English is a good language to speak. For whatever reason, everyone else has decided to pick up a few words here and there at the very least or in some cases be conversational or fluent. Okay, I know there is a ton of history behind this and it isn't just coincidence, but whatever. So it hasn't been that hard to get around and between people speaking English and our 50 words of Italian and lots of pointing we have been able to get everywhere without any real problems. The fun thing is that when you go to lots of tourist places, you meet other tourists. Here is a little bit about them.
Our first meeting of other tourists was at Ostia Antica outside of Roma. Another couple (from England) also made the same mistake we did and went on a Monday when lots of things in Roma are closed. We talked for a bit and that was that.
The second couple we meet were Scottish. As we were going to Hadrain's Villa, which was pretty complicated and super annoying to get to, we started talking to this older couple. Well, by we started talking I really mean that the woman just talked for a really long time with some questions from Aaron and I and about 10 words from her husband. Even though she was a talker, she and her husband were really nice. We learned all about their daughter who lives in New Zealand with her Italian husband and two children. The daughter is a dietitian and her Italian husband does something or other with computers, if you were the slightest bit curious. Also, they thought the organization in Italy was terrible. It is good they haven't ever gone to Naples. So the next day Aaron and I are going through the Vatican Museums and we go to the Sistine Chapel first so it won't be crowded (which it wasn't, and it is absolutely amazing). We found a bit of a bench open, look over, and who is it? It is this couple from yesterday. We talk about the Chapel for a bit then do our own thing. The Security in the Chapel is constantly telling people to not talk, so we didn't want to get in trouble with them. It was the strangest thing to run into them two days in a row.
The third set of tourists we met was our first day in Naples. We were all at the ticket window going to Pompeii and we talked for a bit. They were American, or so we thought at the time. After Pompeii they were on the same train home. It was amazing that they also spent 6 hours there. (It was two families one with a little girl and the other with three young kids, all under the age of 6. So 4 adults, 4 kids.) The next day we went to the National Archaeological Museum, and yesterday we went to Herculaneum and Mt. Vesuvius. We ran into them on the train there and they said they saw us at the Museum, but we were at a different end. We talked for the train ride and learned that they were Canadian ex-pats living in Geneva for the last five years. The six year old really liked to talk about all the cats he has had and Canada. It was nice running into them so much. They were super nice families.
Later that day on the way up to Mt. Vesuvius Nick was from Seattle, studying in Rome, and in Naples from the weekend. We hiked around Vesuvius with him, nad he was very nice. I think he was glad to have someone to talk to as well because he was exploring by himself.
Today was our latest couple we met was today. We saw them at breakfast this morning at the hotel, realized they were on the same train, but didn't talk to them until we all realized that we were in Sorrento, and had no ideal where we were going. They were smart and popped into a hotel and asked for a map. They were kind and shared it with us. They were a young Polish couple, our age, who had just gotten engaged and like to take short holidays around Europe on long weekends. We talked about the crazy Italians, how they don't really like Naples and walked around Sorrento with them for a few hours this morning. They were super nice, liked to use the word "absolutely," and had great English.
Moral of the story, you meet people wherever you go. People tend to be super nice, and everyone who is used to colder climates thinks the southern Italians are a little crazy. We all bond over something!
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Just another travel blog.
4 comments:
Rachael, I'm really enjoying your blog! But I find I have questions. Like why does everyone wear purple? And are those people crazy parkin their cars like that! There must be some cooked fruit around there somewhere that you can eat! At least you can enjoy the fermented grapes. I showed the early photos you posted to Jordan & Ellie (they say hi!) & they were amazed at the sites. Hope you aren't all work & no play in the vineyards. Ciao!
The people you meet, New York style. I was shopping at a local grocery store. This place is a little cheaper than others and maybe a bit seedier, if you look at the produce,(ha, aren't I funny. but really the produce isn't good)and predominately hispanic.
I was checking out the rice, about to get some Uncle Ben's when a guy pointed at my choice and said it was good stuff. I nodded, put the box back and asked him to reach for a different box of rice. He was very helpful but then asked if I was a performer. I told him that I wasn't, but thanks? He then told me about a church that would love to welcome me and my performer friends every Sunday at 11. I nodded, smiled and walked away with my rice.
Jen-na,
You've got to embrace the international grocery. I was out shopping in Little Armenia at 7:30AM on a Sunday with the Armenian and Latina grandmas (the only people who think it necessary to grocery shop at this time, save the little old man buying his newspaper and lottery ticket). Though occasionally divided by language, we bonded over evaluating $.39/lb oranges. Life is more pleasant when you have a supply of eastern European beer, Russian bread (brand and type unknown courtesy of my lack of Russian), and hummus out of can in Arabic.
HT,
Work hard in the vineyards, your labor supports my habits.
<3,
MT
MT,
The vinyards aren't planted yet. It has been so rainy here that we won't be able to plant until the end of the week, but I am certainly working hard.
Also, the wine should eventually be sold in the US... like 2 to 10 years down the road, so my efforts might actually support your habits at some point!
Much Love,
HT
Jenna-
I just don't think you have the look of a performer, though I have never seen you picking out rice before. I'll have to evaluate your performer-ness next time we buy rice together.
Rach
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