You know how I already told you I'm a scary cat when it comes to these kinda of situations?
Well, it was our last day in Rome and we did the same we had done the last 5 days: catch the bus to the center. I should say at this point that from day one I HATED this idea of not buying tickets on public transports.
When we first got to Rome, Pedro had told me his friends lived closed to the center, so I imagined there was no need of getting transports everyday - and so it wasn't in our budget!
I never liked this thing of not paying for transports because lets face it: I'm a chicken!
So day after day, while our stay in Rome, we had to get a bus to the center, and seriously I just wanted to cry being as scared as I was. All I could think of was "what if I get arrested in Rome? No one will come and get me..."
Pedro's friends would say the same thing everyday "It's ok. We do this all the time! You shouldn't worry! The police never comes to check who has ticket" and still I didn't believe them.
By the time our last day in Rome arrived, I was finally getting used to the idea and actually believed there weren't any people checking the tickets on the buses. "Maybe in Italy they just don't care" (Really Rita??).
Well, since in my life stupid things tend to happen to me pretty often, and I tend to get into awkward and messy situations quite easily, the day I wasn't scared or paying attention was the exact day they decided to make an appearance.
Well, it was our last day in Rome and we did the same we had done the last 5 days: catch the bus to the center. I should say at this point that from day one I HATED this idea of not buying tickets on public transports.
When we first got to Rome, Pedro had told me his friends lived closed to the center, so I imagined there was no need of getting transports everyday - and so it wasn't in our budget!
I never liked this thing of not paying for transports because lets face it: I'm a chicken!
So day after day, while our stay in Rome, we had to get a bus to the center, and seriously I just wanted to cry being as scared as I was. All I could think of was "what if I get arrested in Rome? No one will come and get me..."
Pedro's friends would say the same thing everyday "It's ok. We do this all the time! You shouldn't worry! The police never comes to check who has ticket" and still I didn't believe them.
By the time our last day in Rome arrived, I was finally getting used to the idea and actually believed there weren't any people checking the tickets on the buses. "Maybe in Italy they just don't care" (Really Rita??).
Well, since in my life stupid things tend to happen to me pretty often, and I tend to get into awkward and messy situations quite easily, the day I wasn't scared or paying attention was the exact day they decided to make an appearance.
Me, Pedro and one of his friends were talking and totally not paying any attention to anything around us. We were chilled and I was enjoying one of my last bus rides in Rome. As we were in one of the bus stops a guy (with a not very friendly look) asked for the tickets. I remember I looked at Pedro in total panic! OH GOD THIS IS IT, I'M GOING TO JAIL! I had no idea what to do and we just pretended we couldn't understand him - not that far from the truth, but his uniform was obvious. He asked again and again. Pedro's friend started talking to him in Portuguese telling him we had no ticket, that we didn't know we had to get one and so on. I wanted to cry, really wanted to cry. All I could think was why did I believe them? I should have bought the stupid ticket and non of this would be happening. Then he asked for identification! Pedro's friend said we had non and we followed her lead. "No identification?You'll all come down to the police station with us then" By this time my eyes were popping-out and I looked desperate!! I decided to take my identification and show it to the unpleasant cop because I for sure didn't want to go with him to the police station. The three of us got out of the bus with him and he started writing on a paper and by the end made me sign it. It simply said I had to pay 100€ and that the ticket would get to my home in Portugal.
I freaked out for a few hours after that, worrying seek I would have to pay all that money that I didn't have. I was relieved they didn't take us to the police station, but now a ticket of 100€ was being delivered by mail to my parents house? Oh not good...so not good! I should mention that over the past 3 years I've got my license I've receive a couple of parking tickets and my parents were NOT happy about it!
Eventually I forgot about it. It was my last day in the city that had conquered my heart and I was not gonna let that situation ruin the only hours I had left!
Until today, I'm still waiting in terror for a letter from Rome to come in my mailbox. All I know is thatnext time I will listen to my instincts and if it means paying 1€ for each trip on a public transport - even if the guy doesn't appear to check on people's tickets - it's fine with me.
Eventually I forgot about it. It was my last day in the city that had conquered my heart and I was not gonna let that situation ruin the only hours I had left!
Until today, I'm still waiting in terror for a letter from Rome to come in my mailbox. All I know is thatnext time I will listen to my instincts and if it means paying 1€ for each trip on a public transport - even if the guy doesn't appear to check on people's tickets - it's fine with me.