From hotel internet point in Turin

[petronia]

I did mean to make a "now I'm off" post but it was a mad dash to the airport, so. XD; Flew seven hours to Rome, took the train to Stazione Termini, had just enough time to get a sandwich and gelato and wander down to the Trevi Fountain before getting on the InterCity to Turin. Theoretically, that is - the train was 1 1/2 hours late. Also crowded, and a Eurail pass doesn't get you a seat reservation which is extra. Met an indie Londoner boy in the same predicament and spent the entire time seat-hopping and avoiding the ticket puncher dude. Grossly underestimated the amount of food and water I'm liable to consume during a 7-hour train ride, and there was no toilet paper (but was armed with SEKRIT CHINESE KLEENEX-FU). GOOD TIMES.

Nevertheless I'm guessing this - Rome to Turin all through Tuscany and up the coast with the Mediterranean like fifty feet away and eventual mountains on the other side - is one of the most beautiful train rides in the world, so. I tried to take pictures through the window but if you've ever tried you know how well that works out.

Then I got into Turin and couldn't stay in T's single, but got a room at the Holiday Inn next door that was twice the size for the same price and had a jacuzzi tub. XD And dinner was great once I finally got it.

Comments

[worldserpent.livejournal.com]

Oooh, astounding.

Train 1 1/2 hours late? 0_o Damn, sound exciting! Dodging the ticket puncher.

[lazulisong.livejournal.com]

one time I was taking the Coast Starlight from CA to OR and someone jumped on the tracks and I was I think six hours late? No ticket puncher dodging, tho.

[nagaina-ryuuoh.livejournal.com]

Oh, that sounds lovely. I went to Italy my Freshman year in high school and I've been trying to get back ever since.

[marej.livejournal.com]

aiiii, i missed you leaving! (sigh. will now have to cancel with AY people! must reschedule! *g*)

have a great great trip! and be sure to make random stops at internet places to keep us posted!

*mwah*

[petronia.livejournal.com]

So you will! Put your address in the postcard thread so I can send you something, will you. XD

[marej.livejournal.com]

didn't i do that? eeep. i totally meant to, you know that, right?

[joliefolie.livejournal.com]

Much love! I read an awesome Rufus Wainwright interview in the Gazette this morning about his new album; I'm saving it for you because there is this awesome quote about Neil Tennant (who executive produced) and Brandon Flowers and... OK, I'll save all these fannish notes in a time-bomb e-mail for when you come back. :D

<3

[z107m.livejournal.com]

1 1/2 hours late? Benvenuti in Italia!
Yeah, be careful of that seat reservation thing. A first class ticket and you can still be sitting in a stairwell.
(Water gets expensive, so it's worth hunting out a small grocery store rather than buying it one bottle at a time. Hotels also tend to sell larger bottles of water at the front desk.)
Good luck!

[petronia.livejournal.com]

Now I'm only taking IRs. XD Easier that way anyhow. Also, filling up from the tap because China's made me pretty unpicky.

[motorbike.livejournal.com]

INDIE LONDONER BOY! Train or no train, your trip is off to a decent start.

(I recall taking the TGV along the Meditterranean coast in France and being fascinated by the color of the water! It really is an enchanting view. Along the way I had Sebastien Tellier's MOST BEAUTIFUL SONG EVER (http://www.tiger-tiger.org/jetstream/Sebastien Tellier - La Ritournelle.mp3) on my iPod, a.k.a. my travel-by-train song because the beats are just like train wheels over rails! ♥ )

[petronia.livejournal.com]

Well, the conversation was like:

DUDE: Oh, you're Canadian? We don't get a lot of Canadian bands, just Avril Lavigne. She's really big.
ME:
DUDE: So what are you listening to?
ME: ...Lily Allen.
DUDE:

But eventually we figured out we both liked the Arcade Fire and Kasabian, so. Dude was like, "I didn't know people in Canada listened to so many English bands!" And I had one of those moments when I didn't know whether "Yes, we do" or "No, it's just me and my friends, see" was the correct/truthful response. XD; I mean, one's friends = rest of country, Y/N? ...In conclusion, MOOZIK ♥.

[fable.livejournal.com]

had just enough time to get a sandwich and gelato and wander down to the Trevi Fountain before getting on the InterCity to Turin. Theoretically, that is - the train was 1 1/2 hours late.

hee! I remember when I was backpacking around Europe, and I took a train from France to Italy. We were sitting with four other people in a compartment - two Italian girls and a French couple. Halfway through the journey the train unexpectedly stopped, and stayed there for about an hour, and the Italian girls were all - "Welcome to Italy. :D" It was funny because it was true - the most I was ever delayed in France was two minutes (and they actually apologized for that, which was :o), but in Italy it was the reverse - the trains were rarely ever on time.

I hope you're having a great time, Sabina. Take lots of pictures so we can live vicariously through you! XD

[petronia.livejournal.com]

Man, I knew the jokes about Italian trains but I thought it was all, yanno, fifty years ago. XD But well - all taken into account now.

Many pictures to come. XD Hope my 2GB card can hold them all.