Still Chasing the Winter Sun

I’m exactly where I started this trip in Fiumicino, same BnB Domus Valadier on the river that feeds into the River Tiber. It’s almost like coming home, one of those times where you know the airport and that the Leonardo Express will get you there in exactly half an hour. I knew that Cotral was the bus line and where to catch it and where to get off. I have a better room this time, this is were better is better.

I thought it would be good to do a bit of a review of my journey and fill in some blanks if possible. Revisiting a location just brings back some great memories, some of them are not so outstanding as much as they are moments in time that make you smile. 

For instance: 

Ostia Antica ……Finding the bus to Ostia Antica was interesting, of course there are buses everywhere but, is it the right bus, or the right bus stop or, is it on the right side of the road (that’s an important one) they do everything back to front here? On my way to visit the ancient port of Ostia I met a lady at a bus stop, I’m certain she was Russian or somewhere from that side of Europe, she was so helpful. I wasn’t in the right place to catch the bus at all, regardless somehow I got on one for a small price compared to a taxi and off I went. It took four goes to get the bus ticket in right to validate it. I could see the eyes of the entire bus on me waiting to see it bounce yet again, no doubt they were holding their breath hoping on the last try, the only option left, I would get it right. I seriously expected the whole bus to erupt in an applause. Then I nearly knocked someone’s head off trying to get to a seat. I had to carry my backpack with me, I was going directly to the airport from Ostia. What a strange sight I must been, a middle aged woman dressed in full hiking garb and backpack.

The 40-something year old bus driver was exceptional, he talked to people, greeted school kids when they boarded, some even by name and individually wished them well when they disembarked. Some passengers got on the bus without the right change or couldn’t get their bus pass out fast enough, he just waved them down the bus. He always let someone into the traffic and gave encouragement to pedestrians crossing the road even though they couldn’t hear him. Some people are so chilled, unfazed, whatever it is they’ll make it work regardless of the situation. Why isn’t there more of this kind of person in the world? I love that world, I want to live there! 

Airports are another …….I’ve been on and off several flights, if you’re into people watching you’ll have a good time in any airport. Some airports can’t resist multiple gate changes and that’s only for one flight. This was my experience on my way to Reggio Calabria. There were four gates changes, the final one being at least 500 metres and almost another terminal away.

Italians and other travellers have not yet caught on about the hazards of smoking. Everyone smokes everywhere, the airports provide smoking rooms which are constantly occupied, standing room only. Outside of the airport smokers abound and it’s a case of “who cares about other people let me blacken yours lungs too”! Massimo stopped smoking 5 years ago he said smoking ruined his life. He really is in a bad way. If you smoke, stop it!

I’m currently back in Rome Fiumicino airport, boarding gate at E33. It’s become very apparent when comparing business versus economy classes that you can board as quickly as you like but the plane still won’t leave without the rest of us!

The coffee experience in Italy……. I haven’t had a bad one yet. Coffee in my aunties house is not a pick me up. It’s an anabolic steroid 😳 Forest Gump has nothing on me. 

Trains…….. have been a rather civilised experience until La Spezia. I had three main observations, firstly, people running to catch a train that wasn’t leaving for another 15 minutes. Secondly, a couple running with the train as it was pulling into the station when all seats on that particular train had been allocated. I know this because it was the train I was catching and the couple were in the same carriage as me. What on earth are they on about? Having since thought about it I guess that in China a great portion of the population commute by train, if you miss it, you might be waiting a while for the next one. Finally, it’s the last that made me laugh….. on platform 5, 2 platforms away from mine, it was like watching a whale swallowing tons of krill, people just kept turning up to the same open mouthed carriage, same door until it was literally overflowing. They just kept on jumping on that one carriage until the Trenitalia staff stopped them directing them to other carriages, there were 7 others to choose from. Anyone for a game of sardines?, 

Just getting back to airplanes……. We Aussies are truly game players. We join the game, find out the rules upfront and play. The rest of the world it would seem get on board having heard the rules, agree to play the game but throw all rules out the window. On this particular aircraft, but not limited to just this one, the captain can announce a turbulence warning and light up the seat belt sign as long as they like, but no one will observe it. Mothers with unfasten children, children jumping on seats that are make-shift trampolines, people using the amenities regardless of any seatbelt signs or messages from the captain. The bell repeatedly dings and now the toilets are locked but it won’t stop people trying to open them. 

Sometimes it seems ……it’s Rafferty’s rules.

Food: if you saw my FB post you will have seen I’m on a liquid diet I’ve eaten that much pizza and pasta (not my choice) but have you seen the size of the tramezzini (sandwiches) in Italy. The first time in Italy in 2006 I was horrified that our purchase involved only half a sandwich (seriously) and regular Aussie size, it’s now my 7th time to Italy, still only half a sandwich but I think it’s cut landscape instead of portrait mode. 😂 Quite a meal!

And speaking of food, it’s interesting to learn the specialties of various regions. Last time we hiked through Italy we discovered that Sarzana is the rice bowl of Europe. Sarzana is in Liguria, left of Emilia Romagna province and just north of Tuscany. Whilst olive oil is made everywhere, Calabria is the olive oil basin. Right now it’s porcini harvesting time all over Italy but if you are in the Tuscany/Emilia Romagna zone don’t get caught picking even one by the roadside, you must be licensed to pick them. Pontremoli where I spent the last 3 nights has shops dedicated to porcini mushrooms, sold in all forms including pickled. Yum!

Calabria particularly the region surrounding Molochio, my dads hometown, is now also big into growing kiwi fruit. Go figure. Everywhere I looked there were olive trees, the mountains and I do mean mountains, are covered in them, and kiwi fruit is being farmed on the plain. 

I have plenty more share of this excursion but let’s do it face to face. I do however want to leave you with a laugh if I can before signing off.

As I walked through security in Rome today the machine beeped. I tried again, still beeped, removed my shoes, still beeped. I checked my pockets, nothing. A male security officer stepped away and a very nice female security staffer came forward,  I was going to get a full pat down. The scanner kept beeping so I accepted that they had to check me out. The security officer was lovely. She did the general pat down, arms, torso, waist, legs. Front then turned around for the back. Nothing to be found so I turned and faced her again. She then proceeded to pat around my chest area, looked me in the eye as she felt the underwire and said “your bra” and I said “yes”. As straight faced as you like she said “you’ll have to take it off”!!!!! 😳

 I was dumbstruck! I thought I never had the issue before and never heard it done, and where will they make me take if off. My eyes popped out of my head until I saw the twinkle in her eyes and I burst out laughing. It took me awhile to stop laughing ! You should have been there! 

See you soon my friends and arrivederci Roma!