Lucy's Trip to Italy: Had A Great Time
Apr 18th, 2002 | 09:45 AM
#85
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Well, I am bookwormish, but we worms can still look good, no? And I am a So.California Girl, ex-surferish type.<BR><BR>Tina, I came to my decision after I went into a local church and sat on a pew and said “I know You aren’t exactly thrilled with us having pre-marital, extra-marital, post-divorcial s.x, but give me a sign, what should I do?” Just then a couple walked in arm in arm and sat by me and smiled. I said “I’ll take it”. Not exactly a burning bush or bolts of lightening, but good enuf. <BR><BR>Also I want to write why I mentioned grand hotels in Sorrento. There are about seven that I now know of that have the name Grand in their names, and not always the first word, so the Grand Hotel can be confusing. I found out Giancarlo had called a few of them before he found me. There is the Arminta G-, Capodimonte G-, Cesare Augusto G-, Gran Paradiso, G- Hotel President, G- Hotel Vesuvio and the one where I stayed, the Riverea Grand at 95 via A. Califano, which I would recommend, it is a four star and most rooms are large, very nicely decorated and modern with great views. The reason there were so many British there is that they are listed on the Perillo tours, and the tour groups want their own kinds of food, but you can order Italian from the menu, which is very good. The manager chuckled and shook his head when he told me this. <BR>
Apr 18th, 2002 | 11:22 AM
#87
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On the day I was to meet him in Roma, I rolled my suitcase on the streets to the circumvesuviana train station in Sorrento. I pulled my case up the stairs and went to the platform, since it is the last stop of the train there was a car already there. I gestured to a man that worked there, I wouldn’t call him a conductor, if I should get on , he spread his arms and shrugged ok, the way only they can do. I took this for a yes and got on board, I got all settled in, congratulating myself on how clever I was to get there early enough to pick my seat. Then I saw another train further along down the tracks with people, mostly commuters to Naples, getting on board. I puzzled at this, then the realization came! Yes, you know already, I was settled in a parked train! I ran down the platform and just got on the train when it pulled out. It was full, so I had to stand in the area by the doors. Not easy, believe me. I got to the correct Naples stop for the connection to Rome and found that area upstairs fairly easy. Got settled in the correct car and I was on my way.<BR><BR>In Rome, Giancarlo was waiting outside the station smoking. I hadn’t seen him smoke before, strange. <BR>We got in the car and were off into the Roman traffic. An interesting experience even with an experienced driver, not that many rules of the road, as we know them, are obeyed here. We set off on the autostrada north heading towards Colle val di Elsa.<BR>
Apr 18th, 2002 | 02:38 PM
#92
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We stopped for gas on the autostrada and had a little snack in the rest area. They are not really rest areas, they are like truck stops. There is a cafeteria, a fast food area and a grocery/store area where you can buy many different things, from camping equipment to wine. It is a little involved getting the fast food, of course. You go to the stand, get the attendants attention, then point (or speak) what you want, he scribbles down on a paper what you ordered, you go over to the check out for the whole store, wait in line, pay for what is on the paper, take the paper and the receipt and give it to the fast food person. Who then heats it or cuts it and gives it over to you. Then you stand at a little round table and eat. If you want, for instance, another portion or more coffee, you do it all over again. G. was nice enough to go through all that to get me another glass of the delicious red orange juice. We bought some gifts for the couple and were on our way again. The autostrada is quite an experience, you floor it. That is all you need to know. Oh yes, I noticed how you signal to change lanes. Say, you are in the slow lane, where you should be if not passing someone or driving the fastest car imaginable. You put on your left signal, go over to the left lane, leave the turn signal on the whole time you are passing from one to many cars, then put on your right blinker to signal going back to the slow lane. This way you won’t get the lights or brights from cars behind you, if they know you are passing they will tolerate you for a little while. <BR><BR>We got off at Poggibonsi exit, passed Colle val di Elsa and went into the valley. It was dark by this time and I was starting to hyperventilate, thinking about what I was doing and where I was going. It was getting foggy now in the low parts of the valley. In the distance I could see a bright aura, like a yellow band of light coming from between the hills. As we neared, I could see in the far distance, what looked like a well lit up giant disk with very bright light emanating from it, like a space ship. “What the heck is that?” I clutched the dashboard. “Oh that is a prison.” A prison in the middle of the black, dark valley of Tuscany. What was left of my composure left, my heart started pounding, and I thought “I am going to have a stroke before I even get to the villa”. The “villa” it all hit me at once. I was in the dead of night with a stranger in a strange (to me) land in a valley with a golden prison going to a place who knows where with who knows who. I know I should have thought of this earlier, but everything is different in the day light. Fears come out at night, and darkness hides the fears of others.. Well, I was in the grip of my own foolishness.<BR><BR> <BR>
Apr 18th, 2002 | 08:34 PM
#95
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Oh Lucy, You describe Italy so wonderfully. Anyone who has traveled in this area knows what she is talking about. It is truly a paradise. To see the fields and vineyards of green all around you. Close my eyes, and I am there again. Continue Lucy. We all are suspended in anxiety.
Apr 18th, 2002 | 09:15 PM
#98
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It is the real me writing. Things do get spooky at night in the country, especially when you are in a place where you don't know what to expect. <BR>For instance, remember the movie Enchanted April when the women get to the villa in the night? They are a little scared and say "it is in God's hands" and in the morning light they throw open the windows to a beautiful view. Fears do come out at night, in my experience, and that was a strange sight to say the least when I saw the glowing prison in the middle of nowhere.
