ITALY-29th October-The 'am I on the right train, platform, coach, seat, town' day

So woke up super early and barely even registered the roof terrace breakfast buffet. Managed to cunningly sneak an apple from breakfast. I don't think I was fooling anyway lol. Checked out,  handed over my luggage, and organised a taxi. Arrived at the main terminal feeling very apprehensive and faced with people, trains, boards of info and quite a lot of time to spare. I wondered around trying not to make eye contact with randoms. Bought a drink some food (for just in case, which of course I didn't end up eating) and found the platform I was suppose to be on. The train was slightly delayed which seems to be common place here. Next challenge was to validate my ticket - the research last night had stressed this needed to be done before each journey. Ok done, now to decipher the whole C coach seat deal. I asked a couple of Americans who were as unsure as I was but not stressed out. It seems couples aren't that friendly. Maybe unfriendly is too strong a word but not very interested in chatting to a fellow traveller. Got on the right coach found my seat, dumped all my stuff and plonked down in my seat looking every bit the tourist. 

While I keep fighting the notion that I am a tourist there is going to be a point where I think I am going to have to just be at one with the idea. 

Settled in for the long journey, watched people help others put bags up on racks which was nice to see, played unintentional footsies with the lady in front of me. Well really she kept nudging my feet and I was getting to the stage where I was going to tell her to F### off but then she offered to share her sweets with me.....I spent considerable time on the trip trying to do searches for a list of stations between Roma termini and la spezia...an hour of searching later and a headache forming I gave up. Surely it can't be that difficult???? At one stage my little group of four seats turned into the craft table with two older ladies doing this amazing tapestry and cross stitch and one guy who was making these tiny beaded people out of wire and beads. I wish I'd taken a photo but I didn't want to be 'that' tourist. 

Around 4 hrs later I was overly prepared to get off the train at La spezia...sometimes it's hard to see the station name until its too late. Practically fell off the train and found an English couple also looking for the regional train. Followed them and then had to do the piss bolt for the train....if I wasn't a sweaty mess already !!!! I separated from the English couple feeling like they didn't really want to be my travel aids or maybe I was just becoming paranoid and didn't want to burden anyone. 

Got off at Monterosso one of the 5 towns making up Cinque Terre. Found information and was given a map to my hotel...oh no ...Inevitable part of traveling but not my strong suit. After turning the map round using the sea as my compass point ( I mean Der can't be that hard), plodding my way along to the hotel. I can not tell you the  absolute joy and relief i felt when I saw the hotel Margherita sign! Woo hoo for me!!!!!

I dumped everything had a shower, scoured the tv for some English having not really heard any since the hotel back in Rome and promptly fell asleep. 

Woke up feeling a sense of achievement but the gnawing anxiety hadn't really gone. I was thinking now what? I have a whole 4 days here alone and not really a clue what to do.. So little steps.... First dinner. Got dressed and wandered the down the street. Found a couple of places but they were packed. Funny how one restaurant can be brimming with patrons yet next door nothing. I mean I know I'll go for a fuller restaurant than an empty one, I wonder if that's just it, one person goes to one restaurant then another follows bc it isn't empty... Could b worthy of some scientific explanation.  Found a place on the main lane way with some people but not too many. Picked my seat, iPad and phone at the ready and sat down for another solo meal. The waiter asked a few times if it was just for one and then unceremoniously cleared the other place setting. SERIOUSLY dude I mean if I wasn't feeling self conscious already why don't you just put me in a marked area labeled ALONE. Sucked it up and ordered myself some red wine, sardines and spag Bol and then got onto FB. Andrew aka one of the UK boys from the Irish pub in Croatia... My my how international I sound lol... Was online and we chatted throughout dinner which was lovely and made me feel as if I wasn't actually eating alone. As dinner progressed the restaurant became fuller and I found myself seated between 3 separate American couples. They all began comparing notes and realised they were all married on the same day and all on their honeymoon. Well ain't that swell.... U gotta laugh. On another table a little way down the restaurant was a table of 4. My ears pricked up when I heard some Aussie accents and I felt almost compelled to leave my table and join them. In the meantime I offered to take a photo for the couple opposite me. This started us talking. His name was Ryan and hers was Nicole. They were lovely and I got the impression they were happier talking to me than being lumped into coupledom. Fine with me! Come to the dark side. The Aussie table and a few others ended up leaving the restaurant and inviting the rest of us into the bar with them. 

We went into FAST bar and I sat down with the couples. One couple was your totally bushy tailed bright eyed American sweethearts. The guy a little cocky for no reason and she as sweet as pie. The other were a super friendly preppy couple, though I'd watched him sprinkle cheese for his wife's dinner which creeped me out a bit. Then there was Ryan, Nicole and I. All were friendly and I was just happy to be included and be speaking!! Then the Aussies arrived, everyone was introduced as couples all married on the same day until I piped up waving my arms around furiously saying 'not me!!!' One of the Aussie girls pointed at me and came over and said 'Coogee' I said 'Bondi' and we hugged like old lost friends lol lol

Her name was Anna, she was there with her friends Em, Lee and her mum Di. There was a guy called Thomas who had joined the group. He was from Switzerland. He later told me that the reason he sat down at that table then consequently made friends with the girls was because he saw me there sitting alone at the restaurant and thought that if I could do that there so could he. I was another traveller's inspiration????? Quietly chuffed :-D

For the rest of the evening I sat with the girls and another American couple Ari and Blair

We had a laugh and drank and were merry.

We all left at about 2am when the bar staff were ready to chuck us out and after Thomas had bought a round of shoots BAD idea!!!!

The girls were talking about a pub crawl across the 5 cities and invited me and the others to come. I agreed, made my way back to my hotel and reflected on what a difference a few hours can do