My bus riding catastrophe - the clean version

Okay so I learned an important lesson today.  Don't trust anyone just because they smile and tell you something that sounds right.  It doesn't mean they have any clue what they are talking about.  I asked three employees at the bus station about which bus to get on and they all told me the same thing.  They were all wrong.  This mistake cost me 10.5€ but it is worth knowing to trust my gut instead of what I'm told.  I don't know why I knew they were wrong, things just weren't adding up.  But because they work for Trenitalia I thought they would know what they were talking about.  

The other lesson learned is that everything will turn out just fine.  Stop planning ahead!  Nothing ever turns out as you plan anyway.  

Earlier in that morning my very kind and English speaking hostess at the B & B told me to take a different bus into the station at Campobasso.  She did not tell me that there would be a transfer out in the middle of nowhere.  When the bus dropped me off i had a hard time believing this was really where to get off.  It was made a little easier to believe because other riders also got off but for a ride in the opposite direction to Termoli.  I was out there long after the other passengers had been picked up.  While watching the occasional vehicle drive by my mind started to think the worst.

Any crazy could be driving by and have plans to take advantage of this unsuspecting American.  As the wait grew longer I had in the back of my mind a horror movie where unsuspecting travelers are buried up to their necks in the middle of nowhere and fed until finally, they are ground into hamburger meat and sold for a profit (Motel Hell).  This would be the Italian version where I would be turned into a nice spicy sausage and meatballs.

The transfer bus was late and although it was nerve-racking it should have turned out fine.  Once we arrived at the Campobasso station I asked someone for directions.  One of the bus drivers told me where to wait but to ask for clarification from the woman selling coffee.  She told me the bus I wanted was AIR (pronounced ayr) so I'm looking for something beginning with the letter "I".  The man selling beer volunteers to write it down for me and says it is running late.  

Long story short and expletives deleted, the bus I needed was at another station in town.  I missed my bus!  This 2nd bus is  going to the same spot but about 30 minutes later than I needed.  This 2nd bus driver was nice enough but he could not get me to understand that he could take me along a different route.  A very kind and very attractive Italian woman translated what I couldn't understand.  

Unbelievably she apologized to me for her English being so bad.  I told her are you kidding me?  You saved me and your English is really good.  At least I had the rest of the passengers entertained with my mistake.  I also may have helped create a love connection between the driver and my translator.  He invited her to sit next to him on the steps, she did and they talked and laughed and flirted all the way to Avellino.

At long last I make it to Avellino, then Napoli, and then Sorrento.  I can not post photos from my iPad or at least I can not figure out how.  When I get home I will post a few and you will see how the horrible ride to Sorrento was quickly forgotten.  The view from my hotel was breathtaking.