Roman Adventure

“IS that the bag with the money?” he asked, through a gruff voice and glint in his eye. I stood there shocked, arm outreached, heart frozen, as he grasped for my backpack and hurled it away. “No…” I whispered weakly, but as the door slammed, it was gone and it was too late. I had now, unfortunately, sealed my fate.

…

Less than an hour before, I was wandering around Rome Fiumicino Airport, fresh off the plane from 31-hour journey. Brisbane, Singapore, Amsterdam, Rome. After three legs, three stopovers, and a little more than three beverages, I had made it – and, in my opinion, only looked a tad worse for wear.

It was my first trip to Europe. After passing through security, I made a beeline for baggage, almost breaking into a light jog on the way. I was so eager and excited to start my travels. One hour, two hours, three hours passed, not a bag in sight. I lay sprawled across the airport floor, my handbag a pillow.

No air-conditioning, no fans, and temperatures soaring beyond 42 degrees (Celsius). “Ugh, could I have picked a worse month?” I complained to myself, while downing the last drop of water my bottle contained.

Four hours strong, I looked over to my neighbour. A glimmer of hope had crossed his face. Next minute, all-round cheering had started. I jumped to my feet. At last! The carousel was turning and my backpack had arrived. Though not in the same state as I checked it, unzipped and clothes tousled.

“You really need to lock your bag, what IF someone tampers with it? I’ll go and buy you a lock darling, just hold on a minute,” replayed in my head. My mothers last words as I waved goodbye. Hmm, I guess sometimes mum really does know best.

Making my way to the buses, the trains and then the taxies, my broken attempt at Italian was just not going to cut it. Not a single person spoke English, or so they had me believe.

Frustrated, tired, and sweating beyond comprehension, “I need to go to the city,” I yelled to anyone that would listen. “Miss, I can take you,” responded a driver on the curb. As I stood there ready to pass him my bags, arm outreached…

…

“IS that the bag with the money?” he asked.

“Don’t worry,” he said, with a wink of the eye. I’m only joking, relax. I’ll get you to the city safely.