(no subject)
Day 20 - 27 October 2008.
I got off the ferry and hopped on a train at the Ancona Maritima station after asking the guy if it goes to the main Ancona station. I asked him how much and he wouldn't answer. That's because it was 2km away. I asked at the main station for the cheapest train to Milan and he told me at 10:35 via Parma. It's a little over 6 hours total, but for less than 22 euros. I don't mind that it left me no time to see Ancona because I don't think there is anything there anyway. I grabbed some breakfast while waiting and hopped on the train when I could. I charged my laptop since it apparently had turned itself on yesterday and run the battery out while in my backpack.
The train kept getting fuller as it went along. I went from having 4 seats to one for myself and 2 backpacks, and the overhead luggage thing wouldn't even fit my little backpack. I got off the train at Parma, called Jose and got on the train to Milan. It was getting foggier and colder as the day went on. I got to Milan and it was quite cold and very damp. I kinda figured I'll need to buy a jacket or a light coat.
I opted to walk to my hotel. That was stupid. I walked a long way and missed the damn thing--having walked right past it--and no one that I asked could even recognize the name. Finally, these ladies in a pastry shop said it had to be back the way I came. So, I started walking back and on the next block I found it. I completely missed it the first time. I checked in to enjoy only having to pay 82 euros for four night's lodging. I'm in a 6 bed female dorm and I have one roommate. I asked the owner if he suggests any cheap restaurants. He gave me the business card to get 10% off at the restaurant down the street. I unpacked (for the last time, yay!) and went to eat. But it was closed. So, I hit up the ATM and went looking for another place. Now, Italians have their way of things, but food is the most confusing thing they do. What I gathered in my first evening:
There are "Caffè bar" places. They serve coffee and booze, pastries and panini (of a limited variety) and are open at all hours. The thing to do at breakfast is order an espresso and drink it there standing at the counter and go on your way. Most places have tables, but most Italians move too quickly for that.
There are "Bar" places that serve the same as the "Caffè bar" places except not the breakfast items because they aren't open that early.
There are "Tavola fredda" places. They serve antipasto things, I think. I haven't gone in one because I like hot food; not cold.
There are "Tavola caldo" places. These seem to have a fixed price menu of first plate, second plate, contorno (usually a vegetable side), and dolce (dessert). There are usually 5 to 10 choices for first and second plates and fewer for the other courses. These tend to offer this menu only at "mezzogiorno"--lunch time.
There are "Paninoteca" places. As the name suggests, they serve panini at all hours, it seems.
There are "Pizzeria" places. As their name suggests, they serve pizza and regular meals (in Italy this means several courses chosen separately like the tavola calda places).
There are "Ristorante" places. These seem to open only for dinner at 7 or 8 most often.
There are "Caffè" places that vary their menu. It can be more like a "Tavola calda" thing or what we Americans would call a cafe.
I still haven't worked out this whole food thing completely. It's quite annoying. So, I settled on the Chinese place downstairs and they didn't even offer me the chinese portion of the menu. So, I ate a pizza. I didn't want to eat pizza in Italy, but oh well. I was tired of looking. It had shrimp and I guess arugula on it (rucola in Italian). I came back to go to sleep early. My roommate came in and went straight to bed and woke before dawn without saying a word.
I got off the ferry and hopped on a train at the Ancona Maritima station after asking the guy if it goes to the main Ancona station. I asked him how much and he wouldn't answer. That's because it was 2km away. I asked at the main station for the cheapest train to Milan and he told me at 10:35 via Parma. It's a little over 6 hours total, but for less than 22 euros. I don't mind that it left me no time to see Ancona because I don't think there is anything there anyway. I grabbed some breakfast while waiting and hopped on the train when I could. I charged my laptop since it apparently had turned itself on yesterday and run the battery out while in my backpack.
The train kept getting fuller as it went along. I went from having 4 seats to one for myself and 2 backpacks, and the overhead luggage thing wouldn't even fit my little backpack. I got off the train at Parma, called Jose and got on the train to Milan. It was getting foggier and colder as the day went on. I got to Milan and it was quite cold and very damp. I kinda figured I'll need to buy a jacket or a light coat.
I opted to walk to my hotel. That was stupid. I walked a long way and missed the damn thing--having walked right past it--and no one that I asked could even recognize the name. Finally, these ladies in a pastry shop said it had to be back the way I came. So, I started walking back and on the next block I found it. I completely missed it the first time. I checked in to enjoy only having to pay 82 euros for four night's lodging. I'm in a 6 bed female dorm and I have one roommate. I asked the owner if he suggests any cheap restaurants. He gave me the business card to get 10% off at the restaurant down the street. I unpacked (for the last time, yay!) and went to eat. But it was closed. So, I hit up the ATM and went looking for another place. Now, Italians have their way of things, but food is the most confusing thing they do. What I gathered in my first evening:
There are "Caffè bar" places. They serve coffee and booze, pastries and panini (of a limited variety) and are open at all hours. The thing to do at breakfast is order an espresso and drink it there standing at the counter and go on your way. Most places have tables, but most Italians move too quickly for that.
There are "Bar" places that serve the same as the "Caffè bar" places except not the breakfast items because they aren't open that early.
There are "Tavola fredda" places. They serve antipasto things, I think. I haven't gone in one because I like hot food; not cold.
There are "Tavola caldo" places. These seem to have a fixed price menu of first plate, second plate, contorno (usually a vegetable side), and dolce (dessert). There are usually 5 to 10 choices for first and second plates and fewer for the other courses. These tend to offer this menu only at "mezzogiorno"--lunch time.
There are "Paninoteca" places. As the name suggests, they serve panini at all hours, it seems.
There are "Pizzeria" places. As their name suggests, they serve pizza and regular meals (in Italy this means several courses chosen separately like the tavola calda places).
There are "Ristorante" places. These seem to open only for dinner at 7 or 8 most often.
There are "Caffè" places that vary their menu. It can be more like a "Tavola calda" thing or what we Americans would call a cafe.
I still haven't worked out this whole food thing completely. It's quite annoying. So, I settled on the Chinese place downstairs and they didn't even offer me the chinese portion of the menu. So, I ate a pizza. I didn't want to eat pizza in Italy, but oh well. I was tired of looking. It had shrimp and I guess arugula on it (rucola in Italian). I came back to go to sleep early. My roommate came in and went straight to bed and woke before dawn without saying a word.