Riding the Rails in Italy!

View from the train on our way to Maratea, Italy

It was our second last train of a very long day. We left  7am in the morning and with an estimated arrival in Maratea about 8pm.  It has gone well.
The first train change was more than a little nerve wracking as
we really didn't know if we had it right or not.  We only had 20 minutes to find the next one,  but we did it!
On our way to Scales, I became a little nervous again as it looked like we would have to go past Maratea and double back.  It was a bit of a rush and an adventure, not knowing if we could make ourselves understood when questions arise.
As we rocked along the sun shone a brilliant blue on the water to our left. This is the sea that I had dreamed of seeing for so long.
There have been beautiful views to the east of us, but there has also been a dry dirtiness in much of what we saw. Farmland, more than I ever imagined, with big round bales of hay, and combines working in the field. That was so not what I expected to see...but another surprise.
Things became greener as we made our way south. The train stations were an interesting shock to us, so much active conversation, the excited Italian voices raising above the whir of the trains, and lots and lots of smoke. We've become used to having so many places where you can't smoke, but that is not so the case here. At every stop, cigarettes light up immediately upon departing the train, and the waiting lines are full of the strong, pipey smell of the many cigarettes that people inhale deeply, obviously enjoying.
There also seem to be so many dogs on the platforms. I am surprised, as I don't imagine taking my dog on a train ride would be all that much fun, but many seem to do it here.
What a different world from what we are used to at home!  How wonderful to get to explore it!

---