"southern italy is beautiful but just sucks so hard" -jc

5:41am - wake up bright n' early. bright n' dark. chug some chunky banana yogurt drink popi made with some leftover brown bananas and a tub of yogurt we needed to use before leaving for our 5 day trip. the night before we basically ate everything perishable among our three apartments. until we couldn't eat anymore. no waste. 

6:30 - the time we are meant to leave on the bus. the time we left our apartment. we're on italian time.

7 - arrive at the parma train station to pick up the other students. everyone’s sleepy-eyed. it’s bright out and i can’t determine if i’ll be able to sleep on the bus and should bother trying or if i should try to take in some of the scenery. 

8:21 - trying to sleep, head on the seat, eye mask blocking out the bright morning sun, hear a popping noise from under the bus, think to myself: that cannot be good. but the bus goes on. 

8:26 - the bus slows to a stop. the bus is still on the highway, but stalled on the triangular white lines that direct the off ramp. typical italian move. can’t sleep anyways so i decide to enjoy the countryside views. 

9:12 - the bus pulls into a service station in Anzolla d’Emilia. we drove an hour out of the way to stop for at least an hour -which in italian time means at least an hour and a half or two hours. we walk along and pass the Gelato University of Carpigiani which i tell Popi there is a reason why the bus broke down - she has found her future calling! we walk more until we find a cafe at a gas station. we sit in the sun as the people who work in the gas station cafe take phone photos of us, never seeing so many people just sitting on the side walk with nothing to do and nowhere to go. we are all dreading the thought of the hours on the bus ahead of us but i am quite content with the thought that i am in italy - with no responsibilities, taking whatever comes at me as an experience/adventure and just going with the flow. 

11:07 - back on the bus, back on the road. we would’ve been nearly there if we were on the plane (we haven't even passed bolognia yet where the airport is).

                                

2:23pm - back on the bus again after our lunch break at the autogrill - the italian version of a highway stop. in america, a roadtrip meal usually involves unhealthy fast food - mcdonalds rules the highway. but this was the nicest, healthiest gas station restaurant i have seen - salad bar, fresh fruit, cured meat plates and chunks of cheese, made to order meats and pastas, mini bottles of wine...the bus continues along, passing through the Tuscan hills patterened by many shades of green, rows of cyprus trees and big square country homes with red tiled roofs. we pass through Lazio and see a cute little towns built on top of hills which must have impressive views. further on, as the sun sets, mount vesuvius captures our attention with talks of the ancient volcanic eruption as well as the current icelandic one that has determined this trip via bus. we see an airplane cross the contrail-clear sky. we play cards with five different nationalities trying to determine the rules of the same game.

7:42 - another autogrill dinner. more of a cafe with choices of marinated vegetables, cured meats, and cheese to make paninis. “unfortunately” we see a map on the wall with our current location in Campagnia. we are nowhere near the southern tip of italy. 

8:27 - we must have at least another 5 hours of driving. 

9:03 - jules, with his newly established position on the floor of the bus, wakes up soaking. i had joined him and we were sharing a pillow in the middle row of the bus, with legs in opposite directions as the bumpy feel of the road below us rocks us to sleep.

2:25am - finally in bed, on the bottom bunk, in my sleeping cocoon bag protecting me from the scratchy felt blanket (thank you, mum). happy to be in a bed and not on a bus seat or floor, but have to be up in 5 hours. 

** note on the title quote: the bus trip wasn't so bad overall - a little longer than anyone would have ever wanted, and probably not want to do again, but for our first trip together, i think it put a lot of things in perspective and from what i know, everyone got along and got to know each other better. if we can survive this, we can survive whatever comes our way.