For me, travelling also means learning how people live in each place. The capital has a lot of energy, but small towns have character too. Every country has different rules, and sometimes you can feel the border even when you cannot see it. In some places there are markets and busy streets; in others there is silence and big open spaces. I look at small details, because that is how I understand the difference between one place and another. When I come home, I realise the trip continues in my head.
46. Quando
When
guido
I drive
una macchina
a car
in Italia
in Italy
devo
I have to
stare attento
be careful
alle regole
to the rules
e alle abitudini locali.
and to the local habits.
Controllo
I check
il motore
the engine
prima di partire
before leaving
e ascolto
and I listen
se fa
if it makes
rumori
noises
strani.
strange.
Scelgo
I choose
tra benzina
between petrol
e diesel
and diesel
in base all’auto,
depending on the car,
e non voglio
and I do not want
sbagliare
make a mistake
al distributore.
at the gas station.
Se una ruota
If a wheel
perde
it loses
pressione,
pressure,
mi fermo
I stop
e controllo
and I check
subito.
right away.
Quando
When
arrivo
I arrive
in città
in the city
cerco
I look for
un buon parcheggio,
a good parking spot,
perché
because
trovare posto
to find a place
non è
it is not
sempre
always
facile.
easy.
E nelle ore di punta
And at rush hour
mi ricordo
I remember
che
that
la pazienza
patience
è
is
parte del viaggio.
part of the trip.
When I drive a car in Italy, I have to be careful about the rules and local habits. I check the engine before leaving, and I listen to see if it makes strange noises. I choose between petrol and diesel depending on the car, and I do not want to make a mistake at the gas station. If a wheel loses pressure, I stop and check right away. When I arrive in the city, I look for a good parking spot because finding a place is not always easy. And at rush hour I remember that patience is part of the trip.
47. In città
In the city
preferisco
I prefer
muovermi
to get around
a piedi
on foot
o con mezzi leggeri.
or with light transport.
Uso
I use
la bicicletta
the bicycle
quando
when
il tempo
the weather
è
is
buono,
good,
perché
because
è
it is
veloce
fast
e pratica.
and practical.
A volte
Sometimes
prendo
I take
la moto,
the motorcycle,
oppure
or
uno scooter,
a scooter,
per evitare
to avoid
le code.
the queues.
Se devo
If I have to
fare
do
solo
only
un tratto breve,
a short stretch,
un motorino
a small moped
mi basta
it is enough for me
e mi semplifica
and it makes easier for me
la giornata.
the day.
Quando
When
non voglio
I do not want
guidare,
to drive,
prendo
I take
un autobus
a bus
o un pullman,
or a coach,
soprattutto
especially
per le tratte
for the routes
tra città.
between cities.
In ogni caso
In any case
controllo
I check
sempre
always
gli incroci
the intersections
e rallento
and I slow down
al semaforo.
at the traffic light.
Così
So
mi muovo
I get around
meglio
better
e arrivo
and I arrive
senza stress.
without stress.
In the city I prefer to get around on foot or with light transport. I use the bicycle when the weather is good, because it is fast and practical. Sometimes I take the motorcycle, or a scooter, to avoid queues. If I only have a short stretch to do, a small moped is enough for me and it makes the day easier. When I do not want to drive, I take a bus or a coach, especially for routes between cities. In any case, I always check the intersections and I slow down at the traffic light. So I get around better and I arrive without stress.
48. Quando
When
arrivo
I arrive
in un quartiere nuovo
in a new neighbourhood
cerco
I look for
prima
first
un posto utile.
a useful place.
Entro
I go in
in un negozio
into a shop
per comprare
to buy
acqua,
water,
poi
then
passo
I stop by
al supermercato
to the supermarket
per qualcosa
for something
da mangiare.
to eat.
Se ho
If I have
fame,
hunger,
scelgo
I choose
una pizzeria
a pizzeria
o un ristorante semplice
or a simple restaurant
vicino alla strada principale.
near the main street.
Quando
When
esco,
I go out,
percorro
I walk along
un viale grande
a big avenue
e poi
and then
mi perdo
I get lost
in un vicolo,
in a small alley,
solo
just
per vedere
to see
come
how
cambia
it changes
l’atmosfera.
the atmosphere.
In certi punti
In some places
l’incrocio
the intersection
è
is
caotico,
chaotic,
e il semaforo
and the traffic light
sembra
it seems
non bastare mai.
to never be enough.
Ma se cammino
But if I walk
con calma,
calmly,
anche
even
il traffico
the traffic
diventa
becomes
parte della città.
part of the city.
When I arrive in a new neighbourhood, I first look for a useful place. I go into a shop to buy water, then I stop by the supermarket for something to eat. If I am hungry, I choose a pizzeria or a simple restaurant near the main street. When I go out, I walk along a big avenue and then I get lost in a small alley, just to see how the atmosphere changes. In some places the intersection is chaotic, and the traffic light seems to never be enough. But if I walk calmly, even the traffic becomes part of the city.
49. Prima di partire
Before leaving
preparo
I prepare
bene
well
le cose,
the things,
perché
because
odio
I hate
perdere tempo.
to waste time.
Metto
I put
la valigia
the suitcase
vicino alla porta
near the door
e preparo
and I prepare
una borsa
a bag
con
with
quello che
what
mi serve
I need
subito.
right away.
Nel mio zaino
In my backpack
metto
I put
anche
also
un caricatore
a charger
e una piccola guida,
and a small guide,
così
so
non dipendo
I do not depend
sempre
always
dal telefono.
on the phone.
Controllo
I check
di avere
to have
i documenti
the documents
e il biglietto,
and the ticket,
poi
then
controllo
I check
di nuovo.
again.
Se viaggio
If I travel
con molti bagagli,
with a lot of luggage,
scelgo
I choose
un taxi
a taxi
fino alla stazione
to the station
o all’aeroporto.
or to the airport.
E quando arrivo,
And when I arrive,
apro
I open
il sito
the website
dell’hotel
of the hotel
e verifico
and I verify
l’indirizzo,
the address,
così
so
non sbaglio strada.
I do not take the wrong road.
Alla fine
In the end
il viaggio
the trip
scorre
it goes
meglio,
better,
perché
because
ogni scelta
every choice
ha
it has
un senso.
a reason.
Before leaving, I prepare my things well because I hate wasting time. I put the suitcase near the door and I prepare a bag with what I need right away. In my backpack I also put a charger and a small guide, so I do not always depend on the phone. I check that I have the documents and the ticket, then I check again. If I travel with a lot of luggage, I choose a taxi to the station or to the airport. And when I arrive, I open the hotel website and I verify the address, so I do not take the wrong road. In the end, the trip goes better because every choice has a reason.
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