Day 35 - August 2nd
Trip Start
Jun 28, 2008
1
35
42
Trip End
Aug 08, 2008
Rome,
Lazio,
Italy
Saturday, August 2, 2008
I got my stuff downstairs, helped other people with theirs and then headed down to hail a cab. That was the stupidest thing ever, we were all trying to get cabs on a Saturday...a day when a lot of cabs aren't operating. But, we all did it. I put my backpack down to walk a little bit down the street to start hailing a cab. I finally got one and put my suitcases in the cab.
I gave my final hugs and Ashley and I got in the cab to head to the airport. Ashley and I had our final chit-chats in the cab and then we dropped her off at a hotel near the airport and then the cab guy took me down to the airport. I didn't realize how great my Spanish was until I was having this long conversation with the bus driver, trying to figure out the best terminal to get dropped off at. I don't know what made me decide it, but I told the cab driver to drop me off at Terminal 4 so that I would leave my big piece of luggage in lockers near my AA flight so that when I make it back to Madrid I could quickly pick up my bag and then head to the states. I wouldn't have to worry about it all that time that I was in Rome and Nice.
As I was walking to the lockers (for which I didn't know the word in Spanish), I realized my back felt kinda light and I suddenly thought about that backpack that I put on the side of the street to start hailing the cab. OMG, I didn't have my backpack - my backpack with my travel arrangements, my sweater, but ohmygoodness, my laptop. Where would I find it? I was at a loss for words, I didn't quite know what to do...I had no contact information for anyone on the street - would they give it to the desk at the dorm, would they take it? I wasn't sure. I tried to keep my composure...walked/ran through the airport trying to figure out what to do. I thought to myself, if someone left their bag, I would take it...or would I leave it so they could come back and get it? I wasn't sure. I called Shajine (who was still vacationing with her Mom and brother in Madrid) so I could find out if she had any phone numbers or if she had any recommendations. The good person she was volunteered to go back to the dorm, I told her to hold off...she was going to look up some phone numbers for me to see if she could find the number of anyone who was still standing on the side of that street. I was going to call her back in a few...I continued running through the airport.
Suddenly I heard what sounded like the voice of God in the distance..."Kelli, Kelli"...it was Rudy, one of the guys in the program who saw me running through the airport. He said, "Did you leave your bag?" Yes, yes, I did. He said "Toby has it." Toby had my bag...thank God, now where would I find her? I thought about our last conversation, that she said she was flying British Airways. Kalin was nice enough to call her and to call Nicole, we found them...at the Iberia counter. I ran up to Toby, saw her, and just burst into tears. I had maintained my composure this whole time and as soon as I saw her with my backpack, I couldn't help it...I just started crying. She was an angel...she held my bag and was planning to travel with it and mail it back to me in the states. I was so thankful to her. I said my goodbyes, with tears streaming down my face and called Shajine back to let her know that all was okay.
With my backpack on my back, I took the bus to Terminal 2 to make it on my flight. I was wayyyy early, but I made it there. I found the Alitalia counter and checked in for my flight. I think I was the first in line. I checked in, called Momma and Daddy to let them know that all was well after my scare this morning but made it to my gate and sat. I bought some of my favorite Spanish candy from the duty free shop and then hung out by the gate.
I fell asleep as soon as I boarded the flight but got up and started talking to a lady sitting next to me. She started talking to me in Spanish but as soon as she realized that I didn't understand all that she was saying, she started talking to me in English. Turns out, she was from Mexico, her husband of 52 years had recently passed away so this was the first time she was going to be vacationing without him. She was to meet some of her friends in Milan and hang out there for 6 weeks. She knew she needed it. She talked about when her daughters had studied abroad and how it was such an amazing experience for them and how I just finished one of the most memorable experiences in my life. I agreed - despite the conditions in which I was staying. She was soo nice.
After arriving in Milan, I had a two hour layover so I tried to work my way through the airport to see if I could figure out the train situation for later. After being told that I was an idiot for going all the way to Rome to get to Nice, I found out there was nothing I could do until I got to Rome. If I thought I knew no Spanish and was having difficulty there, Italian was wayyyy more difficult, I had no clue what anyone else was saying besides this guy. They talk so fast!
I made it back to the gate and hung out before I boarded my flight. After I got off the flight, I made my way down to baggage claim to get my bags. I stood by the belt for about an hour and a half until I realized my bag wasn't there. I made it to the lost baggage counter to see if I had the wrong belt and they sadly told me no...the flight from Milan had already emptied out all bags and they had to start a claim. My bag was no where to be found. I hated the fact that they were so nice and cheery in that office...I was ticked...but they gave me my little overnight kit (a tshirt, toothbrush, razor, and deodorant) and sent me on my way.
Realizing that I had a little less than an hour to make it to my train, I ran through the airport to take the train to Termini (the train station in Rome). I bought a ticket but the lady didn't tell me I had to validate it, so I had to get off the train and run to get it validated before I boarded. I'm glad this guy saw that I looked totally lost and tried to show me what I needed to do.
I made it to Termini, no offices open, just an open area with people...what the heck was I supposed to do? I found the trains, read a sign that showed me which platform it was leaving from and then went across the street (into a very unsafe area) to get some McD's for the train. I made it back just in time, found platform 17 and freaked...OMG, was this what I was supposed to take?
I wanted to take a picture, but I was scared...creepy people...dark...yup, I was taking the night train to Genova. I got on the train and of course, no one spoke English to tell me if I was in the right place. I found my carriage and seat number and someone was sitting in it...in his best English he tried to tell me "seat occupied." Since it was midnight, see August 3rd for more details...
