Benson trying to tell me about the nuances of dry food versus wet food.
Another day out and about in this world, and another day of moving one. My 8 day house sit in Abruzzo has come to an end. One funny thing that happened, which I still don’t know the outcome to, is on Sunday, I went to put some gas in my car before my journey to Pietracamela. Well here in Italy, they have these self-service 24 hour machines. You put money in and choose the tank you are using and then fill up. Well I put money in the machine, all the while trying to read the directions in Italian, and pressed #1 for my gas station, and went to fill up my tank. Well the machine didn’t reset itself, so I went back to the machine to try and figure out what was going on. Of course at this time a whole bunch of people started pulling up and wanting to fill up and use the machine. This all got me a little nervous as I didn’t want to hold anyone up nor look like I didn’t know what I was doing.
I have no idea what this sign means, it is right before Bascianella and I see it everyday as I walk Benson. But it makes me laugh.
So I am going back and forth between my car and the machine and trying to explain to the men – yup all men – that the machine ate my money. They are trying to tell me how to use the machine and I say yes, that is what I did, but it ate my money. This goes on for a bit and then an older man, Sergio, tells me to come back the next day when the gas station is open, he will meet me there and vouch for what happened. So off I go to Pietracamela, without any extra gas (but I am fine).
The colourful patchwork of the fields throughout the valleys in Abruzzo - this is near where I was staying.
Anyway, I go back the next day, having used google translate to print out what I need to say to the people at the gas station since no one speaks English in Italy. I wait for a bit, but Sergio doesn’t show up. So I decide to just try and talk to them. Oddly enough, I am nervous and when I am nervous I start shaking. I hate that about me. A person can feel very vulnerable and stupid when you can’t speak a language or be understood. So I read to a guy what I have translated. We go back and forth to try and clarify what happened. He prints off the activity from the day before but there is no evidence of my lost 20 euro. He pulls up the video and we watch as I drive in and try the machine etc… As soon as I put my money in and pressed the button, I go to my car and immediately behind me a man walks up to the machine and uses it. You see me return to the machine trying to figure out what happened. Well the guy tries to tell me that this man who came up behind me likely used my 20 euro. They get the waitress from next door who speaks french to tell me what they think happened. Well she speaks french but with an Italian accent so I am having difficulty understanding her and getting all confused between languages. But I understand that they are saying there is nothing they can do. They keep saying something about coming by again but I don’t get it.
This is actually steeper than what the picture shows. It is crazy what these Italians will do with their tractors.
Anyway, yesterday I go to fill up. The guy serving me was there from the day I came in to try and explain. So he starts telling me something about my 20 euro and asking everybody around if anyone speaks English since I am not understanding what he is trying to say. It seems like he is trying to tell me that they will give me my money back but again he is saying to come back tomorrow. Repasso domani. I got that much. So this time I am armed. I contacted an Italian in Pescara who speaks English and have told him that I will be calling him when I get to the station so he can translate for me. As I am leaving today, this is the last chance to get to the bottom of this. What a hoot and an adventure. I just wish I spoke the damn language!!
Bye bye.
Inside my house sit. Funky place
First of all, I loooove that picture of Benson. He reminds me of a cartoon dog, but I cannot remember the name.at the moment. If there is no cartoon dog like him, Benson should be one, don’t you think?
I also wonder what that road sign means, but it does make one smile. Actually, it appears to be a sad face…. 🙁
More importantly, did you get your 20 Euros back? I hope so.
Judging from your descripton of the Italian people, they seem to be very helpful and patient with tourists (except for the guy using your money to gas up).
Yes – Benson was very cartooney! No I did not get my 20 euros back unfortunately. I went by but the guy told me that they couldn’t give me the money – oh well. You live and learn.
Afterthought:
Wishing you a HAPPY CANADA DAY! from far away…By the way, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrived yesterday in Ottawa. I thought you might like to know. 🙂
Thanks. Yes I knew they were coming. I am a royalist at heart so I think that is great.
I guess you never did manage to sort it out and you cannot return tomorrow – right!!! You will have to learn how to work the machines – or learn Italian – you are good with languages. Unfortunately though there are so many different dialect is Italy. The only one that is considered a language is Friuli.
I did go back the next day, but they could not give me the money back. Oh well. Moving on.