Training Log Archive: Charlie

Event: 2016 NEOC Troll Cup: High Rock
 

Pleasant cab ride to the airport at Napoli, chatting up the driver in Italian. I think is is the first trip I have had where I have felt absolutely confident to have a detailed conversation with pretty much anyone. I do well when I am talking with someone, but I have not yet mastered the ability to overhear a conversation between native speakers. He was an enthusiast for going up Vesuvius, which we had thought we might do, but never got around to, and for the comic actor Totò. He pointed out the cemetery where Totò is buried, and I remarked that he had been dead for quite a long time (nigh on 50 years now). He said yes, but his films live on. I suppose they do, but I can't say I have seen more than about one of them. Rhonda was remarkably patient with the whole episode.

The airport at Napoli is very new seeming, and one of the nicest and most efficient I have seen. Very impressed. However, we are now cooling our heels as our flight is delayed, hoping to make our connection.

Flight was delayed enough in Naples that we missed the connection, and now we are guests of Aer Lingus overnight in Dublin. Could be worse, or so I thought. There were quite a few of us getting shuttled over to the hotel, and a fellow of about 75 remarked to me that this was the worst thing that ever happened to him. I was a bit stunned. "Really, this is the worst? Well, you are quite a lucky man then, if nothing worse than this has ever happened to you." Seems that is not what he wanted to hear.

C • Dublin 5