Finding a Room at the Inn

Wednesday, June 1, 2005

Sitting in our apartment, writing this morning, trying to catch up with what has happened these past few days. When last I wrote about it, we were hoping to be able to stay in Spello for the festival and I am thrilled to tell you that we did find a place!

We arrived in the early morning and went straight to the Tourist Office. In most cities they will help you find accommodation if you just show up and need a room. But this is not always possible, especially when there is a festival. Miraculously, the young women there knew of a place - we would have accepted just a bed with access to a bathroom; we so wanted to be able to stay! She told us that there was a room at the Monastery/Convent but said it was essential for us to speak even a little Italian - I said confidently that I could - and gave us directions to get there (just about around the corner from the Tourist office).

We found the building, went into a dark courtyard and rang the bell. A small round window with a dark screen on it opened and I could make out the silhouette of a sister who asked "Si? (yes?). I explained "Siamo americani turisti e la signora all'ufficio turistichi ci ha mandato qui per la camera per stasera." Hoping I had said, in Italian "We are American tourists and the lady at the Tourist Office sent us here for a room for tonight." The nun was so surprised by this question, she simply said "Qui??? Non qui!" (meaning "here?? You must be joking!") But she asked us to wait a minute ("un momento") since we seemed so certain this was true. We waited in the courtyard, trying to think of all the words to use and hoping to get it right, feeling a bit like Joseph and Mary searching for a room at the inn.

In just a few moments, another sister appeared and I repeated "Siamo americani turisti e la signora all'ufficio turistichi ci ha mandato qui per la camera per stasera." And again, the response "Qui?? Non, qui! "Si, (I said), qui." But, then she pulled forth a bit of English she had learned years ago, apologizing for not speaking it well, but we were able to determine that we were actually at a cloistered convent (big "duh" on our part) and needed to go next door, around the corner. I asked her to "Scrivi il nome (write the name) of the person I was to ask for. She opened another door where there was a revolving sort of lazysusan whereby you could pass things through without having to actually touch or meet face to face. I slipped paper and pencil in, she retrieved it, wrote down the name, and spun it back around to me. I thanked her "Grazie mille" very much and off we went.

It was indeed right around the corner and sure enough La Signora Aurora's name was on the mail box and the owner of the name, a charming woman who reminded me very much of Bob's Aunt Gloria, she had such a sweet disposition, opened the door. She led us into an interior courtyard, through glass doors and up a flight of stairs. At the top of the stairs there was a landing, with pink carnations on the railings and a beautiful view of the surrounding countryside! There were a few tables and chairs with umbrellas and flowers and we went through another door and up another flight of stairs to our room on the top floor (the 3rd floor up I guess). We were so delighted to find this beautiful room. Not fancy, but spotless and serene, a beautiful iron bed, with an armoire and desk in warm wooden tones, stained the same color as the shutters on the windows which overlooked the main path of the procession that would be held the next morning! The bathroom also had a large window, and all the necessary things. And best of all, we could experience the entire event, from start to finish and have a room to escape to for a nap or a shower when we felt the need. The most amazing part is that the room only cost 30 euros a night. We decided to stay on through Sunday and take the morning train back to Perugia on Monday morning!