Trains & Cremona & Blue Skies

Being intelligent really is a valuable thing. Sometimes I can pull it off. Sometimes it is simply beyond me. During my trip to Cremona, well- it was out of sight completely. Jody and I managed to get off at the wrong train station. We got confused by our tickets and didn't quite get to Cremona on the first try. But the station didn't look right so I asked a nearby man where we were and if, say I wanted to get to Cremona, was this the wrong place to be. It was. So after having a good laugh at the situation we set off to find the information desk. I explained it all to the man behind the window and asked which was the next train to Cremona. After telling us we'd been stamping our tickets wrong (and not to do it again), he pointed out the window to the train adjacent to him and said that it went to Cremona. We setting off running down the stairs, Jody calling out that the train was about to leave and we had to hurry! When we ran up another staircase we found ourselves on the other side of the station and NOT near our train. We ran back to the information desk. I asked some teenage boys HOW to get to our train. I glanced at the man at the information desk and he was pointing to the door RIGHT NEXT TO HIM. Right in front of us. The obvious choice.

We hurried onto the train, in case the stupid-people-haters were out to get us. It was intensely hysterical. But then once we got on the train it was completely empty. It was JUST us on the entire train. First we took advantage of this, taking photos and dancing around. But then we started to wonder where this train REALLY went- probably to some unknown location where the information desk man waited for us. *creepy music* We were relieved when we finally got to Cremona. The station was much less sketchy than where we were before. We went and waited by the newspaper stand where we were supposed to meet this girl Margot. Jody asked if I was sure we were in Cremona, because she hadn't seen the sign. I went up to the newspaper stand man and asked once again, "Dove siamo?" (Where ARE WE? Why am I always asking this question?).

Luckily, we were in fact in Cremona- But we had no money on our cell phones and we were kind of just waiting for one of the girls to either call us or meet us. Nobody met us. Nobody called. And after a good half hour by the newspaper stand we went into the warmth of the train station café instead. We sat there for a while, then decided we better go find some payphones. Finally, as we were calling Margot walked up. Relief. Then we went back to her house with her while she explained that she and Elise had a mix up and thought the other was picking us up. Let me just say that the kids in Cremona have it MADE. Their houses are ridiculously huge, first of all. Margot's place could fit like 6 or 7 families. It's like a maze, too. Margot showed us around and opened the door to one room she "seriously discovered 2 days ago." I could have paid for this trip with the change found under the cushions of these people's couches.

So then after dropping all of our stuff off we met up with the other 3 kids in Cremona and got something to eat. Then we went to Brandon's house and hung out there for a while with his Italian brother and all of his friends. After that we headed into the center, where just about everyone goes every Saturday night. It was a fun night. Cremona is just really cute and everyone was really nice. I spent the night at Margot's and the next day we all went to the center and climbed up the church bell tower, which they say is the highest brick building in Europe. After climbing it, I believed it. The view from the top was amazing and we could see all of Cremona. We got some pizza and gelato before Jody and I had to catch a train back to Milan. I really enjoyed hanging out with the kids from Cremona and I have a feeling we'll be taking some trips together in the future. :)

Today was a BEAUTIFUL day. The weather was truly a blessing. The sun shone and there was a chilly wind but not too cold and the sky was easter egg blue. I couldn't even contain myself. I got home from school and immediately called Marco to tell him I was going running. I trecked back across the city to go to the track by the Polytechnical Institute, where the Politi's like me to go since there are always tons of people. I didn't mind. It was so worth it. I got home not too long ago, showered, and drank some lemon tea. I'm feeling rather good and am completely satisfied with how my Monday has gone so far.

:) I'll steal some of Jody's photos of Cremona as soon as I can. I couldn't take photos because my batteries went dead after the train.

Ciao, Bacci!
Grace