Sort of random notes

Before I offer details on my most recent travels, here are some random thoughts

How I’m feeling: lucky to do this. Starting to realize this is life not just me being a tourist. It’s a very different mindset that my “job” is to absorb as much as possible . If I think of myself as a sponge I am much better mentally.

My budget/finances are also pretty on point. Recording my expenses every day and where I stand against my budget has really kept me from splurging on anything. But I also I’m trying not to obsess about it every day

I never thought I’d say this, but I miss to-go coffee in a big paper cup steaming hot. I find the cappuccinos here to be tepid and kind of boring. But also a cappuccino is 1.60eu

Pastry are the ONLY options for breakfast in this country. I had a delicious donut but Soo much sugar! I bought granola and yogurt to have at the house. Both are delicious. I also never thought I’d miss eggs but now I do.

I’m doing awesome. Transportation is the hardest so far reading the train schedules even with Trenitalia app is challenging. There are different types of trains. They run in both directions on the same track. They are called the same thing, the trains that pull into the station aren’t identified. It’s not easy. I did get on going in the wrong direction one time, but it only delayed me an hour and I took it fairly in stride. I had been traveling along the coast so that made things a little easier, but as soon as the train went inland, I was unsure which direction I even needed to go, so I’ll get better at that. The bus in Fano is just a loop local loop so far that’s gone well but when I went to take it the first day I’ll be honest I didn’t even know which way town was. I’m not sure why as I’ve studied Google maps endlessly, but in practice the first time everything is a little harder. I’ve been driving a car exclusively for 40 years so I need to give myself some grace. I’m considering renting a car next weekend just to be able to see the countryside and be independent. I don’t want to go far. I just want to go where I want.

I lied, language is the hardest thing, but since I’m not getting better at that yet, I’ll have to discuss it later.

I’m not fully ready to talk about my role and the Workaway concept and the family I’m living with yet either. .They are lovely. The mom is very very busy with two kids. Everyone was sick this week so the schedule was not as expected, and I did a lot more than I think I normally will .

Back to London, some thoughts I missed

It’s not the tube anymore? Maybe it’s just because I didn’t speak to anyone, but I didn’t hear it called that. Also, I took the double-decker bus as the tourist that I was for 48 hours and it was wonderful.

I did hear them say Mind the gap ! for the first time ever. Sadly, whenever I hear that phrase, it reminds me of Hannah falling into the gap. Terrifying.

The level of Middle Eastern influence in London is remarkable. Lebanese Kuwaiti, and Turkish food all in one block. I’d love to eat in them all and try and figure out what the difference is. What is Kuwaiti food?

I made a conscious effort every time I approached an intersection to look - right left right instead of -left right left, as we do. It’s still really disorienting. I think they park in the wrong direction just to fuck with everyone who’s not from here. Also I kept thinking cars are driverless when there is no one in the left driver seat

Church Bells are ringing here at 7:45 AM. I’m not sure why but I’m guessing it’s calling people to church? It’s Sunday morning.Heading out to see some incredible stuff in Ravenna Italy. That’ll be my next post. I love it. here. Bologna was great but felt poorly cared for. One thing I noted that made a huge difference is at dusk in the downtown Beautiful street lights came on everywhere.More on this later.

Time wins as the most valuable luxury.

The captions to these photos did not print.

LibraryNapping/reading chair I love. One eyed man and his angry cat.beautiful old brick work. another amazing church. pretty Italian girls. Bottomless cabinet for drip drying dishes . built in stools.

Also Random Sorry if there are dupes (as is my nature, I’m not looking back)