The train I had booked on didn’t exist.It happens occasionally,it’s rare but not unheard of.On the adjacent platform was a train to Verona but it wasn’t on the Interrail list.I could have risked it but didn’t want to be fined so settled for the next one which was going from platform 5…no train but noticed loads of people off that platform steaming to platform 1 and I followed the herd luckily just getting on with a minute to spare.It’s a slow job.Could say it goes all round the Wrekino…
Anyway got a bit of cold pizza & hot coffee and witness a small slice of dual nationality in The Autonomous Province of Bolzano…Bolzano is in South Tyrol,a region of a little strife with the Italian government.Consequently all signs etc are in both German & Italian,like Wales but higher mountains…outside the Mussolini/Roman inspired train station is a zebra crossing and a small roundabout.There was definitely German discipline and adherence to the rules at the zebra crossing yet a few feet away the roundabout was like every Italian stereotype comically confirmed.It all cheered me up no end…
I still have one more leg to go after Verona,a short trip to Vicenza.Trouble my Interrail says I have to reserve a seat but clearly not had time.The train I was going to get was fine but it’s not worked out that way.Ah well have no choice but to chance it…as an aside the views on this whole journey have been staggeringly beautiful and staggeringly dramatic…result.There’s an earlier train to Vicenza with no added supplementary tickets and it’s a double decker…
Hotel seems good.A little out of the way,just checking out what’s about.Found a cafe that does cans of beer out of the fridge so not ideal but any port in a storm…hotel does breakfast at €5 so that’s pretty hard to turn down.I normally go to a shop but won’t get better value than that…
Found a proper bar,the other fella closed at 6pm as it was more of a family bakery type affair.As I said before don’t fully believe google maps,just use it as a guide.When I looked for bars nearby it sent me below an underpass and even I know you don’t go near such a bar on your jacks as a stranger…I made my excuses and left even before I stepped foot in the place…
Laters alligators…
Ps Just ordered my third pint in this new place that’s literally up the road from the hotel and I think it might be a freebie.Saw the owner nod to the barman serving me and I never got a bill…if you’ve never been to Italy it’s customary to give you a bill every drink and you settle up when you leave…I will let you know.
Nope not a freebie…
2 comments:
Mornin Gareth
Reminds me of a bar in Genoa, three of us sit down,order and consume large jugs of frothy beer...Little Rich declares (a tad too loudly I remember thinking at the time)... "This ay very good beer it tastes like piss"...as you say a square of paper representing a bill arrives on the tray at each order..barmon speaks a little English,sidles over to us with a tray of darker beer saying "this is the local brew,try it"...no square of paper this time. We like the darker brew,so order another tray...the square accompanies the jugs this time.
We drink up and leave a huge pile of Lira notes to cover the square paper we've amassed. You just know what's coming don't you lol....The burly chap at the door wasn't impressed at our 'short changing' him...a pointless argument ensues, we pay for the 'try this' round and leave. Word gets round quickly in the back streets of Genoa as the next day we are unceremoniously refused service at a couple of bars.
Lesson learned...there's no such thing as a freebie !!
Have fun mar mate
Ps,just noticed the Rigby Bloke handle has returned (no idea why)
Ha! And I’m still Anonymous! Yea gotta be careful.I just read the signals wrong but no harm done…been to Genoa & going again in a few weeks.Not the place to piss off the locals,they’re pretty tight together…
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