Lost again

Thursday was a day filled with challenges followed by a great reward.  As I stated in previous posts I don't mind getting lost on Italian streets but this was ridiculous.  Today's Italian lesson..."siamo persi" = "We are lost"

Diane and I started the day with what should have been a short walk to pick up our rental car from my enemies at Hertz.  They became my enemies prior to our leaving for our trip but that's another story.  We left our place with map in hand to a street we had been on yesterday.  Should be easy right?  Nope.  The map didn't help as much as we thought because we still got lost for about ten minutes.  

We arrived at Hertz to find their computers down.  The two people ahead of me in line were turned away despite having prepaid.  They did not have a printed record of prepaying so were sent off to get it elsewhere.  Fortunately I had printed mine off that very morning at the Kattihouse.  Things were going our way!  Until we got in the car.

We were headed back to the bed and breakfast where Jackie was waiting with the bags.  Diane took out the map and drove in the direction of our place.  With Diane driving and me navigating we were an unbeatable team.  We learned that Florence is filled with one way streets.  The one ways all appeared to go toward the same destination because finding a street going to our own one way street did not seem to exist.  Our map showed the streets all leading to the train station.  Those that lead away from the station either had restricted traffic due to some famous site or let out into another street with yet another one way forcing us back toward the station.

In the mean time I could feel my stomach start to rumble and not because I was hungry.  I didn't want to elaborate on my gastrointestinal issues to Diane so I sucked it up like a good little soldier confident this nightmare would end soon.  For at least an hour and a half close to 2 hours we drove through the Florentine labyrinth all the while my stomach continuing to cramp up.  We were finally close to our room and it's wonderful bathroom, within walking distance.  We decdidied the walk was the way to go.  Ready to head back on foot we only needed to park and that's when we turned down a street with a delivery truck parked and it looked as if it might be there for awhile.  We were stuck.

Not knowing about my inner struggle Diane suggested that I head back to get Jackie and the bags on foot.  Don't mind if I do!   When I arrived at the room, down two blocks and up 2 flights of stairs, there was Jackie with all of the bags.  She informed me that we needed to check out of the room and now it along with the bathroom was off limits to us.  NOOOOOOOOO!  I learned quickly how to beg in Italian to use the facilities if only for a few moments.   Francesco was kind to me. 

Let's flash forward to our trip to Viareggio.   We had the google maps directions to Viareggio.  - They were wrong. -  We were lost again but only for about 40 minutes.  In our experience not so long.  We stopped at a grocery store to ask for directions.  Naturally no one spoke English which we expected.  Three men were happy to discuss the best path to get us back on track.  One of the men decided to take the lead on telling me what they chose as the best route.  It was then I realized Italians have never given directions by naming streets only go straight, go left/right and about how long in kilometers. They indicate straight with a hand moving forward but curving in the direction indicating which way the road really goes.

So the man began giving directions. His youngest companion, Giovanni according to his name tag is repeating word for word the directions.  This goes on for a few sentences until the first man turns to Giovanni, says something curtly in Italian, then smacks him on the shoulder.  Giovanni smirks then walks off laughing.  

Eventually we get to Viareggio. On my next post you will read about our reward!