A Bus Trip Bust

Well, I tried my hand at taking the bus and going to Volterra. A piece of advice for any would be adventurer: Do not go when you cannot speak the language. Second piece of advice: plan, plan plan. I spent all of yesterday at a train terminal waiting for a ride home and only from Poggibonsi! Roughly 10 miles from Barberino. And get this, everything, was closed in Poggibonsi. Do not travel or expect to see much on Mondays in Italy.

I did make the wise decision to talk to the woman at the tourisim office first and get a bus schedule. Then I hopped on the bus and felt confident that I could do this. I get to Poggibonsi and the line outside the ticket office was very long. I waited with other would- be adventurers from Germany, Britain and Spain. I was the only American, I could figure out. I get to the counter and tell the woman I want to Volterra and she says “no no no” and shakes her head violently like Volterra is down with the plague or something. I find out through some broken English I have to go to Colle Val Delsa then connect there. The next bus for Colle Val Delsa was in three hours. So, by then I was a little perturbed and considered going to San Jimmy (Gimignano) instead. Then I looked at the busses going there and they were packed, to the hilt with people. Gobs and gobs of folks from Japan, all equipped with handycams. I was not interested in going to a tourist trap, at least on that day.

So, I waited for a bus home to Barberino. I did get a good picture of the train station there as well as got my bearings on how all this bus and train stuff works. I really, really learned that I have to have my act together to make connections and be ready to ask for help in Italian. Folks are helpful, but I am finding many do not speak English at all. So far, I have been able to negotiate my way through waving my hands, saying Gratzie, a lot and pointing to things. I sort of feel dorky doing this, but oh well!

When I got back, I took another walk, in the opposite way of Tavernelle and just around Barberino. Photos below are of my little evening walk. After that, I actually made some pasta and read my book until 2 am! Still having trouble sleeping because I hear everything!

I did plan out a trip to Rome today and I think I might tackle that tomorrow or Thursday. Then again, I may just go to Siena…I really like it there. Ciao for now!