John got up before the alarm and we said our “ciao-ciao’s”
to each other. I went back to sleep for
a couple more hours and got up before my alarm.
Got a FB post from Meg that she made it to Copenhagen, so she’s half-way
here! Yippee!! Got ready and then headed to the train
station. Decided to have breakfast there
at a little café. Whatever made me think
the service would be good or speedy is a testament to both my optimism and my
stupidity. The waiter was neither and he
got my order wrong. But, breakfast is
breakfast and I ate my croissant and my bread with butter and marmalade. Drank my orange juice and my coffee minus the
“au lait” which saddened me. But, I was
able to pay immediately which was nice, but only probably because I would have
finished my breakfast (and lunch and dinner) before he would have gotten back
to me with my bill.
Went into the train station and found my train. Gare du Lyon is confusing because there are
three platform areas. The signage is
confusing at first, but I figured it out (a full belly helps!) and I found my
train…which was actually two trains in one.
I don’t know where or when they disconnected, but the entire train
segment was going the same way, but those of us going to Italy got on the
faaaaarrrrr end (of course), while those going to another place in France got
on at the front of the trains.
I finally found my carriage and met someone who teaches at a
college in Connecticut and did a study abroad in China for 12 days with her
students and is here with their 18-year old granddaughter going through France
and Italy. Fun! I also share it with a bratty child who got
pretty severely reprimanded by his dad and spent a few minutes bawling at the
top of his lungs. And, because what’s a
trip without a crying baby?? We have a
crying baby who has definite opinions about what is and is not happening in her
young life. I don’t know what’s more
annoying, the crying or the mom shushing.
The most beautiful thing about this train ride? They speak Italian!! Finally….a language I can sort of
understand! It’s like music to my ears,
hahaha!! Even if my Italian is only
okay, at least I can understand some of what they say when they talk (most of
the time). I’d forgotten how mentally
draining it is to try to communicate in a language you just don’t know! Non-verbal communication works quite well and
John borrowed a French dictionary from the library so we butchered the language
throughout our trip here, but being able to construct a decent sentence in
Italian is the biggest victory for me!!
Wooo hoo!! Viva l’Italia :o)
The train ride, overall, except for the baby, has been quite
peaceful. The 1st class
ticket (which I bought because there tends to be less chaos in 1st class compartments…wow, was I just
plain wrong this time, is nice. A nice
man comes by occasionally with a cart and I can get my water without leaving my
seat. Same with lunch, which was
overpriced, but tasty (salami, bread, water, and dessert). And, I’ve been able
to write and write and write for hours to catch up before I get to Milan and
all heck breaks loose.
 |
| selfie in the dorm!! |
I was hoping for some wifi on the train, but alas,
none. I was certain I’ve had it in 1st
class on other trains. Maybe it’s just
Italian trains? Hmmm….regardless, I have
had time to catch up with the blog and am a lot more relaxed about the schedule
than I have been in the past. It will
change and there you go :o)
Okay…..I might try to take a nap. The view of the Alps are just stunning, but
I’m sleepy from the train rocking back and forth. Zzzzzz….un sonnolino presto (a quick nap). Ciao!
 |
| Exhausted, but a very happy Meg eating her first Italian pizza! |
Well...that nap lasted about no minutes at all :o( I then decided to clean up my computer and get rid of all of the missing registry entries and fun stuff like that. It occupied about an hour of time...apparently I had a lot of stuff on it!
Got into Porta Garabadi and found some money for a phone card to recharge my phone. Aaaaah!! Then I couldn't get internet and got a little irritated about that, but I had a phone and was able to text Gianpietro that I was here.
Waited in line for a taxi and then made it to the dorms! It was so good to see people again! I dropped my stuff off and then went to find an ATM, a WIND place to figure out my phone, and Meg. I found an ATM, which was such a relief! Right across the way way a WIND store and the nice man figured out my problem (the phone didn't realize WIND existed so he made it acknowledge it), and then I found the platform where Meg's train was coming in and sat and waited for 90 minutes.
Came back to the dorm via taxi, got Meg her room, and then we went to Gemelli's to eat. Scrumptious stuff!! Came back, signed onto the net, and went to bed. Great to be back here!!
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