Aug 22, 2010

Day five, August 22, 2010

I wake about 8:30 for my last morning in my little space in Locanda Silva. I think I will jog today because I don't know the next time I will be in a place where I feel comfortable donning my work-out duds and going for a long stretch. Once again, it is very hot and crowded in the main area but there is a little park out on the point that is quite pleasant. I make it back to the hotel by 9:30 and there is time for one last time at the little breakfast spot. There is no one in the place today, just me and my guide book next to the finestre(window). I go back upstairs after my modest camera (the word for room in Italian) and pack. It does take a short while to pack because I have been here for four days. They are knocking on the door wanting know when I am out, "The sign says 11:00 AM check out, don't rush me..I thought this was a laid back society...I guess its different when you want to get your work done and go home.



I check out and then hang around the hotel and I work on my journal. As I sit in the lobby, a nice looking man comes to check-in. The maid/front desk attendant/breakfast server (her name is Catya) does not speak English that well so I chime in (since I am sitting right there) and tell the newbie the scoop regarding the rules of the hotel. He sits down next time and wants some sight seeing advice as well. I point out sites of interest on the map as Catya sits in the background proud of her matchmaking. The gentleman stranger asks me if I work there. "Oh no, just sitting here using the internet. " Too bad he says, "I am arriving and you are leaving." Yes, that is too bad. Timing is everything. Gosh, I have been sitting in this lobby every day for the last few days hoping to make a friend and now I am leaving. Darn, now here is friend, quite handsome and looking for guide. Well there is hope I least know now that another could come along. I say goodbye and thank you to Catya. She says, "You remembered my name!, Why?" I don't know, I just trying to be friendly I suppose.

Off to the Vaparreto with all my luggage. Crowds( and Europeans in general) are not good about standing in line in this country, its just every man and woman for themselves. I have to remember to cut someone off or be cutoff myself although it is against my nature. It is fine little boat ride (nice to have a little breeze because I am sweating lugging around my bags) to the stop by the train station where I will find my next hotel. I find the new hotel in short order but I am early so I decide to go get some lunch(after I put my luggage in my new camera). I find a little outdoor seat at a pizzere and the waiter, Adrian, is another comedian type. He finds out that I am from the USA and responds," The most beautiful country in the world!" I ask him if he as ever been there. "No, but I have lots of friend there." Hmm. He thinks it is cute that I try to speak Italian, sort of a condescening way though. He wants to meet for drinks after work tonight and perhaps that will lead to him moving to America with me in the future. Nice offer but once again my timing is off because I got a group awaiting me tonight. It would be fun to go out just so I say could say "Yo Adrian!"

I wander around to the shops. I stop in a shop where a couple comes in ask if there is any glass figurines that are shaped like an octopus. The two woman don't know this english word. I chime in(the helpful one once again) and say "squid" and then I say "lots of arms" and then I make undulating motion with my arms. Then they get it and show the couple the glass item. As I leave the shop, they thank me for my help, they said they would "have no understood" without my arm gestures. They say, "Thank you for your fish." Now there is one I don't hear everyday.

I decide I will go lay down in my air conditioned room before the meet up talk at 6:00. I rest a few minutes and then my roommate Jane shows up. Very nice gal, Jane from Australia but living in Sweden. We chat for awhile and then go down for our meeting. Now we are not meeting until 6:30 so Jane and head out for a walk. She buys a macaroon and I get gelato (fig and Kit Kat flavors...stepping out of the box for me but they are a delicious combination). We both have a sweet tooth we decide so we will be a good match as roomies.

We meet up with our team leader, David (he pronouces his name Daveeday), but he tells us we can pronounce any way we want. He looks like the Italian version of Apollo Ono (with the soul patch and everything), but I don't think he knows too much about short track speed racing. There will eight in our group, myself, Jane( the roomie), Ann(Australian who likes to party it seems and wants to swim with hammerhead sharks one day), Kurt( another Australian who I remember his name because of the "Sound of Music"), Stephen (also Australian and we know how I remember this name) and a family of three that includes Vladimir(the dad who is an electrical engineer), Sonya( the Mom and owner of a book shop..don't show her my Kindle) and Annabelle(the 18 year old daughter about to go off to university but taking this trip with her parents). The family is originally from Cuba and now is living in Toronto CA. Very diverse group. I will try represent the United States well. (No ordering Italian dresssing as Jane overheard at a resteraunt last night.)

We say our greetings and then sign our paperwork. We will meet back at 7:30 for dinner. Jane and I settle in and then meet up with the crowd as appointed. Another tour from Intrepid travel has just ended and some of the that group (Ann, Kurt and Stephen) will continue with us but there are five others who are not, but the whole gang sets out for dinner. We sit at a nice little canal side resteraunt. I have penne pasta with tomato sauce and shrimp(good but not excellent) and red wine (quite good and the "non headache kind"). We are served limoncello following( another first for this trip so things are really becoming Italian). We have nice time getting to know each other but I think David would rather being sitting at the other table with the party crowd. The party bunch wants to go out for more drinking and Jane and I tag along. We hang at the bar for awhile but Jane and I decided we are tired so we go back to the hotel.

I try to call home but I can't a new phone card to work either. I text my new little 18 year old Sammi on her big day, that is probably better than trying to call her anyway...but her auntie is old fashioned. Jane and I crank up the AC and hope to sleep through the night!