driver explained that all the vans were busy and we got a no cost upgrade. Great, we loaded up and headed out of downtown. Right into a huge traffic jams as the theaters and the Cleveland Cavaliers game both had just let out. So we started chatting with our driver who turned out to be a native Clevelander (as most are, just sayin ppl dont move to Cleveland.....I live in the area so Im not knocking Cleeeeveland....I actually like it) So the driver starts telling us about some of the buildings downtown and mentions he lives in little Italy. I told him I come up for the festival every few years and we launch into this whole conversation about Italian food and Italian parents blah, blah, blah. Then somehow we got on to talking about Uber. And I asked him if hes had any celebs in his car. He said yes some basketball player from the NY Knicks,....oh and one time I had Luciano Pavarotti. EXCUSE ME!! Back up the bus!! What did you say? He said ya I had Pavarotti for two days back in the 90's. He says ya I got a call because the company I was working for at the time needed an Italian speaking driver. He was to pu celebrity x and be his personal driver for the next several days. So this guy picks up Pavarotti at the Cleveland airport and shuttles him around Cleveland. One day he took Pav to little Italy and to hid parents Italian Deli and they fed him lunch there! I'm thinking about the guy that walked in for some prosciutto and asiago cheese and sees Pavarotti having a sandwich!!!!! But heres the best part. The first night Pav played Cleveland and he gave this guy and his entire family front row seats......but the second night he was playing in Columbus....about a two hour drive from Cleveland. So this guy picks up Pavarotti (I'm thinking their should be like an Italian entourage?!) but he says no.....very little luggage and no one with him. So he gets PAv in the car and they head towards Columbus. Then he says Pav sheepishly asks him for a favor. He says sure.....what? Pavarotti wants to drive the Cadiilac!!!!!! So he switches with Pav and lets him drive the two hours to Columbus.....but it gets better. He says Pav is driving and starts warming up his pipes getting ready for that nights show. Then he starts full out singing a concert in the car!!!! Can you imagine this. You alone with one of the greatest voices the world has ever known!!!! ARE YOU FREAKIN KIDDING ME??!!!!! So this guy sat and listen to a private Pavarotti concert for two hours as Pav drove his Cadillac!! Now just as I'm about to call BS he whips out his wallet and starts showing me pictures of him and his mom and dad with Pav! And one in front of the caddy!! Ok I'm convinced! I left him a big tip but it was several zeros short of the one Pav gave him! He said he was a beautiful man and an absolute gentleman in all ways. Thats easy to believe. I will never forget this cab ride and the chance meeting of someone who so humbly told such a wonderful story.