Our First Move

“Every so often you have to be a spectacle. It’s good to be lost.”
This was Brett’s little pep talk for me yesterday. We had to make our way from our apartment in Rome, back to airport, meet an escort & drive back to Rome to lease a car.
I’ve always known that the man I am married to enjoys a challenge. He thrives on them. Me, on the other hand, pretty much ready for jammies and a good book any day.
He has impressed me often this past week. I spent months with Rosetta Stone Italiano. He stepped off the plane conversing with the passengers. I studied Ancient Rome and Rick Steves…he finds the Coliseum and Pantheon one bus route. I’ve told him daily “How did you figure that out? How did you know that was the way to go?” I am on the same streets, the same trains…but he seems to have an instinct for which way is right. I have a theory that this is the way he practices medicine, but I’ll save that for a different day.
All week I knew this transition day was coming. “The big move.” I looked at the maps and saw the airport symbol on the Metro route. Thinking about the Chicago system, I assumed the airport was located on the metro line. One transfer and we’d be there.
So all 5 duffels packed, backpacks secured, 1 car seat – our family and Giorgio’s family (9 of us) walked the 6 city blocks to the Metro station. This was the spectacle. We climbed curbs, maneuvered parked cars and trashcans- then big hugs and kisses goodbye. As Giorgio said, “Bump, bump , bump- down you go to the train!”
We arrived at ‘termini’ all together with all belongings. Which train was for the airport? I was surprised. “Termini” is main train station for all trains out of Rome. If I were leading this crew, we’d still be standing in that station. Within minutes Brett has concluded that we need more tickets & need to ascend 2 levels up. Who knew? Tickets in hand (“The lady wasn’t sure – B needs a ticket, J doesn’t but she didn’t know about C”…) we boarded what seemed a random train.
I was oriented from that point until we met our escort. As we tossed our bags into the back of his van, C announced “I lost my tooth! It just bounced on the sidewalk.” So loading and unloading, I was looking for a tooth (found).
The car place was tucked in an industrial, deserted area. Huge fences- lots of barbed wire. I’m thinking “This is where they do away with the tourists.” We pulled into a little farm where there sat our brand new Renault SUV. No one else there , no other cars in the lot Brett sat down and essentially bought a car. Titles, license, etc…we were given the keys and told “Happy Holidays!”
Big smile, Brett is laughing as he drives out of Rome “That went really well, didn’t it?”