Siena and Assisi (Part 1)
GETTING THERE
(March 2)
Last Thursday (March 2), Henrietta and I ventured out on our first trip outside of Rome. I spent the better part of Wednesday trying to figure out some basics, like how to get from Rome to Siena, Siena to Assisi, and Assisi back to Rome. Let’s just say all the information out there about Italian transportation is almost entirely in Italian, and what isn’t is either contradictory or flat-out wrong. So, we threw any plans we might have made to the wind and gave ourselves up to sponteneity. This probably would have been a disaster if not for a some knowledgeable bus drivers, the Good Lord, and some patron saints helping us along - not necessarily in that order. But as it turned out, everything went swimmingly, better than we could have planned for, and the trip couldn’t have been more lovely.
We started out on train, departing from Rome’s Termini station, gigantic backpacks and trusty money belts en tow. I have heard that at a stop, thieves will jump on the train, grab your stuff, then jump back off, your little nose pressed against the window as you watch the miscreants get smaller and smaller and the train continues on with you still on board. Well, my hat’s off to any ne’er-well-doer that could have managed to swipe my monstrous bag with any measure of agility, it’s awkwardly hanging sleeping bag bouncing against the calves and dangling straps getting caught in everything. I would have had my nose pressed against the window watching their disappointment as they discovered nothing more than some clothes, a towel, a sheet, lysol and makeup that isn’t their color inside. See, we keep our valubles in these dreadful but necessary money belts fastened around our waists. My passport insists on folding itself in half inside the belt, creating an unsightly bulge in the worst possible place (use your imagination), and Henrietta says her passport keeps “cutting” her. But I guess we gladly trade fashion and comfort (and in my case, femininity,) for peace of mind.
(March 2)
Last Thursday (March 2), Henrietta and I ventured out on our first trip outside of Rome. I spent the better part of Wednesday trying to figure out some basics, like how to get from Rome to Siena, Siena to Assisi, and Assisi back to Rome. Let’s just say all the information out there about Italian transportation is almost entirely in Italian, and what isn’t is either contradictory or flat-out wrong. So, we threw any plans we might have made to the wind and gave ourselves up to sponteneity. This probably would have been a disaster if not for a some knowledgeable bus drivers, the Good Lord, and some patron saints helping us along - not necessarily in that order. But as it turned out, everything went swimmingly, better than we could have planned for, and the trip couldn’t have been more lovely.
We started out on train, departing from Rome’s Termini station, gigantic backpacks and trusty money belts en tow. I have heard that at a stop, thieves will jump on the train, grab your stuff, then jump back off, your little nose pressed against the window as you watch the miscreants get smaller and smaller and the train continues on with you still on board. Well, my hat’s off to any ne’er-well-doer that could have managed to swipe my monstrous bag with any measure of agility, it’s awkwardly hanging sleeping bag bouncing against the calves and dangling straps getting caught in everything. I would have had my nose pressed against the window watching their disappointment as they discovered nothing more than some clothes, a towel, a sheet, lysol and makeup that isn’t their color inside. See, we keep our valubles in these dreadful but necessary money belts fastened around our waists. My passport insists on folding itself in half inside the belt, creating an unsightly bulge in the worst possible place (use your imagination), and Henrietta says her passport keeps “cutting” her. But I guess we gladly trade fashion and comfort (and in my case, femininity,) for peace of mind.
posted by Amy at 3:15 PM
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