Highlights
Getting off the damn boat
Rerouting my entire day
Sleeping in a bed
Learnings
Travelling alone is awesome
Don’t be polite - reverting - just make your own call
Don’t make plans on travel days
I drift into consciousness thinking with our late start and not moving until 3 that we wouldn’t get to Bari until closer to noon - turns out we were supposed to arrive at 8 and we ended up getting in at 10 which was surprising to me, but I mean it must be normal for it to take some time for the boat to actually leave - once they get the people in there were still all the vehicles that needed to be loaded.
Although surprised the trouble was still very much a reality - my train ticket booked for 9 was now null - no idea how to get a refund on that since the website and all forms are in Italian... and since my time was going to be short in Rome I had booked an excursion for the afternoon to get a jump on my time... so that was also garbage now. Trying to book another train was hell - nothing available now until 6 at night and still a 4 hour trip. I had no idea what to do. I did know I wanted to get off this ride from Hell. What a joke even getting off the boat, we had to go back down to the vehicle level and this time try and get out with all the vehicles in it... did I mention as we were exiting new passengers were trying to board? What the literal F. So done.
I escape, and have no idea where to go to get away and then I see the new lineup for customs to get into Italy. Ugh. In line I end up standing next to another guy from Canada - Nova Scotia this time - rare find! He just graduated and was touring for over a month now doing mostly Northern Europe to this point but was making his way now to south Italy. We were chatting about my logistics issue and he noted he hadn’t booked anything yet either. While chatting the girls ahead of us joined in commenting that they were also on route to Rome and had booked a bus. Hm - never considered the bus. I asked when it left and they said around 1. Well sounds like I’m taking the bus too! I booked it and arrival was approximately 7pm. I should have been in Rome by 2pm. So much for that.
We walked to the bus station and sent NS on his way - he booked a bus to his destination as well and I forget now where that was.
In purchasing my ticket I reserved a seat as well - I’m learning slowly how to travel. It’s worth the 2€ to know what seat you’ll be in.
The bus ride was uneventful - other than the highway coming to a standstill a few times. Delaying our arrival by about 2 hours. I finished up watching Stranger Things (Chris if you’re reading this, the scene where Dustin whips out Neverending Story IS epic)
A lot of country side and a handful of stops, where we only put more people in the bus, finding the bus had a bathroom like nothing I’ve ever experienced, and a couple annoying children later - we arrive in Rome.
I’ve found an interesting and odd part of my entire journey are the types of bathrooms - I wish I had documented them honestly. I know I’m a crazy artist still in some ways - but they were hilarious! A little 2 foot wide door with a first section and then second section, a grated floor in one, a foot petal for water, paying 2€ for one, and now mid bus down a set of stairs I find a maybe 3’ square room with a loo. One note is that all bathrooms had tp - why do I bring that up? I was warned they might not...
Rome! It’s dark! I just want a damn bed to sleep in. I get on the metro and travel to my hostel. Check in is easy, my room is perfect. Showered for about 30 mins and then hit the hay. What a journey. Next time - book the damn flight Meagan.
The only good thing from this day - the coffee before it started.
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