Why I Came to Italy and SITA

I haven’t posted in a few days and this is why: I have been writing, a lot. I have taken off on another story and it is just pouring out of me. Not sure why. Maybe it is the atmosphere here that is inspiring. At any rate, my days have flown by, hosted by my new found imagination involving some ghosts and a few obvious nods to the people and places in my life. Now, I can’t say I will let anyone read it at this point. It is really just my own and it has been none the less, a joy to write.

However, I needed to get out of the house today, even though it is mother f….n hot here! So, I took a quick hop to Florence and did a little more sightseeing, away from the crowds. If I could take this heat a little better, I would stay out all day, but apparently I don’t have the hot weather gene in me. On the way there today, I noticed that the bottom of the grape vines had this intense bluish-purple tint to them all of the sudden. At one of the stops, I could see the vines just dripping with gigantic grapes. The color is amazing and I am sure the Chianti will be too.

I also thought of all the reasons why I came to Italy. In the beginning, this trip was a treat to myself (and others were invited, but could not join me) after what was going to be a long season of terming out (including myself) and helping transfer co-workers to South Carolina. I needed something to look forward to, a carrot so to speak, to get me through this tough time. Well, something happened where I got another job with people I just adore and the chance to come to Italy, as planned, anyway. I am so lucky.

However, having spent a month here, I think the real reason I came to Italy was to prove to myself I could do it, alone. I was lucky enough to have a landlady who spoke English and welcomed me the first couple of days as well as two friends from Germany who spent some time with me. So it wasn’t like, “Plop, here you go--now enjoy Italy baby!” It was more like a gentle push in a way. When I think about it, I have not really truly been alone like this, ever, in my entire life (let alone living in a country for a little while where I don’t speak a lick of the language or know my way around). At first, I was scared to be alone. Well, I am proud to say that my fear was just plain stupid and that I did it! I never once felt alone or lonely. And I have had a lot of fun and gained experiences to share for a lifetime.

If you can and want to, try plopping yourself someplace and see if you can swim. This may not be for everyone, but I am willing to try it again someday because I know what to expect from myself. I have certainly missed all my loved ones and co-workers from home and I am dying for a conversation that lasts more than a minute, but other than that, I think it is impossible to be lonely in Italy; it just is--not sure why, maybe it’s the wine, but all I can say is this trip has been a true confidence builder for me, if not a lesson in the ways of the Italian transit systems. Ha ha.

Speaking of which, I decided to list The Top Ten Reasons to Avoid SITA (or Silly Italian Transit Authority and affiliates thereof):

10. If you have trouble with your equilibrium, don’t take the bus. The only way the driver will stop at your stop is if you stand in the aisle, close to the front door.

9. If you are a planner by nature, be aware that bus schedules are just numbers on pieces of paper.

8. If you think buses are bad, trains that say they run every hour really run every 90 minutes or so.

7. If you don’t like to be jostled, accosted or thrown forward in your seat, avoid SITA.

6. If you are one that likes to take charge and be “the” driver, SITA is not for you. These drivers don’t like to shift down when going up hill--it’ll drive you nuts!

5. If you have a fear of oncoming traffic, don’t take the bus---.they own the road.

4. If you cannot stomach blowing through stop signs, don’t take the bus.

3. If you assume your driver will stop at your stop, you’re wrong.

2. If you can’t take the heat, stay off the bus! (they don’t seem to like to turn on the AC much)!

1. And the number one reason to avoid SITA: if you don’t want to be picked up by creepy old dudes who hang out the stations, don‘t take public transportation.

Ciao for now!