Journeying to Croatia

The train, bustling along from Rome to Ancona, Italy, began decelerating as if approaching a station. I looked to my right and only saw green trees through the water-droplet covered window—it had been raining for about ten minutes. The intercom broke the slight murmur growing in the cabin, “Attenzione, …”. Halfway through the announcement an Italian in a posh, fitted suit in front of me threw up his arms and muttered something under his breath. I remained still, my head resting on my left hand as I looked at him, then to my left to scan for a translator, then to the ground in defeat that I would learn what was just announced. About five minutes later, the conductor walked through the cabin and during a brief discussion with a Croatian family seated a few seats in front of me, I overheard my answer—a tree had fallen on the tracks and people were on their way to remove it. I’m glad I gave a 2.5-hour buffer for my ferry.

An hour and 45 minutes later, the train began moving again accompanied by a loud ovation from the crowd. Once the train finally arrived at the Ancona station, I debarked and quickly began scanning for a “Port/Ferry” symbol (I really need to start looking at the instructions before I arrive in a location). No such sign was spotted and I was quickly running out of time. I entered a convenience store, asked the cashier for directions, and was pointed in the correct direction and armed with the correct bus number. I walked in the pointed direction and joined an older Croatian gentlemen waiting at the same station. I simply asked if I was in the correct location and he immediately took ownership of my future and ensured I did not deviate from that point forward. He even waited for me after he went through Passport Control so that he could physically point to the exact boat I needed to board. I walked up to the side of the ferry 10 minutes before departure. Always cutting it close…

Italian Countryside from Train

Ferry to Croatia

Sun setting over Italy