Other Possible Titles for this Blog Entry:
Despite all that...I still had fun
I didn't even know you could argue over that!
Well, I'm leaving a lousy tip...oh wait its Italy
Yes, I did find George Clooney's House
Travel Lesson 1: Don't Go on Vacation with People Who Don't like Each Other
Beautiful Bellagio
My chosen title refers to my ability after spending one long weekend as a mediator between two twenty-something randomly assigned roommates. The closest comparison I can find is the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict (except in that case there is actually something to argue about). I also have a hypothesis why this conflict hasn't been solved...who are these mediators? I can guess that many of them have never (or its been a long time) since they were a middle school girl which is where all the cattiness, stubbornness, and the arguing begins. Fortunately for me, it ended in college at Whitman--but I guess it doesn't end for everyone at college. I was surrounded by one of the most beautiful places in Italy, yet there was a constant background of arguing which made it hard to reach peace. Arguing over everything. What we did during the day, how we decided what to do, where to go, what to order, how to order, how to pay, which room, what time to leave. Mostly things that were not important at all. And pretty much all the arguments involved two out of the four in our party.
Despite that I still had fun. Between all the fighting were moments of carefree bliss--however short they were. Lake Como is probably one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to. The Lake juxtaposed with the Mountains is such an amazing sight. I enjoyed our two hour ferry ride from where we were staying in Bellagio to Como. We went and took a tour of this beautiful villa and gardens in Lenno where scenes from Attack of the Clones and Casino Royale were filmed. We had a fabulous dinner with probably the worst service yet...and that is saying a lot because I am in Italy. (I won't give you my argument about competition and capitalism but the service in Italy is a clear example..waiters are not working for a tip and therefore do not serve quickly or politely). But the bad service waiter was kind of funny...even though I did get my pasta when everyone was finishing theirs and he told me I drank too much. He obviously had a crush on me ;).
The train home was quite an experience...feel free to laugh at my ignorance...I have only ridden the train twice (in my defense)...and it had never been a problem to get tickets before...well, you see where I am going. Once we got to Milan, we just expected to hop on the next train to Florence but the next one leaving was filled and then the next one after that had one seat. So Chelsea got the last seat on that train and then Sonia, Katie, and I headed to Bologna which is about an hour away from Florence. Then we had like a one hour layover in Bologna where we drank beer (and got free sandwiches) to pass the time. Anyway, I was finally back in Florence at 8:00 (left the hotel at 9:45...ferry left at 10...left como at 2...) Although the train experience was kind of long it was still fun and I definitely learned something! I also had my first ride in a train with a carriage where Katie and I met this guy Neville from Morocco. We spoke mostly italian with some french, spanish, and english too and he pretty much thought I was the hilarious, typical american girl (which I kind of am). Also, I was grateful for my last minute purchase of my Rick Steves' silk money belt--because as it was hectic running around to catch trains and buy tickets at least I didn't have to worry about my money being stolen!
Anyway, its nice to be back in Florence.
Here are some pictures of Como! They do a much better job of describing the place!
View from the Hotel
Chelsea and I with Bellagio (the city we stayed) in the Background
Villa Balbianello in Lenno--taken from the Water(This is the pretty villa/garden we visited that had scenes from Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, Ocean's Twelve, and Casino Royale were filmed here)
George Clooney's Villa taken from the water (I had to include one..)
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