It might seem cliche, but what two-year working holiday would be complete without a tattoo? 🙂 We finally pulled the trigger in Kotor and then started searching for tattoo shops in Florence. As soon as I saw the name Sweaty Betty’s I was hooked, and seeing Paul and Bradipo’s art Alice chose Paul and I chose Bradipo. Funny enough we both did Pinterest boards for what we watned, but we didn’t need them.

We booked in for a 4th of January consult and tattoo to be done a week later. Well, we did it, and it was so fun and amazing I couldn’t be happier. Here’s more, first, the Sweaty’s logo!

Sweaty Betty's Logo

Near the Palazzo Vecchio, Sweaty Betty’s Tattoo is tucked into a little alley shop, and inside it’s so friendly and well done, my son got to play video games with the guys.
The front of the shop is unassuming, but stylish at the same time. The kind of understated mystery that I love. The place is a lot bigger inside, and the front room is so homey and inviting.

We met Paul and Bradipo and immediately set to work figuring out what to get. At first I thought Alice’s Pinterest board and ideas were too busy, but quickly realised so was mine! Paul forged ahead with inspiration and Bradipo and I stalled for a minute, he scratched his head. But when I said, “go for it, let’s get inspired and explore, forget my Pinterest board” things went so great. Bradipo said, “I’ve got it, I know what to do now” and I can’t tell you how excited that made me feel.

So damned excited.

For me, getting this tattoo will remind me of all the experiences I have had the past two years, and that you should never wait to do something you want to do, time waits for no one.

The front door at Sweaty's is unassuming yet beautiful at the same time
The front door at Sweaty’s is unassuming yet beautiful at the same time

We went back on Tuesday to review the artwork and we were just blown away. What Paul and Bradipo did were truly inspired. I loved mine because of the subtle reference to Alfonse Mucha, but with a Day of the Dead twist and a sweet swallow to give it motion.

Go Bradipo! After sharing the pain with him, okay, taking it from him! I feel this connection to him and Sweaty Betty’s. Alice and I both remarked that handling the pain, dealing with it, facing it, is meditative, and we both thought while it was happening that we could see ourselves doing it again. I was warned about this effect by the waiter at a tapas bar in Seville:

“Once you get one tattoo be careful, it usually leads to more” – Waiter at a Seville tapas bar with 5-6 tattoos

Alice loved hers from Paul too, he incorporated five flower petals, which mean something special to Alice, and he made sure the flower on her arm and forearm was tasteful, feminine, and it came out so amazingly well.

The kids and I stopped by to check in on Alice, she's deep in the zone here
The kids and I stopped by to check in on Alice, she’s deep in the zone here

Here’s Alice’s finished tattoo, see the main piece on the right, and the flower petals flying across to her left arm:

My tattoo all finished
My tattoo all finished

The table after Alice’s tattoo, you can see how much work is involved:

The table after Alice's tattoo was done
The table after Alice’s tattoo was done

Happy client Alice poses with Paul. What a guy, Paul has run bars and restaurants in Canada and wanted to try his hand at owning his own shop after working at a tattoo place in Florence where he met Bradipo.

Alice and Paul at the end of the tattoo session
Alice and Paul at the end of the tattoo session

I took a few shots on the way to my tattoo appointment, mostly to hide my nervousness. Nervous not with indecision, but not quite knowing what pain I was in for.

The sign of Medici is everywhere, six spheres on a shield
The sign of Medici is everywhere, six spheres on a shield
Walking to Sweaty's before getting my tattoo I saw this do not enter sign artfully updated
Walking to Sweaty’s before getting my tattoo I saw this do not enter sign artfully updated

Bradipo has a steady and gentle hand. Sounds funny, but I didn’t want someone going for broke on my shoulder, gouging out any old thing, I wanted art, done by an artist, and that’s what I got. I saw my tattoo at this point and would have been fine leaving it as lines; such great linework with so much personality. Bradipo is from Peru, long story. 🙂

When you're in it, feeling the pain, you withdraw a little bit and don't fight it
When you’re in it, feeling the pain, you withdraw a little bit and don’t fight it

Here’s us at the end, he let me take a selfie with him for Instagram. Gotz ta do the socials:

Nathaniel and Bradipo enjoying the end of the session
Nathaniel and Bradipo enjoying the end of the session

It will never look this way again, and as it heals and the years pass it will change, but Bradipo did it so it would last through the years and degrade gracefully. Kind of like I hope to in the coming years:

Nathaniel's finished tattoo, so excited!
Nathaniel’s finished tattoo, so excited!

We went back one more time and Alice and I were a bit choked up to be honest. How do you say goodbye to people you’ve shared this deep, meaningful experience with? I know, I tend to read stuff into things, but I feel like it was truly wonderful to do this – it was the right time, the right place, with the right people. Thank you Sweaty Betty’s! We will never forget you.
My daugher gave Paul advice on what to do to with his tattoos as we sampled wine from a box, some great conversation and stories, and a sweet couch.

Paul pours wine for Alice and Nathaniel from a wine box
Paul pours wine for Alice and Nathaniel from a wine box
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Nathaniel Flick