Going My Way? In Europe (Contd.)

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GOING MY WAY ? In Europe (Contd.) (In the last instalment we left Karin in a sleeping-bag outside Rome, For further lurid details read on. ) Once in Rome we did the usual sigh-seeing and found once again that Ray and Rod were also at the hostel. After the grand reunion, and long talks into the night, we found out that we had to sleep out again on a field next door as the hostel was full, Several others did the same so we made ourselves comfortable and slept very soundly. The next day we set out for Sorrento. What a day : At 1 p.m. exactly we were sitting on the side of the road when a truck rolled slowly by and stopped. To our surprise, the driver spoke English, and asked us if we were heading towards Naples as that (or just past it) was his destination. So breaking our second rule we accepted his offer. After all, he was on his own and he had a dog sitting on the top of the roof, so he must be all right. However he did not start up straight away, and we soon found out why. He had a companion who was buying some food and who turned out to be a 18year old boy named Phillip. However he looked too young to be getting any ideas, so we were still not worried. But little did we know, the Italians are never too young for l'amour. No sooner had we started off than young Phillip began. We made it quite clear that there was to be no funny business, but this was quite ineffectual for Phillip. Conseouently when his persistence became more than a nuisance he received a scratch on his neck. Phillip was so rocked at this that he demanded that the driver stop and put us out. Nothing, we declared would give us greater pleasure, and we got out telling them to put off our packs. But the driver, Alfonso, felt very sorry about the whole business and after a great deal of persuasion and promises that Phillip would behave himself, told us to get back in. This time Phillip behaved himself for a time, but eventually the act wore off. This time he pulled out a knife to show Peg that he did not like being scratched, and that she ought to have her throat cut for mortally wounding him Like that. But Peg stood her ground and told him where to get off. She was able to smooth him down without any loss of dignity and with our hearts in our mouths, because the driver suggested we stop for five minutes every now and again, we managed to keep that truck moving in the right direction. All the way Alfonso kept saying that on Monday he would pick us up and take us round Sorrento. To placate him we said "Yes,Yes", 2 fully believing that his intentions would be like his promisesunreliable, Eventually we reached Castelamare- their destination after 87 hours of nervous tension. We were so relieved that we bounced into the railway station and couldn't get a train to Sorrento fast enough. Imagine our horror vhen we found that the guards on the train also had amorous intentions. We were really browned off by this time and were very glad to see the station of Sorrento. Fortunately another passenger showed us to the hostel which was down narrow twisting lapse a long way from the station. As it was past 10 p.m., we would hhave cared to make our way alone after our previous experiences with Italians. We were quite - disapointed to find that Ray and Rod had not arrived at the hostel, but while we were sorting ourselves out, who should walk in but the bright heroés themselves - only they weren't so bright at that hour of the night. Next day (Sunday) we went sight-seeing to Capri and in the eveining had a wonderful Easter party with singing, dancing and drinking. Ionday morning I woke to another perfect sunny day and began to dress quite happily when one of the other hostellers came up and said, "Are you from New Zealand?". I told her I was. "Then there are two Italians downstairs waiting to take you to Rome". Alfonso and Phillip : What a pickle : I told the girl to go down and tell them we had left the hostel as we had no intention of setting eyes on them again. Off she went and then I went down to ask the warden about train time-tables. The warden's wife came running up and said, "Quick, quick, hide !" I dived into the neerest doorway off the courtyard ( the men's dormit tory). Meanwhile the warden strolled outside to look over the two Romeos for himself. He returned more quickly than he had left, and drawing me out of the way of the main gate, asked, "Do you know who the tall man with the moustache is ?". As I did not know the answer to the 64 dollar question, he enlightened me. "His uncle is one of Castelamare's top gangsters; he is also one of the gang and four days ago THEYIURDERED A MAN!!". My knees folt oddly like two lumps of jelly at this quaint little piece of informa tion, and I woke up to finding myself being carefully propelled about the garden by the warden to the safety of the main building. When my brain had sorted itself out again, I spied Peggy strolling along towards me blissfully unaware of all this. I grabbed her and dragged her into the kitchen to tell the whole story. I finished by adding that the warden had warned us not to venture into the streets as they may be lurking round a corner. "H'mm", said Peggy, "That's all very well, but WHAT ABOUT OUR DINNER ?Do you realize that the shops close at 1 O'clock?" After that all our excitement was wasted on her, as more important things like food were on her mind. The other hostellers by now knew the story and kept going out to have a look at our desperadoes, so we were kept well posted on their whereabouts. Finally by 12 p.m., they had gone, so disguising myself heavily in dark glasses, scarf and a dress, ithey had only. seen us in slacks before) I crept out of the back gate, and did the shopping with no more trouble.

On our last night in Sorrento, the seat of our earlier frustration was removed. Oranges : Sorrento was absolutely smothered in orchards 9 so when we heard that a group of hostellers led by Ray and Rod were going out for a raid, we were after them hot on the trail until the appointed moment came. (After some exciting skirmishes Karin and her friends sucessfully raided two orchards) When we left Sorrento our packs were jammed with oranges and weighe d tons, but we were very, very happy, From Sorrento we made our way to Rome again where we slept in a camping ground heavily guarded by armed soldiers and police to ward off the thousands of thieves who would otherwise have relieved us of our hard-earned property. From there we went to Venice where we spent a rather dampening day of sight-seeing as it was pouring with rain. After that we headed for Innsbruck in Austria, but got as far as Trento in the Dolomites, our last stopping-nlace in Italy. So far we had covered the Latin countries where the people are friendly, sinister, excitable, romantic, and sometimes just people. We definitely felt that these countries were foreign to us, and did not trust them sufficiently to wander their streets at night unescorted, or to believe all that they Baid. I have not mentioned all the wonderful people who were so kind to us, that would take many more pages, but at this stage our diaries were packed with the addresses of most of them. Karin Wilson.