Our four day break started today. A group of us have made the trip to Levanto, just north of the Cinque Terre. We took the train from Florence to La Spezia, and then to Levanto. A few of us decided it would be fun to go first class, since it was only an extra 2 euro. We got two tickets since we had to change trains in La Spezia. The three of us with 1st class tickets boarded the train in La Spezia and about 10 minutes into the train ride, they came around checking people's tickets. One of the the others had thrown away the first ticket. We found out though that the first one was our ticket and the second was just a confirmation that we had upgraded to 1st class. So he was on the train without a ticket. It's a 50 euro fine for being on the train without a ticket. So the three of us, who speak little Italian, tried to explain the situation to someone who didn't speak any English. One of the guys tried to explain it with what little Italian he knew and could tell him that he doesn't read or write Italian so he threw it away, with most of it in hand motions. After being told 5 times that you have ticket, he have ticket, but you no ticket, he paid 7 euro for the cost of a ticket from La Spezia to Levanto. So, really he lucked out since he didn't have to pay the 50 euro fine.
When we finally got to the train station in Levanto, the 3 of us in 1st class got out, and notice none of the other 8 had gotten of the train. I thought we had got off to early, but then someone from the other group got off the train. Next thing we knew, the doors shut on the train, and 7 people from our group were trapped on the train. The looks on the faces were priceless. One girl had her hand on the window as she looked out at us as the train pulled out of the station. They had to take the train to the next stop and get onto a train come back this direction. They arrived about an hour after we did. So, always be prepared to get off the train. It never stops for long at the stations.
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