6 July 2014

Breakfast al fresco

I cannot stop sneezing. I think I’ve sneezed more today than I have in the last 6 months!  It’s either allergies or I have that train lady’s cold.  I checked on the interwebs and google said that a cold can appear 1-3 days after initial contact.  I thought it was a week’s gestation, but apparently not.  Alas, I have a summer cold.  Humph!

Gaia is adorable!

Meg and I had absolutely no plans for today which wound up being perfect.  Patrizia fed us an absolutely gloriously awesome breakfast and then suggested that we went to sit out under the olive tree.  It was shaded, there was a light breeze, and we drank some water.  Gaia came out to check on us occasionally and sunned herself a few time after finding us boring!

At lunchtime, Patrizia recommended a place just around the corner called Piadineria La Darsena which makes a traditional stuffed quesadilla-like concoction.  Meg got one with tomato sauce and mozzarella and I got one with mozzarella and grilled veggies.  She got potato croquettes and I got fries.  We also stopped by to get Meg a lemon granita, which was refreshing and perfect for the day!

Us, relaxing!

Gaia, splooting

Patrizia spoiled us with a little wine and we relaxed and then I got “the” phone call.  There were about 9 students who went to Florence together and one of them got split from the group.  They waited for her.  They looked for her.  Finally one of the girls got really worried (after 1 ½ hours) and called me asking what they should do.  I talked her through all the steps and reassured her that she had done what was correct and reasonable.  

If everyone had had their own phone, this would not have happened!!  This just proved my point.  I was livid!!  I wrote a scathing Facebook post to the group.  I only had 3/8 of the group’s phone numbers.  Unacceptable!  If she had had her own phone, it would have been a simple text or a simple phone call.  Instead, it became a big, scary thing that didn’t get resolved for over 2 hours.  My. Point. Exactly!

Then, it was time to leave.  Patrizia called a taxi for us and we headed back to the train.  It was a nicer train and everything went well until I realized that I hadn’t bought ME a ticket, that I’d only bought MEG a ticket.  So, for a 5€ fine later, I had a ticket from Rimini to Bologna.  Thank goodness that’s all the fine was :o(

The train to Milan was the high-speed train and that was super nice.  Meg’s suitcase from the trip over was damaged, so she bought a bright pink new one.  No one will mistake that for theirs!  Bought some medicine for me, came home, took a shower, did laundry, ordered dinner, and hit the hay early.