The First Train Ride

There is no doubt that this is second class, the train carriage we are in is filled with Italian families and couples dressed in ordinary clothes, and acting in ordinary ways - such as one brother bugging his other brother and the father running interference - sibling issues are universal. As we were pulling out of the station many folks were chatting away on their cells phones and life was rolling along as usual. I think the lady (60ish in age) beside me has answered 10 calls on her cell phone, and we haven’t even left the city limits yet. But I’m ahead of myself - let me back up a bit.

Early this morning the rain began, and the sky looked like it wasn’t going away any time soon. Beth and I decided that we wouldn’t try walking to the train station. So while we were checking out of the hotel the very nice staff at the De La Ville Roma asked if we needed a cab - and so they called one for us, and a few minutes later the taxi arrived. We loaded in, drove through the wet cobblestone streets of Rome, with the driver swearing the whole way.

Once we got to Termini Station (Rome's primary train station) it was a bit overwhelming - what were supposed to do now, where were we supposed to go? Just inside the terminal I spotted the automatic ticket dispensers, and we simply followed instructions and printed our tickets. So far so good. It didn’t help ease our concerns when the ticket dispenser had a warning about pickpockets that displayed before the tickets printed out!

Next we followed the people with suitcases which led us into the area where the trains arrived. It took a little looking but finally we found information about which platform our train would board at. We weren’t the only ones a little lost, a couple of young women asked us if this was the train to Florence, having not got much help from the official information person. After waiting a few more minutes our train pulled in, and people rushed down the platform to board as soon as possible. We followed suit. Once inside we figured out where our seats were and sat down facing each other. We each had window seats and have been able to look at the scenery as we zoom along.

Zoom would be the correct word too, this is a high speed train, though I’m not sure exactly how fast it is travelling. It is fast enough that whenever we enter a tunnel (which seems to be quite often) we can feel the pressure change in our ears. The ride is pretty smooth though and the crowd seems to be settling in for the ride… even the cell phones have quieted down, at least for now.

Outside it is still raining, but that simply gives the hills a misty romantic feel. There are lots of quaint looking villages, vineyards and farms that we have been passing by, but also some areas of industry that aren’t so quaint.

My sense of direction is all out of whack (as well as my internal time clock). I could swear we were going south, but I will trust that this is indeed the train to Milan (which is north of Rome), and in a few hours we will be in the city of fashion and opera.