It's a long way to Oz: Florence and the Cash Machine Part 2

0900 23/06/12

Ok so I’m writing this message after my first night as a couch surfer. It didn’t quite go to plan, but then again to things ever?

Having spoken with my host, Luisa, she had told me that she would be home after 9 and that as she would be studying and would not be going out there was no rush to arrive early. I wandered around the city. I found myself sat on the edges of a piazza when I got offered some weed off of a nice black man with Bob Marleyesque dreadlocks. I politely refused (as British as I could) and changed the direction of my gaze and discovered I had been sat in front of a grand church, with such ornate detailing, It was so big and a bright white colour, I have no idea how I missed it. But better than that, I was sat outside a Thai Restaurant. Mmmmmmmm I treated myself to crunchy and spicy pork and although I question which part of the pig the meat actually came from it tasted amazing. I thank the batter and the chilli.

Very British

Having eaten such a large meal, and not fully understanding the public transport in Firenze I decided to walk back to the train station to catch my bus to Louisa’s. Arriving at the bus stop at maybe 2240 I found that I could get the number 35 bus at 2301. Not bad timing I thought. So I waited and I waited and I waited and other buses arrived but not mine. Luisa had told me I could get the number 30 or 35 to her place. Undeterred by the nonexistent bus I checked the time table and thus decided I would simply catch the 2337 number 30 bus, I didn’t have long to wait. The crowd of people around me displayed signs of irritation, which indictated to me that the bus hadn’t arrived so I gained comfort knowing I was in the right place for at least 'A' bus.

Proud of myself for finding the bus stop I jumped on the number 30 when it arrived and I thought I was on my way. As I’m not familiar with the outskirts of the city I asked the driver to tell me when we get to ‘Pietri’ bus stop. Given his lack of spoken English he was able to express that the bus didn’t go there and ushered me off the bus at the next stop and drove off into the night, sounds almost romantic when you say it like that.

Checking the bus stop I was still able to catch the number 35, if it would turn up. I spoke to Luisa and she told me the bus was the correct bus and that two other couch surfers who are also staying where on that bus. Next time I will ask a few passengers before I attempt to speak with the driver. The next hour or so included the non arrival of lots of buses and lots of phone calls between me and Luisa, she was so helpful. In the end with lack of a map on my phone (or in my hands) I decided to try and get a taxi. Since no one seemed to stop when I waved at them, presumably because it’s Friday night and they’re all full, I decided I was going to have to find one elsewhere.

I found an Italian couple who were either closing their furniture shop for the night, or committing a burglary. Either way I was just grateful that when I asked them (in my best Italian, no less) would they be able to order me a taxi they did and I had a good 5 minute conversation with them before the taxi arrived. Turns out, the world has some nice people in it. The taxi ride took all of ten minutes and I’m sure I was ripped off by the 12 euro’s he charged me but I didn’t care. I just had spent 2 hours at 2 different bus stops and frankly, I’ve never enjoyed a bus stop, even if it was not cold.

We spent about an hour chatting, the 2 other couch surfers, Luisa and myself before we decided to go to sleep. I do feel bad that I arrived so late so spent so little time with Luisa, I think as ever I have been trying to squeeze too much into too short of a time, I think it’s time to slow down a little. But Luisa was planning on visiting Venice next weekend so we agreed she could 'surf' in my tent - 'the lucky bugger'

Faith in people increased 200%, faith in bus drivers / buses in general – 1,000,000% (maybe I’m a tad dramatic)

A few random pictures from my time in Firenze.