Day 8

Last night we decided to go to a nice restaurant, and I got to try my latest Italian phrase: “avete piatti vegetariani?” which means, “do you sere vegetarian dishes?” The bowtie-wearing waiters at La Vela Ristorante on the shores of the Mediterranean assured me “sì.” The next question was then, “posso pagare con carta di credito?” or, “do you take credit cards?”
The answer was yes. I had caprese as an appetizer, which consists of fresh tomato slices and fresh mozarella slices seasoned lightly. I also had effervescent mineral water and penne pasta with zucchini as a main course. Total damage: €13. But a nice dining experience overlooking the Mediterranean. 

After dinner, we walked around the lovely little town of Maiori. We watched part of a dance festival celebrating some saint from a window so we didn’t have to pay admission. Then, we visited an art gallery and saw some lovely paintings by an Italian artist so famous (I was told by the gentleman in the gallery) that I can’t remember his name.   

Breakfast this morning was faithfully served by Antonio, and was just as exquisite as yesterday. Great strong coffee and delicious breads. 

I got a nasty surprise this morning when I plugged my Kindle in to charge. Both the Kindle and the iPhone charge from a USB power adapter. I figured that I’d be smart, and to save weight, I only packed the USB adapter for the iPhone. I brought both cables because they have different ends. Big mistake. I plugged the Kindle in with 50% charge before breakfast. When I checked it about an hour later, it had actually DIScharged. It was now at 25%. I looked at the little charging light on the bottom, and it was flashing amber. Solid amber means it’s charging. All I can think of is that the iPhone adapter isn’t providing enough current to charge it, and the adapter shuts off, then comes back on repeatedly. Each time you plug in or unplug the kindle, the e-ink screen updates to reflect its charging status, which uses power. I think that’s how it drained. 

That’s interesting, because before I left, I looked at the current output ratings for the Kindle charger and the iPhone, and the iPhone charger was rated to output more current. Maybe the initial spike in current from starting charging is the issue. 

To make a log story short, I stopped by a little electronics store with the cable in hand, and am now the proud owner of a Italian-plug USB power adapter and a cigarette lighter plug USB adapter for €10. I know it was a rip, but it’s worth having my reading material… assuming it works, which it doesn’t. At all. I have the Kindle plugged into the hotel computer’s USB port. We will see if that will do anything.   

I know regular books never need their batteries charged and are cheaper than the charger I bought, so save it. 

We hopped the SITA bus again to get to a train station. The girls wanted to see the rest of the coast, so we rode the €6 thrill ride all the way to Sorrento, then hopped on the train from there. The pictures will tell the story; see the last post about the SITA bus. Nothing changed except more turns and faster speeds. 

So we are sitting on the Circumvesuviana train heading from Sorrento to Napoli, and this little kid comes walking down the aisle with cigarette lighters, fans, and other assorted crap. He asked this lady (dumb American tourist, actually… but at this point I was still giving her the benefit of the doubt) if she would like to by anything. DAT replied “quanto?” which is “how.” Now, probably what she meant was “quanto costa?” which is “how much?” He didn’t understand. Or, pretended not to understand. Either one is equally likely. DAT proceeds to yell “HOW MUCH?” Because we all know that when trying to cross a language barrier, an increase in volume is key. The kid replies “one.” as if that’s not clear enough, the DAT screams back, “one? one EURO?” No, woman. One dollar. One pound. One yen. One wigwam buck. One of anything other than the official currency of the COUNTRY that you are IN. 

DAT says to her travel companions, “Awwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!! He’s sooooooooo cuuuuuuuuuute!!!!!” and “How can you RESIST that FACE?” Please note “cute” was pronounced “KEEEEE-yooooooot.”  Well, call us cold and calloused, but we resisted. By this point, we know she’s been suckered. I’m expecting her to reach into her pocket and pull out a euro coin for the fan and call it good. I would be wrong. DAT proceeds to pull out her WHOLE WALLET which is stuffed, and I mean STUFFED with the currency which she can’t seem to understand. From across the train, we counted well over €800. We will give you a hint, DAT. It’s not in there. It’s a coin.   

And I know that if I saw it from here, the boy saw her wad of cash that she was fanning. And called his friends. To make a long story short, I think she’d probably better spend that pretty quickly, because she’s not going to have it much longer. 

Why are you buying a fan, woman? You already have one in your wallet that you unabashedly use. 

That is going to be the most expensive piece of crap she has ever bought. 

What a DAT. Now I know two things:
1) Events like that spark street crime and theft. 
2) All you have to do is be smarter than the DAT.

It’s like the story of the two guys running from the bear. For John to get away from the bear, he doesn’t have to run faster than the bear, just faster than Dave.    

From there we got on the Trenitalia train to Roma Termini. In Rome, we boarded the Metro subway and walked the rest of the way to our hotel. We are supposed to leave our key card in a slot in the room to turn on the lights and air conditioner. I promptly realize that it’s just a little switch–it doesn’t matter what card is in it as long as something is. 

For dinner, we asked at the front desk for a supermart, thinking we would get something and bring it back. The lying sack of crap named Simone at the desk sent us to a Supermercato all right… One that looks like it’s been closed for 10 years. 

We found another one and had a great time shopping. The girls settled on cheese, crackers, and tomato sauce with grape juice. Turns out when we got back that the grape juice was actually grape vinegar.

To pay Simone back for his wonderful suggestion, we went by the breakfast area and stole honey, jam, toasted bread-like stuff, and a spoon (which we will return tomorrow).  

I had a Coke, granola bar, and Nutella snack. I purchased three Fererro Rocher pistachio confections, one for each of us.

And the only thing on the one English channel on TV is Michael Jackson’s funeral. 

It’s okay. We will eat them out of house and home for breakfast. 

Life lessons:
1) Don’t be a DAT. 
2) Stay around DATs, but pack light so you can outmaneuver them.
3) If you talk to a DAT, you become a DAT. Kind of like the Borg. Ignore them and pretend not to speak English if necessary.
4) Bring all of your chargers with you.
5) Don’t listen to guys named Simone.   

I thought:
We are at a Holiday Inn Express tonight. It’s nice to have free wireless instead of having to bum it.

Actually:
We are at a Holiday Inn Express tonight. I’m going to have to pony up €3 for an hour of wireless or bum it on the street.