Torino here i come

Starled, i wake up in a room with 8 other people to an alarm blaring, the lights of the phone dancing to the sweet melody of high piched beeps, bops, and boops. Its still pitch black outside and some dingus wont stop that alarm. I am still groggy and not fully aware of where i am, oh no thats my alarm. As i sit up slightly stupid a thousand thoughts rush to my head; the first, I am late for work at Full City, but as i realize im not home this fear fades; second, somethings wrong at home, but soon enough i remember that no one knows my phone number; third, the train thats right i am taking the 6am train to save 10 euro, what was i thinking? I grab the phone as fast as my arm can reach the bedside table, but its all for not, nearly the entire room has woken up before me, all i can whisper is a muffled "sorry" which no one understands anyway. My bag is packed so all i have to do is put on my pants and shirt that i left out. after a quick hike across town and a quick 7 hour train experience (*note- i think so far on the trains i have wound up in a different city than i intended every time but once) which should have been 3, i find myself at the hostel checking in.

Walking through Torino i am slightly reminded of home, its right next to the mountains in the middle of the forest. This city is magnificent, my favorite city thus far. It's so raw and authentic and everything that italy should be, its got to be the most real italian city there is. as these thoughts are going through my head and i walk through the city with a stupid smile on my face and my camera in my hand, and i start noticing all this Japanese writing on the walls. I soon come to notice that everyone around me is Japanese, they are all speaking Japanese, and i am in little Japan. Ahead of me a truck is unloading 50lb bags of rice and a bunch of people are smoking outside of a restaurant called 'hot wok'. Surrounded by people i realize that i am trapped and this is not quite the most hospitable part of town. I am approached by a man with a mountain bike

"hey you need this"?

"what"?

"this, you need this" the man looks over his shoulder "come on really cheap"

"No, no i dont need that sir"

"What about something else, come on, you smoke"?

"No i dont but thanks a million"!

As these last words flee my mouth i am running down the sidewalk "thanks a lot sir". And i am gone. Just a nice man trying to sell a bike who could blame him, i wasn't running from him, i just had to... catch the bus, ya thats it. As i got on the bus and back to my hostel i relaxed, as a beautiful dinner approached.

A Delayed Reaction

Italy at last, after much ado and talk of adventure here I am face to face with this reality; I am in the midst of a world unknown full of liberty and unwritten stories, and as I step off of the plane and look around it still hasn't hit me, it is really just another day in the live, but then I begin walking these roman streets, the nostalga, the history, the language, and all of the sudden I am struck by a barrage of feelings. I come to the realization that I am incredibly tired, alone/ lonely, hungry, thirsty, and have absolutely no plans on where i will be staying for the next month, but worse, i don't even know where i will be staying for that night! Panic ensues and before I realize it I am sweating, this is due to the heat and humidity but in my sleep deprived stuper it appears as though I am sick or something.

Pull it together Williams, What would Bear Grils do? First things first, i must find water. As Bear has taught me when in survival mode first gain you bearings (I know I'm in Italy), then water, food, and shelter. I take my trusted Klean Kanteen and stick it under the faucet close to a nearby fountain, the water looks good enough to me. I pour half a liter down my parched throat as my body swiftly absorbs that glorious H2O. Hydrated I begin my search for food, but where could I catch some game or forage in this place? Ah yes! The sandwich shop across the street. After a nice ham and mozzerella panino i begin my search for shelter. A brief search through the world wide web has led my to a hostel in Perugia, the city i dtudied in two years ago. A train in an hour, not a problem for a seasoned traveler like me, getting there and boarding won't be a problem at all.

As i rush across town to the train station I am trying to catch the 3 o'clock train; however, that water from the fountain has made for quite the disturbed stomach, the fountain water was a bad choice. Can i make it to the station? Nope, gotta find a bathroom and fast! This place looks clean enough, but i have to buy gelato first? 2:40, i should have enough time. After i choke down some gelato and use the facilities i bolt. Arriving at the station i say "hello, i would like one ticket to Perugia", "you just missed it, here is your 4 o'clock ticket". Damn you fountain water! I might as well waste some time around the terminal. Whats the time? 3:40, I had better get to the right loading dock, but whats this, its running late? not till 4:15? I guess I'll just wait a bit, but no that cant be right, Oh crap i was looking at the arrivals! 2 minutes till departure, oh shit! i frantically run to the other side of the terminal and as I am no less that 15feet away, the doors close as an unrelenting iron curtain and no matter of banging and begging is going to open them. It is here in which my delirium comes to rest and I realize that I am just tired and want to go to bed. This clarity comes and I feel totally deflated. After two more hours of waiting in the terminal I board the correct train, arrive in Perugia, and walk across town in the dark to my hostel.

As I fear I wont be able to sleep I wake up some 12 hours later with a revitalized spirit, Italy here I come!!!!