Don't hate me but it's funny how I really have no concept of dates / days of the week at the moment. It seems when traveling you pinpoint different important times or periods, much more immediate, needs driven. Eg stomach growling - 1st meal of the day, 2 hrs before airports, 3rd day of cruise, 4 days until tour. The only indication I have that the work wk has begun is all the i hate Monday' posts on FB lol
Yesterday was the day that didn't really happen. I really took advantage of the hotel room and super comfy bed. Woke up for included breakfast and then went bk to bed pretty much. Wrote up my blog, did Internet stuff, put in laundry, found a couple of English movie on tv and felt compelled to watch them despite having seen them and one being a Van Dam movie... Seriously dude what's with the shoulder pads? Am thinking I could have used my time a bit better lol. That said it was good to just b able to catch up on sleep from the cruise and try stockpile more alertness for future travels.
My stomach forced me out of my hidey hole and I ventured down to the marina. I bought myself a glass of red and sat there by myself, forcing myself to not pick up my phone, and watch and absorb what was gng on in the moment and around me. It was seriously difficult and not the greatest feeling. But I persisted and then made my way to a restaurant just beyond the palace walls. I had the most delicious spag Bol , possibly second best meal of the trip. Allowed myself some distraction and read a magazine. Good meal only lacking some company but nevertheless was satisfying. Made my way hm, chatted to a few people at hm- the first time if really chatted all day - I was suffering lol lol
Woke up in my blissful bed, breakfast, got my newly laundered clothes wrapped in cling wrap (that's a use I've never seen b4), re packed - have hardly bought a thing but my case is full full full :( checked out after paying a ridiculous amount for laundry... Price u pay for taking the convenient route and doing it at the hotel. That said after hrs of wandering I never did see a laundromat- next country ill b more frugal.
Went for my last wander around the old city feeling quietly confident that I knew my way round the winding alleys. Had a coffee back at the same place near the bell tower that I'd had lunch b4. Chatted to the waiter- very friendly. Diana had set me a challenge to meet one new person a day. Meeting to the extent that you exchange names. No exchange of names with my waiter but it was nice to just have a yarn after self imposed hibernation. It made me feel confident again that I could do small talk, was friendly and could rely on the Australian reputation for being kind friendly people.
Bk to the hotel to get my transfer and then chatted to my driver in broken English ( him not me lol I can still manage English pretty well :-). He asked me to source a new akubra hat lol very random ... He got one from Kakadu and wanted to buy one for his son. I used my akubra hat expertise (NOT LOL ) to advise him.
It still amazes me how international travel here is no big deal. The airports are probably more used to the international travel than domestic. A far cry from Australia when an hr and a half travel will only get u to Melbourne not another entire country.
So was sitting ready and almost uncomfortably early for my flight. I guess I'm not used to this whole being punctual thing. So minding my own business when who walks by but Canadian Ashley from Hvar. We met Ashley back on the infamous keep the bar open night ( I know it's hard to distinguish one keep the bar open night from another lol). She was on a big trip abroad with the common theme of F### you to her husband serves you right for cheating me and should I shouldn't I make friends with an overly friendly and well versed in tourist romance bar tender.
We chatted, it was nice to speak to someone and it was the first true example of travelling karma. Of the world being small but in a good way, not in a every corner I turn is another child I have taught kind of way.
Flight was un eventful except for saying that I'm liking the Italian look. ... Mmmm thou the not so subtle stares of the old guys I could leave. Arrived at Rome airport, to not find my transfer. Stay calm stay calm... I actually was, just kept walking until I saw the only guy with a blank iPad and in broken English we established I was who he was looking for and he was who I was looking for. :-) I tried to ignore the flurry of grunts and quickly spoken Italian that came out of his mouth as he lifted my case.... Oy!
After quite a long journey, and with me making 'oh wow, beautiful' to the random comments and sights my driver would point out. My hotel was hilarious. Very ornate. My friend / travel agent warned me that it was a flashback to the past but I was not prepared for the gilded head boards and faux plush bed boards and stools. I was escorted to my room by a very friendly (read over friendly creepily smiling Angello) bellhop. Had to laugh at the room and the spray painted gold furniture and fake plush stools with red leather head board
I unpacked slightly and then started checking on my travel details for the next day to Cinque Terre. It was then I realised, that what I thought I had sorted was in fact not really sorted. It only occurred to me that my train ticket only took me to La spezia and my hotel was in Monterosso. At this stage those were all just Italian sounding names with no meaning. I google and tried to plan the route between the two to get a reading of 3 hrs 47 minutes walking time!!! WTF???? After much more googling and putting in the wifi code numerous times, I figure they were in fact different towns reachable via a regional train. Not a major deal but at that stage sent me into having a small wobbly and started me thinking why oh why am I doing this to myself?????
My need for an ATM and my growling stomach forced me out of my downward spin. I also needed to 'waste' time until 8am Australia time so I could contact my phone provider on their emergency number so I could access data.... Dataless=stressmore to me. I walked the streets aimlessly trying in vain to follow directions ( seriously I'm useless, definitely born without the direction gene). I found a place for dinner. Unspectacular relatively unfriendly though I got wifi and managed a few teary phone calls home.
Found my way back to the hotel to try to repackage my back pack so I could travel to the cinque terre area with only that instead of my cumbersome suitcase. Did a pretty good job... Got it down to one toiletry bag....yes you all should b proud!!
I find it really hard to predict the weather around here so I packed layers hoping I could manage and would have to just make do. I'm already getting irritated by all of the 'stuff' in my world and am wondering if I will eventually just get sick of carrying it all and will begin the dump stuff... But what to dump, that black top goes with everything, that Tshirt is nice because its colourful, I might need those pants if.... U see my problem?? Lol
Put myself to bed in my throne lol
No comments:
Post a Comment