Ora è il momento: Pogliano a Mare

Once again, the story begins with a grueling hot trek to our destination. In the end, it was all worth it. What happened on the train ride from Rome to Puglia is the air conditioning was broken in the train, so the temperature was unbearable (no windows). Now, I understand that Americans are known to have particular expectations for comfort…but this was not one of these circumstances. In fact almost everyone on the train was complaining. Picture a train completely packed with angry Italians, in 100 degree weather, without air conditioning…there were lots of hand gestures happening. Everyone was fanning themselves and sweating profusely. Lisa and I didn’t know if we were going to make it since we had to be on the train 5 hours. So about an hour into the train ride, everyone on the train was pretty much freaking out. In fact, there was a young Italian guy who had a full out panic attack. He fainted and had to be carried off the train by 3 or 4 other Italian men. So now we’re talking about hundreds of people on the train who are all complaining about the heat (including older people with health conditions), and a person who is now receiving medical assistance, and the attendants on the train kept repeating “it’s ok…the air conditioning will work”. I couldn’t help cracking up over the difference in customer service between America and Italy. When our train stopped at the next stop, the police came on the train. They took the man who had a panic attack off the train. Then, they looked around the train, and said “ok…no problema..”. There were a group of Italians complaining to the TrenItalia attendants about the heat and she just responded, “listen there’s nothing I can do…we called the police and they said it’s fine. The mechanic can’t come to fix the air conditioning… I can’t do anything else.. ok let’s go”. Lisa and I immediately said to each other how this would NEVER happen in America. Mainly because it would mean a lawsuit, and a newspaper article the next day and the company would go out of business. Very interesting how there is such a difference in customer service…. In America, the customer is always entitled to safety, comfort, etc. But…no…not in Italy.

Anyways, it doesn’t matter about the ride over because the past few days in Pogliano a Mare have been nothing but incredible. Fantastico. We have been enjoying relaxing, spending time at the beach, and meeting new friends. The friends that we have made here (in 2 days) have been so nice, so hospitable, and very fun. We somehow ended up seeing the nicest apartment in the town- right on the water. We also ate at the nicest restaurant in Pogliano a Mare...we are very lucky girls! I’m trying very hard to speak Italian well, which is happening out of necessity. Lisa is doing lots of translating for me, but I am mainly able to get my point across even if it is not the correct grammar, etc. The friends we have met have been very gracious with speaking Italian slowly for me, or speaking some English if necessary. We understand each other somehow.

I will let these pictures speak for themselves. Polignano a Mare has beautiful and relaxing beaches that are so natural. We swam in the Adriatic Sea..lots of rocks to maneuver but the water was clear and salty..and it made our hair/skin super soft and shiny! No wonder why Italians are so beautiful..

Our next location is Lecce. We will be there for the next week. We are renting a car and will travel to the other towns and beaches nearby. We’re looking forward to meeting up with Lisa’s friends and their families. Could not ask for more from this trip so far….. let the adventures continue!