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Day 6: From Milan to Rome

When I wake up, the grey cloudy sky has given way to a bright sun. Hooray. :)

I went around the corner to grab a coffee and the bartender asked if I was from Albania. Uh… that’s pretty specific. I was too flabbergasted for a moment to ask where he got that idea from. And to this day, I still wonder which part of my body looks Albanian... :))) Maybe it’s best that a person doesn’t know everything. Or who knows, maybe it was a really, really bad opening line. ;)


Anyway, I'm heading into town again. Just to see what the Duomo looks like today under a clear blue sky. I'm taking the metro to the center and amusing myself on the way with my countless cameras. I had hoped to take some reflection photos in puddles, but all the water has dried up like water in the sun. Damn.

They are really clean, though, these metro stations here:




When I stand outside, I actually hear my first words of Flemish on this trip. I speak to the couple and we briefly exchange our travel experiences. Nice... ;)




As a near-senior, I then take the elevator to the top of the Duomo. Wow, what a view from up here! My cameras are working overtime again, and I try out my Polaroid here as well. The result is a tiny bit overexposed, but it still gives an idea of that pigeon... uh... anthill down below:



After that, it is high time for yet another train: today I continue to Rome, where I will take the long-awaited night train to Sicily this evening. I quickly buy a tasty focaccia for the journey and I am ready.

That focaccia will remain untouched for the next few hours, because I strike up a lively conversation with my fellow passenger Marco. He is 62 and is on his way to Bologna, where he is also from. I ask him if he was on holiday in Milan, but he had been visiting his "grande amore". As a born romantic, I naturally want to know everything about this. Apparently, he had recently run into an uncle of his first childhood sweetheart. He had sent her his regards, they reconnected on Facebook, cautiously arranged to meet, and what do you know: it was love at first sight! I absolutely love stories like that. It just goes to show, even people over 60 can still be head over heels in love... :)


Upon arriving in Rome, I stock up on provisions for the long train ride to Sicily. I don't expect a dining car on board and I want to avoid getting "hangry"... ;) So off to the supermarket for some bread, milk, cheese, salami, fruit, jam, fruit juice... Anyway, enough food to feed a small army.

The sun is slowly setting and I'm quickly taking a photo of those "1000 terraces in Rome"... ;)



Meanwhile, the station in Rome is slowly starting to empty out. Now it is a matter of waiting for the 11:30 PM night train. I find it all quite exciting, and I am treating myself to a real feast at McDonald's (when in Rome...). It stays open until midnight, so that works out well.


And then the big moment has arrived. The train has rolled into the station and we can finally board. All aboard!



And yes indeed, gallant men, they still exist... ;)



I get in and go looking for my bed for tonight. Very curious!



I settle into my compartment and get acquainted with my fellow passengers. I am eager to depart, but my patience is tested for "a little while" (read: an hour and a half). The police are conducting some investigation or other; not many details are being released. But look, around 1:30, the train finally starts moving slowly:



Today's itinerary:



Ciao, ciao Roma. Sicily, here I come!





 
 
 

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