Ride to Roma

Arrived Roma via very entertaining ride Monday evening. Char had the good fortune to sit next to an Italian doctor, general surgeon, and Krystal sat next to an old (sweet) Sicilian woman that spoke no english. On the other side of Char was an old (sweet) Sicilian man who spit a lot when he talked. He spoke broken english and was very chatty. Char kept the blue eyed, dark haired doctor engaged in ANY kind of conversation she could, wouldn't you have ? First she picked up a newspaper that was in the seat where the doctor would be sitting and started fanning herself. When he sat down he asked if she were through with it. . .because it was his paper! Not long after that she asked him if he were done with her fan! Krystal caught a cat nap while riding and explained later to everyone that she had to sleep during the day because Char's snoring kept her awake at nights. Laugh at Char's expense - on her birthday no less. We all parted ways in Rome and when Char shook the doctors hand and told him how nice it was to talk with him, he told her that she was his 'first' Arizona. His 'FIRST'. Char will snore all she wants! Had to find a bathroom and sanitize from all the Sicilian spit, still sweet. The 6th person in our train cabin was a young man that Krystal thought was traveling with the old woman. He helped her with her luggage and made sure she safely stepped off the train, then left. He treated her as though she were his own nana and yet he had no association to her, somebody raised that boy right. While still on the train the ticket guy came by, and after a very, very, heated Italian 'conversation' we found out that all they were talking about was a broken train door. At least 6 minutes of 5 Italians ALL speaking at once-over a broken door! This scenario of everyone speaking at the same time is common place here. Crazy.

Had the good fortune of walking by a man standing in train station asking people passing by if they needed a hotel room. He was unable to accomodate us for the 3 nights needed, but he called and called and then walked us to a hotel that could room us. We expected him to ask for a finders fee but he simply said 'ciao' and left.

After a quick shower, we headed out to a 'wanna be' Texas Roadhouse resturante. All they have to eat here is italian food and we needed meat. he he he Char ordered her steak medium well and got bloody meat. Sent it back and got less bloody, but still bloody meat. Covered steak with baked potatoe and ate as much as possible. Waitress cut meal price by 4,00 £ which made bloody meat still costs 17.50 US dollars. We need to give them a few more years before they get this grilling meat thing down pat. Watched italian TV, no CNN at this hotel, and finally fell asleep to tons of street noise because air conditioner costs 10,00 £ more per night.

Oh yeh, received a birthday wish from Lisa, and a picture text of a tomato from Donita, (Char's neighbor entrusted to water Char's plant while she's gone). Must say, tomato is looking good. Notice that just a single tomato is referenced, that's right, 20 bucks for planter, soil, and plant, for one stinking tomato. Pass the salt.