Looking in Darkness in Perugia, Italy (Part 2) - Los Angeles Travel Photographer

Continuing from the last post where I started a journey on foot, leaving my Assistante behind with the car in the parking lot, to look for our hotel on a dark and rainy night in Perugia, Italy:

The lady and I stopped at a structure at the corner of two major streets. Inside, it was really bright, a huge contrast from the thick and wet darkness that we came from. She explained something to a gentleman behind a glass counter and waved goodbye to me. It dawned on me that we were at a bus station and, with our language barrier, she had taken me somewhere I would get help in English.

Rocca-Paolina-Perugia-Italy-Copyright-Jean-Huang-Photography

The conversation at the bus station with the gentleman was a blur and it essentially reduced down to what I jotted on paper:

- Line I from Piazzale Europa to Piazza Italia (near our reserved hotel per the gentleman)
- Line A or E from Piazzale Europa to Piazza dei Partigiani

Armed with info, I decided to get back to the parking lot where my Assistante had been waiting (meaning, without further delay from being lost). With a cell phone shot of the map that a passing tourists couple had in their hands and my GPS kind of sense of directions (akem…), I was eventually descending back down the same set of escalators, at the bottom of which stood my partner-in-crime, worried sick.

The next morning, looking down from the top of the hill where the historical center stood, we both felt relieved and triumphal at the same time. And I somehow knew that I would remember the lady that took me under her umbrella on that rainy night.

Chiesa-di-San-Domenico-and-San-Pietro-Perugia-Italy-Copyright-Jean-Huang-Photography

Bonus:

I have some really smart people reading my blog. So I have a not-so-easy question for you: Where do you think we initially parked our car at? Remember, our plan was to park at Piazza dei Partigiani and take the escalator to go straight to our hotel.

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Looking in Darkness in Perugia, Italy - Los Angeles Travel Photographer

Have you tried looking for a place at night, in rain? A friend that I made on Instagram recently reminded me of my first impression of Perugia.

Looking-in-Darkness-Perugia-Italy-Copyright-Jean-Huang-Photography

It doesn’t always happen. But it had to be this day, when we were driving into Perugia after sunset, where it’s not just any Medieval town that’s perched on top of a hill. It’s a city whose historical center is perched wayyyyy up on the hill and the parking lots are wayyyy down. So, the trick was to find Piazza Partigiani, park the car there and take the escalator straight up to our reserved hotel.

When we pulled into the parking lot, I went out to find the way to the hotel, without the hindrance of the luggage or the car. As the seemingly endless sections of escalator took me further and further away from the car and my Assistante, I started getting worried. When the bottom of the escalator was finally out of my sight, I was staring into the darkness of the night. There’s no immediate structure within a reasonable stone’s throw.

Luckily, a lady came up behind me, the only one person that I met since getting out of the car. I quickly grabbed the opportunity and blurbed the hotel name to her. She took my arm and gestured that I could walk with her. I felt relieved.

Five minutes later, we were still walking, in darkness. I wanted to tell her that I still have a companion waiting for me behind. But my translation skill was not up to par. I looked at her and she pulled me closer to her under the umbrella. I couldn’t do anything but following such a nice lady. The only thing that I was worried about was how I would track my way back. After what felt like a really long time, we arrived at a central bus station and she handed me to a gentleman that speaks good English. My search for the hotel continues……

Aquaduct-and-Street-Perugia-Italy-Copyright-Jean-Huang-Photography

Do you want to know what happens next? Let me know and I might have a follow-up post. :-)

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