Stay on the damned train!

Have you ever heard the phrase life will keep giving you the same test until you pass it? Well, I think I’ve got the message universe!

Folks, let me share this little lesson I’ve learned today with you. Perhaps some day it may come in handy. Follow your gut instincts. And for the love of god, if you are on a train bound for Siena and the stop for Toritta di Siena comes up, for the love of all that is holy, stay in your damned seat. This is not the town you are looking for!!

Let me tell you, Toritta di Siena is not a place you want to be stuck in. For one thing, it smells. Bad. I can’t even place it but I feel like I’m going to need a shower when I get to Siena. Except I couldn’t find a hostel in Siena, so I still have to go on to Pisa afterwards. Three cheers for the only trip that as ever given me this much grief.

Bottom line, if you think that you should keep on going despite the little Italian sign that makes it seem like you should go down the stairs, go straight. If you think that you could skip the Vatican and still be complete, skip it!! And if you think that this stop is not the one for you? Stay on the damned train!!

My first night in Italy

So my first night in Italy wasn’t what I expected. After leaving work early and rushing to make sure I didn’t miss my flight, I got to the airport in plenty of time (2 1/2 hours from departure). My plane, however, was nowhere to be found. It was delayed. Not just a little delayed either, it was delayed so much that the departures board basically mocked me with “relax & shop.” I’m not kidding. Here’s a quick recap of the night:

Flight delayed by 2.5 hours: a little stress
Bus ticket from airport purchased before reading schedule: €6
Cab fare from airport after realizing the bus stopped running: €16
Original train ticket to Rome: €10
Last minute 5am ticket to Rome: €38
Falling asleep on my backpack in a room of snoring old men with questionable Italian heritage: €0
Drifting back into consciousness to find said men staring at me: a little uncomfortable
Realizing they are either staring because I am also snoring or because I have a velcro crease across my cheek from my jacket: minor embarrassment
Watching the sunrise in Italy: priceless

Italy here I come!

Disclaimer: I didn’t actually watch the sunrise so much as drift in and out of consciousness while the sun rose.