Chapter 31

           Overthenextsixweeks,ItraveltoBologna,toFlorence,toVenice,toSicily,toSardinia,oncemoredowntoNaples,thenovertoCalabria.Theseareshorttrips,mostly-aweekhere,aweekendthere-justtherightamountoftimetogetthefeelforaplace,tolookaround,toaskpeopleonthestreetwherethegoodfoodisandthentogoeatit.IdropoutofmyItalianlanguageschool,havingcometofeelthatitwasinterferingwithmyeffortstolearnItalian,sinceitwaskeepingmestuckintheclassroominsteadofwanderingaroundItaly,whereIcouldpracticewithpeopleinperson.

           Theseweeksofspontaneoustravelaresuchaglorioustwirloftime,someoftheloosestdaysofmylife,runningtothetrainstationandbuyingticketsleftandright,finallybeginningtoflexmyfreedomforrealbecauseithasfinallysunkinthatIcangowhereverIwant.Idon’tseemyfriendsinRomeforawhile.Giovannitellsmeoverthephone,"Seiunatrottola"("You’reaspinningtop").OnenightinatownsomewhereontheMediterranean,inahotelroombytheocean,thesoundofmyownlaughteractuallywakesmeupthemiddleofmydeepsleep.Iamstartled.Whoisthatlaughinginmybed?Therealizationthatitisonlymejustmakesmelaughagain.Ican’tremembernowwhatIwasdreaming.Ithinkmaybeithadsomethingtodowithboats.