Umbrella Man

5.9.07


I have no idea what time the bells stopped last night. I went to a restaurant nearby suggested by the helpful young woman at reception. It was really good. I felt quite comfortable and, apart from 1 other single male, was the only non Italian. Some of the Italians were tourists judging by the time the proprietor spent explaining the local specialities. I was asleep within a few minutes of walking in the door. The bells started with a long peel at 7.45 this morning.

Yesterday was not as quite as easy as I think the post made it sound. I miss John’s inate sense of direction ( even given the day or so it took him to adjust to the northern hemisphere he always seemed to know where north was). With a map, but without him or a compass or nearby street signs, several times I initially struggled to orient myself. Finding a loo is sometimes a challenge in Italy. Not having a traveling companion to watch your bag can be tiresome when you do find one. There were many times when I was pleased with my decision to take a back pack and to update my previous 30 year old one with a new one with a good harness. My pack with day pack attached was 12.5 kg and my handbag carrying ellebee ( Fujitsu Notebook) , dictionary, camera and water was 2kg.

Another problem with traveling on your own that I have been warned about is the sense of isolation that you can feel not having anyone to share the wondrous things around you and being surrounded by people who speak a different language. I think this blog may help me feel as though I have someone to ‘talk’ to. At the very least my typing speed will get better. It may become a big chore, I’ll see. I do not want to get blamed for any ‘deaths by boredom’ , so stop reading before that.

I am pleased with how my Italian is going. I seem to be able to ask questions with enough confidence and vaguely correct grammar and vocab that, so far, I have always been answered in Italian and I have usually been able to understand the response. I missed a golden opportunity this evening. I was walking back to the hotel and it had just started drizzling. A well dressed Italian male carrying an umbrella spoke to me quickly as he approached. I took a moment or 2 to take in what he said – would I like him to accompany me somewhere under his umbrella - and was so stunned ( would this happen in Australia – maybe in a downpour, but a light drizzle??) that I could not get any thing sensible out – like my hotel is just round the corner, which I am perfectly capable of - I just stuttered ‘no, grazie’. He then asked if I was sure ! I think I muddled my yes and no’s – there is something in my memory that in some situations Italians say the opposite to us – but then maybe that is in Turkish.

I have just heard the 9pm bells and am going to bed.