I am sitting on a train.
That’s the punchline.
Now I guess I should start from the beginning.
When we woke up this morning, we were expecting to look outside to a beautiful day at the port of Civitavecchia. Instead when I woke up, I looked out the window to see rain, lightning, and ocean. Because of weather and traffic delays, our ship ended up docking in port about an hour and a half late. In the meantime, we ate breakfast (where we had a birthday celebration for Michelle!) and finished packing. Oh, and since it was raining and all of us were expected HOT weather, we changed into jeans, jackets, and changed the clothes we packed to warmer things. Of course the second we stepped off the ship, the sun decided to come out and blaze down on us. Needless to say, we regret the wardrobe change.
I’m going to take this opportunity to let you be proud of me. :) This was my luggage: that same small PacSafe backpack (my 13” laptop BARELY fits in) with laptop, toiletries, and minimal clothes, and my camera around my neck. That’s all. I won the least-luggage contest again! I know most of you don’t believe me, but no need to doubt—it’s the truth!! I knew this voyage would be good for me. :)
Alright, on with the story. Breakfast, then we picked up our passports, and got off the ship asap! We walked to the train station from the port- “only a ten minute walk.” Well, we’ve had it with all of these false walking times. We keep a pretty brisk pace and it usually takes at least double the time people have told us. I’m not sure if they think sprinting is walking, but it’s definitely nothing less. Twenty minutes later we arrived at the train station to find some other Semester at Sea people just arriving. Apparently we missed the free-shuttle-to-the-train-station memo. Oh well, exercise for the day! (Little did we know, that was just the warm-up). We got in line and bought our tickets. We would be switching trains in Rome. It was called Roma Termini, so I figured that meant Rome Terminal, so when we got to Rome we’d get off. I was surprised when we had to stop at 5 or 6 different stations in Rome before ours. I guess I didn’t realize/comprehend how big Rome is!
We got off the train (a little late) at 12:30 and had our tickets in hand for the next train. This one was a fast train. We looked at the screens, found the 12:45 train to Florence, and headed from platform 24 to platform 1 EST. The “EST” means get to the very end at terminal 1, turn right, and walk for almost 10 more minutes until you get to “EST.” We figured that from 24 to 1, then to 1 EST, it would take longer than the 15 minutes we had before the train left. So we walked as fast as we could without running- speed walking! It was brisk, believe me. We were all huffing and puffing by the end. Right before we got to the train, we recognized some other SASers who were running away from the train we were getting on. I wondered if that would be us in a few seconds, but figured they’d just gotten back from Florence or Venice and needed to catch a Rome train. As we showed our tickets to the conductor as we got on to make sure it was the right train, he stopped us and pointed wayyyy back to the terminal we had started. I guess that was going to be us running too, after all. It’s a different train line, the conductor said, and the platform was incorrect, so we had to go find that line’s terminal. SHOOT. He advised us to RUN. Go. NOW!! Ok, here we go! We sprinted- yes, SPRINTED (thank you track!) back to the beginning of platform 1 (the 10 minute walk) and asked a policeman there. By asking, I mean shoving our ticket at him and looking desperate. He pointed us to platform 2. We ran there, did the same to a conductor, and he told us platform 4. At this time, it WAS 12:45 and our train was leaving within the minute. Platform 4, asked someone, no- platform 8. FINALLY, we got to platform 8, desperately showed the conductor our ticket, and he nodded nonchalantly, almost as if he wondered we were showing him our tickets for the train- they get checked ON the train. That was a good sign! We JUMPED onto the train, scurried to find empty seats, the train took off within seconds, and we all sat there in disbelief huffing and puffing. We did it!! You know those movies where you see a group of girls sprinting through the train station with all their bags and in flip flops and cute shoes? Yeah, THAT was us.
I’m still on the train and all I have to say is I now get why people take months to travel Italy, and why there’s such a big Italy hype. It’s amazing. Gorgeous. I’m looking out the window RIGHT now, and I just see fields and fields of bright yellow sunflowers. I’m in love! Up on a hill in the distance is the cutest little town and I can see its clock tower. Stop the train, I’m ready to go explore!
When we get to Florence, we’re going to get off and check into our hotel (booked yesterday) and grab some food. Then we’re going to try to plan wine tasting in Tuscany for Michelle’s 21st birthday. How amazing is that going to be?! I’m so excited!
Well, we’re about to get off the train so I’ll finish the update later!
That’s the punchline.
Now I guess I should start from the beginning.
