So, what’s your fear? Is it being in an unknown country and culture? It’s intimidating to think about being somewhere that you don’t know the language or what is normal. This has been especially hard for me. My hubs, he basically could care less. He’ll ask a million different questions and try to figure it out. Me – I’m like, nah I got this. Let me assure you – his way is better. We’ve learned some hilarious lessons along the way. But you know what- we’ve lived!
So, what’s your fear? Is it being in an unknown country and culture? It’s intimidating to think about being somewhere that you don’t know the language or what is normal. This has been especially hard for me. My hubs, he basically could care less. He’ll ask a million different questions and try to figure it out. Me – I’m like, nah I got this. Let me assure you – his way is better. We’ve learned some hilarious lessons along the way. But you know what- we’ve lived!
And we have (later, much later) laughed. I’m learning to just embrace it. It’s like the rest of life, you are going to screw up! You are going to make a mistake. Some are rookie (hello, pick-pocketer of my brand new iPhone). And some, well you just have to live & learn. Let me tell you a story about the time we got lost in Siena. And by lost I mean booted off a bus in the middle of a Tuscan village – miles from anyone else and no cell service in sight. And we had just finished dinner, which means I wasn’t wearing the most practical shoe of choice. We had spent a lovely evening in the charming town of Siena. It was about mid-way through our trip and we were exhausted. It seemed we had “kinda” figured out the bus system and decided to give it a whirl. We hopped on, thankful to not be walking anymore, and headed off into the countryside. I was looking out the window enamored with the rolling hills and vineyards, but I noticed David had a look of concern. Being, “directionally challenged” in my own country – you can bet I had no idea that something didn’t feel right. “We are going the total opposite direction,” he said. After much discussion about how they probably go up the mountain and come back down and convincing ourselves we’d be fine, we settled in. Or I settled. Nothing about David’s face look settled. The further we got away and as more and more people exited the bus, the more stressed his face appeared. Before we knew it, we were the last people on the bus. We were many, many miles from our hotel. We were on top of a mountain and sitting at a bus stop. My inner dialogue began, “Ok, surely more people will get on & then we will head back down.” Meanwhile the driver kept glaring at us. We tried to talk to him and figure out the plan. We tried to ask him what was happening and when we would turn around. He spoke zero English. Absolutely NONE. I sure was kicking myself for not paying more attention to that Italian app that I kept “meaning to do.” You know that saying, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions?” Lesson Learned. Lost in the middle of Tuscany. Trust me, that sounds much more glamorous that it was.
With one swoop of his arm he motioned for us to get off. It wasn’t a suggestion. It was direct and he wasn’t taking no for an answer. And incase we didn’t get the message he turned off all the lights and we sat there in the pitch dark. So, off we go. And no joke – he closed that bus door and left us in the dust. I promised you we could see him laughing in his rearview mirror as he sped down the mountain.
After considering our options for all of 5 seconds (because we had no options) we sat out to walk. The only thing going for us at this point was he left us on TOP of the mountain. It was literally all downhill from there. Of course downhill, in the pitch dark, along curvy Tuscan-sidewalk-free-roads, with 4% battery life, and wearing wedges – but downhill nonetheless. At one point I couldn’t help but laugh. It was laugh or cry and the first option seemed more enjoyable. I laughed and laughed and promised myself that one day it would be a fond memory. Fond might be a stretch, but it is a definite memory. And we survived! No joke, it was like a scene out of a movie. Thankfully it resembled some romantic comedy and not a murder mystery. There was a brief time when it felt like it could go either way.
But in true Italian form, a few miles down the road, we stumbled into a little deli. I almost cried. I almost kissed the Italian gentleman. I almost cried again. The look on their faces as two lost Americans walked into their establishment was gold. I know they were cracking up on the inside. But they were so kind. They took us in and called a taxi. And the rest, my friends, is history. We made it back to the hotel. We traded foot rubs and promised to sleep in. And we lived.
