By: Elizabeth

We all know travel can be stressful. When we’re away from our comfortable place where we call home, the place where we know the roads, the signs are in our native tongue, we’re familiar with the grocery store layout, know our dry cleaner, where the nail salon is and its hours and have a standing appointment with our hairdresser every six weeks this is familiarity. Familiarity brings a lot of comfort and a definite level of ease.

None of this is true when traveling. And I feel the stresses of not knowing where the nail salon is. However, for me travel brings a sense of adventure, I like the newness of things and the unexplored. I like the puzzle of figuring things out. There are people out there who I haven’t met yet, new foods to enjoy and art and architecture I’ve never seen before that will bring wonder and delight. And the flip side of that is the unexpected and the unpredictable.

After visiting Padua (the town west of our apartment) I attempted to take the bus home. Little did I know there is a ‘special’ ticket office for local buses, so after two unsuccessful attempts to buy a ticket, I decided I’d just board the bus and get a ticket from the driver. No such luck. By the way, bus tickets are just €2.70. So, I walked myself down to the taxi stand to inquire about taking a taxi back to the apartment. €40. Ugh. Okay, I get myself into the cab and to my delight the taxi driver speaks perfect english (he speaks five languages). We chat the entire time. It was like having a private tour director.

Georgio gave me info on the ‘hills’ of Padua (Par o Regionale die Colli Euganei) a good hiking area, then told me about the unique hot springs at the base of the mountains (Abano Terme) where you can visit a hotel on a day pass and take in the natural springs and also get all kinds of spa treatments including mud bath exfoliations. Then he went on to tell me some of the best local restaurants, and then . . . where to get the best prices on Italian wine (his favorite grocery store) — who knew?

Promptly, the next day, Michael and I were out for hike in the Colli Euganei Regional Park and northern Italy’s wine country and the day after that we were at a beautiful Four Star Resort swimming in eight different bubbling pools, getting massages and a facial for me. Best €40 I spent on a 30 minute taxi ride. Thanks Georgio!

Arrivederci

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