Transportation Decisions: Walk, Bus, Train, or Combination

Having never had to rely much on public transportation, we were quite unaware of the ups and downs of getting around in this manner. I know this is quite naive but we just thought everywhere we went we could catch a bus or train. Did we expect to walk most of the way? Yes, but I have learned if I walk each leg, I am pretty much done for the day and I could enjoy the trip more if we change it up with buses, trains and some walking. Even when we ride a bus or train we still walk to find our hotel, walk to dinner, walk to see the town, and walk some more. So, if we walk 10 miles or more I am not up to the rest of the walking required without some good rest time. That is the reality, like it or not. Riccardo could easily do it all but wants me to enjoy it too. So this blog gives you a sense of our reality for trains, buses and walking.

Spent several hours the day before finding out which bus would get us to the train station in Mortara from our hotel in a little burg so that we could ride to the first little town and walk the rest of the way to Gropello Cairoli. Turns out an early bus with the school kids was the only one:

Caught the train in Mortara after a two hour wait and wisely road all the way due to the rain, walked the route backwards the next day without packs......((: in the sunshine.

To get to my relatives we rode buses and trains the whole way. The interesting thing is they only give final destination and you have to figure out the rest, for instance just where your town is and which stop it is. Praise God for helpful strangers! You buy tickets for the buses in the Tabaccheria shops, cheapest way to go or from the bus driver and most train stations have a ticket office. 

We literally spend hours figuring out how we can or will get from one place to another and many times you wait and then transfer and wait some more. For most train rides you change two or three times to different trains but unless you ask they may not tell you that. We have learned to ask and to ask in polite Italian if they will write it down for us. Then when you get to the station you must figure out which line is yours with some stations having 16 or more.

 

And of course, we love the simplicity of walking. On this day we rode the bus part way because it was raining again. When it cleared up we got off to walk about 4-5 miles but most of it was along a very busy road. We were so relieved to find the trail head off into the woods and country again. These towns put in a beautiful path and fence all along the way.

I know what you are thinking, well what is the upside? It is very, very inexpensive! For the most part if you are willing to wait you can go about anywhere! You don't have to rent a car, drive in another country and find parking. When all else fails, call a taxi!!