Connections in Tuscany

It has been interesting seeing all of the connections we have had in Tuscany. We arrived Saturday, around 6:00 pm after having travelled for about 20 hours. Our host at the apartment offered to take me into town to the super market so we could get a few things to nibble on. I really appreciated the offer because I was just about flat on my feet and couldn’t even think about driving into town to figure out where the super market might be.

The next day we were taking in the sights of Tuscany and got to Montepulciano around 2:30. We were hungry for lunch, but found that most restaurants close from 2:30 until 7:30. Yikes, now what?! I went into a shop that sold olives and olive oil and started talking to the owner. After hearing our eating plight he took us across the street to introduce us to the shopkeeper of a wine and cheese store. She fixed us a plate of truffle salami, pecorino, prosciutto, bread and olive oil – along with a nice glass of local wine! Followed by a taste of grappa – whoa, that really cleared up my vision!

The next day was a national holiday and the gas stations were closed except for self serve. We were standing there trying to figure out how the process worked. A man got out of his car, came over and showed us how to first select the amount we were going to pay, then go over to another machine to put in our euros and select our pump number, then back to the pump and showed us which kind of gas we needed. He then went back to his car and drove away with his wife. Now, he only spoke Italian and we only spoke English and I understood everything he was trying to tell us. I love connections.

Today when we got to Volterra we wanted to find the Roman ruins, which were not inside the castle walls. We drove around with no success and finally stopped at a gas station. Again, the Italian/English situation (I pretty much can only say hello, thank you, excuse me, please, good bye, and I only speak a little Italian), but with pointing and hand gestures the man I asked to help me got us where we wanted to go. Oh, by the way, the word in Italian for “where” is dove.

So, the point of all of my stories today is to continue talking about connections – they are everywhere if only we look. People love to help and they will readily help when we ask them. It doesn’t matter if we even speak the same language. I find people so fascinating and their willingness to help is universal. When was the last time you connected with someone by asking them to help you?