From Bologna to Berlin

Before I left Bologna I had to have one more tagliatelle bolognese experience—-that is why I went there (it was soooo good): I needed to take the train to Rome Termini (main station) to get another train to Ciampino where I will stay overnight and be near the airport for my morning flight to Berlin.  Sounds like that should not be too hard………wrong.

At the Rome station, I had a list of destinations that would stop at Ciampino but none of these were on the departure board.  No problem— I went to the information desk and found out which train I needed.  The ride took 12 minutes.  At the Ciampino station, I picked the right exit and found the street I was seeking.  Walking (smugly) I found a small sign with an arrow to my Hotel Laura.  If I had not read the reviews on booking.com I would have never found that hotel.  It was hiding in an apartment/office building–down a hallway, up an elevator, and around a corner.  Not a sign except the one on the street.

I asked at the desk about where I could get the shuttle to the airport in the morning.  She pointed (in Italian) to go out the door.  I decided to do a dry run and after putting my stuff in my room set out to find the shuttle stop.  Right out the door really meant: three turns and five blocks back to the train station– but a little up the street from it. The shuttle is a public bus that cost €1.20.  If I had just waited outside the door, I would still be there.

While I don’t think the locals are out to get me—- figuring all these things out is not easy.  I am getting better but can’t believe I have less than two weeks to keep having this much fun.  I’m off to Berlin where I will stay with Patrick and Melanie, my friend Janet’s son and his girlfriend.