Italy Train Tickets: I will be back in a moment...

.

While exploring Pistoia last Sunday several events occurred that made me laugh   Previously I posted that I had gotten off in Prato and didn't discover my mistake for an hour!   When I finally arrived Pistoia I decided to purchase my return ticked, just in case the ticket office was closed later in the day.


The sign indicates the clerk will be back soon.

Since there was only one man in line I decided not to try the ticket machine, which can be a challenge.  And both machines had signs on them, that I could not read...  not unusual.... 

As I waited several other customers joined the line.   Some tried to speak with me without success, my fault not theirs. 

The line grows.

The crowd gets impatient.

Trains are scheduled to leave. 

My very favorite part was that another train employee came by twice and continued to tell all of us there was nothing he could do, with the most wonderful shrug that is only found in Italy.

 

Now the line is out of the building and trains will be leaving in moments!    I take out my camera to snap the above shot and tell the woman next to me I write for a travel journal.   They almost cheer, telling me to be sure I tell everyone what is happening.

 

But my favorite comment was the man near the end of the line with his mobile phone out yelling, call the police!   Only here?

Perhaps not.

 

Another surprise was the public bathroom in Pistoia, near the center of town, offers showers.....very interesting.

 

 

The center of town is an easy walk from the train station.   There is an inner ring road that is pedestrian only and it hugs the center square with the Duomo and Baptistery.   An extra treat this day was visit from the Bishop.

 

I thought this was just a sleepy town that was closed on Sunday but around 4 or 4:30 the ENTIRE town came out with strollers and family members to walk and greet the neighbors.  Even when it started to rain they were not deterred.

I must visit again during the OPEN hours.