Before I start blogging about life in Macerata, which is where I am now, I just wanted to share a couple of random things from the trip here. Things that happened, people that I met and so on. Sometimes I have to just wonder what my life would be like if I never opened my mouth to speak with the people around me; so much less interesting I imagine…
Melbourne to Doha: Well this was a 14+ hour trip, the longest stretch I’ve ever had in one go. And at about the 13.5 hour mark, I discovered the lady sitting next to me actually works at the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, the place I’ll be starting at when I get back to Melbourne. I’ll be in the same building as her, and I didn’t even ask her name :o) Talk about coincidences!
Doha to Rome: Ok the first cool thing on this flight was the breakfast. I had just been served breakfast at the end of the Melbourne-Doha flight, and disdainfully refused the hot food (either omelette or frittata, both of which resembled half-cooked egg and mushroom swimming in oil) but for whatever reason we were getting served breakfast again. Anyway so the flight attendant asks me what I want, he’s going through the options and I’ve actually got my mouth open ready to say no-thanks-I-don’t-want-any-hot-food-just-the-croissant-thanks-and-could-I-have-two-please when he finished with saying they have chocolate pancakes. I literally went “You’ve got WHAT??!!” (I think half the plane must have heard me). He repeated, “Chocolate pancakes with cream.” My jaw nearly hit the floor!! Anyway I obviously ordered that and it was just indescribable! I’ve never had something so good on a plane, you could almost say it was life-changing! Definitely a memorable experience.
So anyway after that I was stretching my legs at the back of the plane when a woman came up with the most adorable baby. I took it off her at once and had a lovely hold while chatting to the mother, an Italian who has lived in Melbourne for 5 years. All the flight attendants were coming up to me trying to tempt the baby away with various food and toys, but to no avail, she stayed with me until turbulence started and I had to give her up <sigh>.
Rome to Cagliari: I was almost dead with exhaustion by this time, but I was still able to see the humour in this flight. The plane took off and climbed steeply for about 20 minutes. Then it levelled out and the seatbelt sign came off. Instantly all the flight attendants sprang into action. They pulled out their little metal trolleys and literally raced down the aisle (one from each end) asking the passengers “Qualcosa-da-bere? Qualcosa-da-bere? Qualcosa-da-bere?” (Something to drink?) They poured all the drinks at full speed with unbelievable accuracy. I don’t think they spilled a drop – I’ve never seen anything like it. They then hurtled back down the aisle collecting the rubbish, and the second they got to the end the seatbelt sign was back on and we were descending. At 45 minutes or something it is definitely the shortest flight I’ve ever taken.
Cagliari to Rome: This trip was pretty similar to the above. I hadn’t slept much in Sardinia due to jetlag, which meant I was still pretty tired when I got onto the plane, and so of course the first thing I did was sit in the wrong seat (9E instead of 9B). However, when it was discovered they didn’t get me to move, and I’m so glad because I ended up sitting next to the most lovely girl #MartinaFromSardinia who was heading to England to study for her third year. We had an enjoyable conversation, and took a photo when we arrived at the airport to remember it :)
Rome to Macerata (bus): This was just really random. I got on the bus at the first stop. At the next stop a bunch of people got on, and a group of three sat next to me and across from me. As soon as they opened their mouths it was very clear that they were Australian. Nice, friendly and talkative. I guess it was just another one of those coincidences… :o)
