Have bear will run italy - day 2

​For all those movie buffs out there, this summed up my day today. I felt like Rocky...

"Rocky Balboa has taken Ivan Drago's best punches so far. He's cut and he's bleeding but he's on his feet!"
This is what happens when you spend hours on the road by yourself - you end up replaying movie scenes in your head and singing the same lines to songs over and over. 'The Gambler' got a great work out today.

FRIED.
I won't write another thesis today, suffice to say that fatigue has reached my fingers now and typing (and correcting all my mistakes) is becoming a mental challenge!

Today's trip took us past some picturesque villages up in the mountains. Thankfully the trucks didn't follow us up into the mountains. I say 'us' as I have reverted to chatting with The Bear and Lucian now in a bid to hear my own voice. It sounds strange but I haven't had a real conversation with anyone for days now and its starting to play on my mind. Our minds.

My 'real' conversations have been limited to simple phrases like 'Aqua Frizzante?' 'Aqua Naturale?' 'Per favore' and 'Gratze'. I'm actually quite certain Italians can pick up my accent in a split second now. I walk in to any shop, smile and nod - everyone's happy. Then as soon as I say 'Ciao' they stare blankly at me, as if I just swore at them and we revert back to me talking a little louder and slower, pointing and gesturing at the things I want... Quite embarrassing really.

BOOKINGS.
This farcical habit culminated this afternoon with me turning up to my accommodation, where my slow talking and gesturing obviously worked a charm as the gentleman had one of the waitresses sit me in the restaurant as he walked out.

After a few lonely minutes I followed him out - finding him sitting at his desk. So I talked louder this time, using words like 'booking', 'accommodation'. I even used the international symbol for 1 nights board (two hands together, pressed against your cheek, head tilted to the side).

He then proceeded to flash me a big grin and give me a card for a local B&B! All this after a long day of running!
Eventually, and once he realised this tall sweaty mess wasn't going away, he disappeared and came back handing me a mobile phone. On the other end was a lady speaking pigeon English asking if I wanted a nights accommodation...?!
It all turned out OK in the end and I'm now resting up preparing for day 3. In a one bedroom house with Enzo, George, Giseppe and this lady teaching me Italian (kidding).

LETS GO ITALY.
Apparently Italy plays Germany in the football euros tonight. Let's hope Italy win or I may be dealing with some irate drivers on the roads tomorrow!

THANK YOU.
Thank you for all the amazing messages of support and motivating words! I try to be quite careful with my phone battery during the day (no music - killer!) but I will reply to them as soon as I can.

It's so humbling to read them and know that people have taken the time to support Lucian, the Bear and I. Thank you so very much. It went a long way to putting me in a better head space today.
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Turns out it was a bit of a thesis again! Sorry, I've no one else to talk to here!