Go Figure

In the days leading up to my half way done with living in Naples, things got a little crazy. Not horrible crazy, more like the of course this is happening right now. Long story short- my car window got smashed in hours before I left for Munich this past weekend. I think the phone call to my extended family celebrating Thanksgiving in Napa went something like:

Hey mom! Happy Thanksgiving. Things are good, but my car was broken into. They grabbed my GPS and keys. The GPS doens't work most days so good riddance, but yeah, they have my keys. My gate clicker, the pedestrian door, my alarm sensor, and yeah, both keys to my house. Call someone? It's 4am out here. 

No dad, my home address isn't listed as home in the GPS and I'm pretty sure nothing had my address written on it...I don't even know my physical address most days. Already called my landlord in NJ to have him relay the message to his parents since I'll be on on plane when it's a decent hour to call. And yeah, my house is about 20 miles away from here. 

All I know is I now have another check in the box for my Naples check list. It's sad, but true, that pretty much we all head over here knowing that at some point we're going to get robbed. Guess it was my time. Poor Ravi has had a rough year, but in the scheme of things it wasn't bad. My car was still there. My purse wasn't snatched. I still have all my IDs (as in the various forms I have, not different names). And perhaps most important- all my locks were changed within 24 hours and my neighbors all took the time to watch (even more closely) who was coming/going from our "compound."

Another thing that I know without doubt is that my Naples family is absolutely (!!!!) amazing. From my first responders checking out the damage and driving me to the airport at o'dark-thirty, coworkers tracking down phone numbers for me while I'm in Germany, discussing repair options, offering transportation and lodging while it got resolved, changing out locks without even being asked, vacuuming all that glass out of my car (talk about giving blood), to my landlady giving me a hug as soon as she saw me. They have all kept the tears from spilling multiple times and never even hesitated to provide the help I reluctantly asked for.

Even today after meeting the famous Bulion, fabulous because he tracked down my window and replaced it in less than 24 hours, I still had issues. Go figure-right? The main driveway gate didn't want to open. After realizing that it was going to be an issued, I circled the block to try again. Lucky for me two guys were standing on the corner (same 2 guys I gave a look to on round 1 because a) I didn't recognize them and b)they were sort of blocking the space I need to get into the driveway) so when I tried again and failed, they realized I needed help. One went over to the door to "encourage" the slacker door. Several honking cars, my car partially in the "gate" and a stubborn door later, his buddy starts directing traffic through. I kid you not, I'm sure I'm known as la americana in these parts because at this point everyone has a story about me trying to get in my freaking driveway.

So (yeah, we're so not done yet) it's about this time that two neighbors that live downstairs are trying to walk out. Ha. Not happening with my car blocking the exit, and street. Then my landlady has a guest or 2 leaving her house. I kid you not, they say something about the door and then le americane...which last time I checked it's just me, but maybe I heard wrong because at this time I was just laughing at the situation, you know 5 Italians trying to help me and none of them spoke English and I'm an Italian level 4 drop out. So I follow the hand motions and back my car out and wait for the signal to get back into the garage. For those of you who know my drive way, you know that the t-intersection there is anything but fun and it needs to be approached just right. But you know, with full visibility back it's amazing how easy it can be after all these months of practice!

As I drove through the gate, the guy who had been so patient with me passed off my telecomando and I gave him my best grazie and sorriso.

Uffa. As frustrating as these things can be I love the fact that when in Italy, you always know you're going to have an audience and if you're lucky enough they just may be willing to help. Okay, maybe if you're rocking the skirt and boots your chances increase and a smile can never hurt, but what I'm saying is for as much commentary/teasing/whatever you want to call it us Americans have about the Italians, I have yet to meet an Italian that I just don't like. Well, should I ever meet the person(s) who crushed Ravi's window  I may not care for them but we all know I had a hate/hate relationship with that GPS...I probably would have just handed it over if given that option and spared the nightmare of Ravi's repairs. Oh well, guess I have to have a few challenges for all the amazing adventures?

Who wants to bet that I won't have gate troubles tomorrow when I'm leaving for work???


 

100% Real

Over the summer one of my coworkers picked up this really annoying saying that he felt the need to bring back it Italy with him:

Hey, I've got a question. (Long pause) Are you for real?

As annoying as it is to be asked multiple times  a week if "I'm real" or not when I speak words that he often doesn't want to hear, I've found myself asking myself on multiple occasions if this life of mine is real. The funny part about it, I know it is. This is my life and it's all REAL.

Well, today was another "is this really my life" sort of days. It started off by me actually watching the sunrise in my bed (nope, still woke up at 0400 but refused to get up). Ask anyone who has actually be on my patio, the pictures have nothing on the real deal of my view. Over 365 days of watching the sunrise, I'm still caught in awe in the mornings on just how fabulous the sky lights up; especially those mornings when I can watch the stars fade. Totally worth being a minute or two late for work!

Next stop I was headed to the main train station with the Minions' mom to get her back to the minions. As I chose to ignore the GPS for the signs, and then went back to listening to the GPS I realized that I have some trust issues. Well...maybe more like control issues? Seriously. How many times I have written about me and the latest battle with my GPS? Luckily I wasn't solo during this adventure, but with the time crunch to get her to the station in time for the train....we may have flown through Chinatown. Like I told her...I only have one speed here in Italy. It's a tad slow for the autostrade, but in towns it's just fine. Yes. She made it and when I listened to the GPS on the way out, I even recognized where I was. I mean, prision in the middle of town is my landmark for SHOE ALLEY.  But that's tomorrow's adventure.

The final destination of the day was the Cuma ruins. A place I've been wanting to go for about 6 months but due to crummy weather or sheer laziness on the weekends it hasn't happened. For a while we even talked about going after work over the summer, but never made it. But that's okay, because we made it today and couldn't have planned a better fall day to go check out this part of my backyard.

Literally. I drive by this ancient city every day on my way to work. (Pretty cool that I can say that- right?) At any rate, we finally showed up and conquered the city. It was rather amazing to see all that was back there- tunnels, towers, steps all holding the history of this area from a long (long) time ago. Even while playing "use your imagination" to recreate the temples and towers that once stood tall, covered in marble and other stone where only rubble now exists.

As far as the history of the city and everyone who lived/built there is still lost on me and I'll probably pay more attention next time around. Yep. Next time around. With admission being so cheap and giving you enterance to other monuments and ruins in my area of the peninusula, I think I found my new "time to get away and think" place. It's for sure made it to my "we've gotta go check this place out when you're in town" list.