Here's a recap of yesterday morning. You can tell I got less enthused about writing this as I went on.
8:49 AM- So I woke up at six forty-ish, ready to take on the world. Except breakfast wasn't being served yet. So I played a little piano.
After breakfast, I went out to the street. A tour guide yesterday told me that there was a bus that lead to the train station. Except I couldn't really tell where the bus was going to stop, and even if I did, I wasn't exactly sure which one I would need to take. So I walked. Don't worry, I knew where I was going, since
The walk was rather quiet, hardly saw a soul up until the end. It helps to travel before the 9 to 5 and not with a car. But lack of souls also counts for cars- there was hardly any traffic. Around this time, I would expect to be stuck somewhere down I-95 (not) going in either direction. Oh, wait. It's Sunday. Nevermind, though I'm sure it would be busy in Maryland still, though.
I bought a ticket, departing at 1050 hours. It was rather expensive. I know this is the longest distance I will be travelling, but I was under the impression that travelling would be cheaper (*cough* mom), though if I thought about it and made a few assumptions, I would conclude that my travel costs will still be cheaper than getting a pass... unless there's like two different kinds of train that nobody told me? Travelling is a headache. But I was in no mood to argue or barter, especially when less people know English than I remember, and I know much less Italian than Spanish. Now I'm in a cafe typing this up, while trying to access what's apparently the worst free network ever. Let's move on, in both the figurative and literal sense. I can't wait to get out of this city.
10:33- I'm on the train. That's good. But I learned to dislike Naples a little more, though to be honest it might not have been possible in the first place.
I swear to you, I spent an hour looking for a bathroom, on the main floor, there are like three signs that point to the middle of the station, only for me to find nothing. So I looked in the basement, and I found them- except you had to pay a 1 Euro entry fee to use them. Isn't that ridiculous? That's inhumane! Fortunately, there was a McDonald's right in the station. Thank the lord.
On that note, McDonald's in Italy is expensive. Certainly classier than in the United States, nut still. I'd sooner starve. I'll just eat when I get there.
The train has wireless. Horray. It's not free. Boo.
Again, stray dogs seems to be a theme in this city. A couple of strays were napping outside the station. It's quite unfortunate.
I bought a three pronged power converter at a store yesterday. I got scolded because they said Europe uses two prongs. But I'm charging my computer on a train. Who has the last laugh?
I swear to you, to only words you need to no in any given country are the translations for “No thank you.” Get your overpriced sandwiches and socks out of my face.
12:27- We stop at Rome. I move seats to let a couple sit next to one another. The couple tried to figure out whether there was something in the woman's eye half of the time between here and Florence. I chat with a very fidgety Italian who likes to gamble and smoke. Man across the isle is editing.
1:29- We're close to Florence. Tuscan Country. That's cool.
1:50- Firenze Santa Maria Novella. Smells like cigs, I think Mr. Fidget smoked a full pack on the way there. Boy needs to lay off the tobacco.
Somewhere between- Fidget introduces me to an English translator. I say hello, she says hello. They proceed to walk about. The couple, the cute blonde across the isle, and I give each other the same inquisitive look as they walk away. Suspicion and gossip via facial expressions is a universal language. Not that she was very pretty or anything, but hey. Woman of the couple says "He's a funny guy." I'll agree with that.
2:37- Get to Bologna. Will write about it later.
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