Listen, it’s going to happen. That’s not our only mistake we’ve made. We’ve been on the wrong train. We’ve missed dinner reservations. We’ve gotten parking tickets. We’ve forgotten luggage at a hotel. We’ve ordered completely raw beef (& I’m not talking tartare). But it's ok! It’s all part of the experience. It’s all part of the story and the fabric of what makes the trip. And honestly, now those are some of our favorite memories. So many people are fearful of the unknown. I get it. I could be the president of the club. Embrace it. Count on it. Maybe even enjoy it. Because I can tell you one thing, you won’t regret it.
And we have (later, much later) laughed. I’m learning to just embrace it. It’s like the rest of life, you are going to screw up! You are going to make a mistake. Some are rookie (hello, pick-pocketer of my brand new iPhone). And some, well you just have to live & learn. Let me tell you a story about the time we got lost in Siena. And by lost I mean booted off a bus in the middle of a Tuscan village – miles from anyone else and no cell service in sight. And we had just finished dinner, which means I wasn’t wearing the most practical shoe of choice. We had spent a lovely evening in the charming town of Siena. It was about mid-way through our trip and we were exhausted. It seemed we had “kinda” figured out the bus system and decided to give it a whirl. We hopped on, thankful to not be walking anymore, and headed off into the countryside. I was looking out the window enamored with the rolling hills and vineyards, but I noticed David had a look of concern. Being, “directionally challenged” in my own country – you can bet I had no idea that something didn’t feel right. “We are going the total opposite direction,” he said. After much discussion about how they probably go up the mountain and come back down and convincing ourselves we’d be fine, we settled in. Or I settled. Nothing about David’s face look settled. The further we got away and as more and more people exited the bus, the more stressed his face appeared. Before we knew it, we were the last people on the bus. We were many, many miles from our hotel. We were on top of a mountain and sitting at a bus stop. My inner dialogue began, “Ok, surely more people will get on & then we will head back down.” Meanwhile the driver kept glaring at us. We tried to talk to him and figure out the plan. We tried to ask him what was happening and when we would turn around. He spoke zero English. Absolutely NONE. I sure was kicking myself for not paying more attention to that Italian app that I kept “meaning to do.” You know that saying, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions?” Lesson Learned. Lost in the middle of Tuscany. Trust me, that sounds much more glamorous that it was.
With one swoop of his arm he motioned for us to get off. It wasn’t a suggestion. It was direct and he wasn’t taking no for an answer. And incase we didn’t get the message he turned off all the lights and we sat there in the pitch dark. So, off we go. And no joke – he closed that bus door and left us in the dust. I promised you we could see him laughing in his rearview mirror as he sped down the mountain.
After considering our options for all of 5 seconds (because we had no options) we sat out to walk. The only thing going for us at this point was he left us on TOP of the mountain. It was literally all downhill from there. Of course downhill, in the pitch dark, along curvy Tuscan-sidewalk-free-roads, with 4% battery life, and wearing wedges – but downhill nonetheless. At one point I couldn’t help but laugh. It was laugh or cry and the first option seemed more enjoyable. I laughed and laughed and promised myself that one day it would be a fond memory. Fond might be a stretch, but it is a definite memory. And we survived! No joke, it was like a scene out of a movie. Thankfully it resembled some romantic comedy and not a murder mystery. There was a brief time when it felt like it could go either way.
But in true Italian form, a few miles down the road, we stumbled into a little deli. I almost cried. I almost kissed the Italian gentleman. I almost cried again. The look on their faces as two lost Americans walked into their establishment was gold. I know they were cracking up on the inside. But they were so kind. They took us in and called a taxi. And the rest, my friends, is history. We made it back to the hotel. We traded foot rubs and promised to sleep in. And we lived.
Listen, it’s going to happen. That’s not our only mistake we’ve made. We’ve been on the wrong train. We’ve missed dinner reservations. We’ve gotten parking tickets. We’ve forgotten luggage at a hotel. We’ve ordered completely raw beef (& I’m not talking tartare). But it's ok! It’s all part of the experience. It’s all part of the story and the fabric of what makes the trip. And honestly, now those are some of our favorite memories. So many people are fearful of the unknown. I get it. I could be the president of the club. Embrace it. Count on it. Maybe even enjoy it. Because I can tell you one thing, you won’t regret it.
.
Wednesday, September 5, 2018
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Destinations /
Italy /
Siena /
Travel Tips /
Tuscany
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