When we woke up this morning, we were expecting to look outside to a beautiful day at the port of Civitavecchia. Instead when I woke up, I looked out the window to see rain, lightning, and ocean. Because of weather and traffic delays, our ship ended up docking in port about an hour and a half late. In the meantime, we ate breakfast (where we had a birthday celebration for Michelle!) and finished packing. Oh, and since it was raining and all of us were expected HOT weather, we changed into jeans, jackets, and changed the clothes we packed to warmer things. Of course the second we stepped off the ship, the sun decided to come out and blaze down on us. Needless to say, we regret the wardrobe change.
I’m going to take this opportunity to let you be proud of me. :) This was my luggage: that same small PacSafe backpack (my 13” laptop BARELY fits in) with laptop, toiletries, and minimal clothes, and my camera around my neck. That’s all. I won the least-luggage contest again! I know most of you don’t believe me, but no need to doubt—it’s the truth!! I knew this voyage would be good for me. :)
Alright, on with the story. Breakfast, then we picked up our passports, and got off the ship asap! We walked to the train station from the port- “only a ten minute walk.” Well, we’ve had it with all of these false walking times. We keep a pretty brisk pace and it usually takes at least double the time people have told us. I’m not sure if they think sprinting is walking, but it’s definitely nothing less. Twenty minutes later we arrived at the train station to find some other Semester at Sea people just arriving. Apparently we missed the free-shuttle-to-the-train-station memo. Oh well, exercise for the day! (Little did we know, that was just the warm-up). We got in line and bought our tickets. We would be switching trains in Rome. It was called Roma Termini, so I figured that meant Rome Terminal, so when we got to Rome we’d get off. I was surprised when we had to stop at 5 or 6 different stations in Rome before ours. I guess I didn’t realize/comprehend how big Rome is!
We got off the train (a little late) at 12:30 and had our tickets in hand for the next train. This one was a fast train. We looked at the screens, found the 12:45 train to Florence, and headed from platform 24 to platform 1 EST. The “EST” means get to the very end at terminal 1, turn right, and walk for almost 10 more minutes until you get to “EST.” We figured that from 24 to 1, then to 1 EST, it would take longer than the 15 minutes we had before the train left. So we walked as fast as we could without running- speed walking! It was brisk, believe me. We were all huffing and puffing by the end. Right before we got to the train, we recognized some other SASers who were running away from the train we were getting on. I wondered if that would be us in a few seconds, but figured they’d just gotten back from Florence or Venice and needed to catch a Rome train. As we showed our tickets to the conductor as we got on to make sure it was the right train, he stopped us and pointed wayyyy back to the terminal we had started. I guess that was going to be us running too, after all. It’s a different train line, the conductor said, and the platform was incorrect, so we had to go find that line’s terminal. SHOOT. He advised us to RUN. Go. NOW!! Ok, here we go! We sprinted- yes, SPRINTED (thank you track!) back to the beginning of platform 1 (the 10 minute walk) and asked a policeman there. By asking, I mean shoving our ticket at him and looking desperate. He pointed us to platform 2. We ran there, did the same to a conductor, and he told us platform 4. At this time, it WAS 12:45 and our train was leaving within the minute. Platform 4, asked someone, no- platform 8. FINALLY, we got to platform 8, desperately showed the conductor our ticket, and he nodded nonchalantly, almost as if he wondered we were showing him our tickets for the train- they get checked ON the train. That was a good sign! We JUMPED onto the train, scurried to find empty seats, the train took off within seconds, and we all sat there in disbelief huffing and puffing. We did it!! You know those movies where you see a group of girls sprinting through the train station with all their bags and in flip flops and cute shoes? Yeah, THAT was us.
I’m still on the train and all I have to say is I now get why people take months to travel Italy, and why there’s such a big Italy hype. It’s amazing. Gorgeous. I’m looking out the window RIGHT now, and I just see fields and fields of bright yellow sunflowers. I’m in love! Up on a hill in the distance is the cutest little town and I can see its clock tower. Stop the train, I’m ready to go explore!
When we get to Florence, we’re going to get off and check into our hotel (booked yesterday) and grab some food. Then we’re going to try to plan wine tasting in Tuscany for Michelle’s 21st birthday. How amazing is that going to be?! I’m so excited!
Well, we’re about to get off the train so I’ll finish the update later!
RUNNING through the train station!
This is about 5 seconds before the train started moving- JUMPING on!
In SHOCK that we made it!!
...and quite proud.
We made it to Florence!
Welcome to Florence!
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