I look back on it now, Kate, and can't believe how lucky I was that the chap just gave in! There have been so many women through time who have not been as fortunate.
I certainly travelled the rest of the way through Europe and Asia older and wiser, with eyes wide open.
Thankfully, yes. We all do eventually. Grin. An amazing story. Thanks so much for sharing it with us. Hoping that your hubby is doing better and that you’re feeling much improved too. Hugs dear Prue.
My poor husband is still testing positive for Covid and has a terrible cough. So its my turn to look after him. I'm clear though thank you, Beth.
The last 7-8 weeks have been quite a long haul with a few hiccups, but I can move on now. Hopefully he can too.
I still have to have another two weeks of dressing changes but I can go back to gentle ballet, I can garden and I can start increasing energy capacity. Relief! Life's now for living.
Oh Prue! I had a similar series of adventures in and around Israel and Athens when I was that same age. Cheeky us for believing we could travel alone. And hooray for standing up when it counts! Great story and so happy you can tell it so well now. Xx
Sisters in kind, Sabrina! Athens and the islands treated me kindly, thank the stars. Although by then, perhaps I was learning how to ward off the evil eye(s). Either way, I managed to make it home in one piece, older, wiser, poorer and even managed to sit my final exams to gain my degree some 6 weeks later!
I'm sorry Rome treated you so shabbily, at least at first. But you got through it all with courage and panache, and I see that you were as lovely as a young woman as you are now.
TBH, Tinney, I've never returned, nor wanted to return to Rome. Memories burn deep. Florence and Venice however, and the Italian Alps, redeemed Italy, so that's okay. As for the panache, golly, I was like jelly!
I bet you grew up quickly in that moment! You were lucky he saw the intent in your eyes and backed away. It must have been such a big thing to travel alone at that age & in those days. Great post.
Joanne, I had only ever been treated politely, kindly and with respect by males, all of my life to that point, sheltered as I was. So yes, I grew up,and began to notice Roman men behaving appallingly to women as I toured through the city and its environs. Its coloured my view of the city ever since.
Beautifully told, Prue but also fraught with those *other* kinds of awakenings ...
You look so fresh and beautiful in these pics! The innocence of being young and yet shakily independent shines through in these words, you recall it so vividly. I think you did extremely well on all counts especially sorting those alternative lodgings for yourself, lol!
I doubted my intuition, Sue, at that moment, but I think it grew minute by minute on The Grand Tour. Most people I came into contact with in Asia and Europe were trustworthy and it was a time when manners still mattered. TBH though, the gentlest, kindest folk were those in Asia. I still love Asian places although I'll never return now as they've become overcrowded with brash tourists, and one's experiences are spoiled by lack of respect and manners.
i can imagine that Mum and Dad must have been terrified for me at home, after I sent a telegram home saying 'Please send money urgently to London bank!'
Nixon had devalued the dollar and I was travelling with US dollars so my travelling amount halved in an hour... Yikes.
How scary Prue, its not till you are older you realise it could have been so different, good for you to stand up for yourself with that horrible man he probably wasn'texpecting that.
Sorry to hear that your beloved has got a bad case of covid. I hope he will soon be on the mend xxx
I can't even imagine what my 19 year old mind was thinking at that minute. Except fear. And a need to go home. But Libby, I made it to London and felt as if I HAD come home!
Yes, poor old hubby - he's really had a tough time with Covid. We had our first real day in the (Big) garden, together and he knocked up from Covid and I knocked up because bending and turning hurt a little bit. But we're getting there, both of us. XXXX
Oh Prue! I am so, so sorry that this happened to you.
Your descriptions of your travels, of people, architecture and amazing surroundings, the search for somewhere to stay are such a compelling read - and then BAM! - gosh, I was there with you too as you coped with such a horrible and frightening situation. Your writing is wonderful even when it's about things that aren't.
I'm SO happy that you took control and won the day. xxx
That desk clerk definitely didn't know who he was dealing with and you quickly discovered something about yourself. I would have ratted him out when I checked out ;) Thanks for sharing.
Hope your husband feels better soon and I'm happy to hear that you're on the mend. Looking forward to the next Knots in the String
Me now would have indeed ratted him out. Ha! Me then was a scared, unhappy 19 year old who just wanted to get out of there as quick as possible.
Thankfully, I only had another 3 days in Rome after that and couldn't WAIT to board the train and head to Florence and Venice where things were more gentle and civilised.
I've never dropped my antipathy toward Rome - despite that the jeans and shirt from the Via Veneto were the bees' knees and lasted me forever!
Aahh Prue. How wonderful of you to share this “story”. I’m curious if your view of the events has in any way changed over the years. That perhaps you now see the “Perfectly on Time” serendipity that influenced the beautiful soul you have become?
Thank you for the compliment, Marilyn. In answer to your question, no, my view of the event hasn't changed at all over the years.
Many things happen in our lives that hurt and betray us. I could never believe that the death of my parents, my friends, my beloved pets, people I love and admire, or events that scoured me inside out to be 'Perfectly on Time' serendipity. Deep pain is deep pain and must be processed in all our own individual ways. Looking at it as punctual serendipity is not one of those ways, IMO. Best wishes.
I grew up heaps on that trip. It was survive or die. But once back in Sleepy Hollow, I think I reverted back to plain old me with some fancy memories to draw on.
Oh, no he didn't!!! 🤬 Oh, no THEY didn't. The start of your stay in Rome was a barrage of deeply unsettling experiences, the last one horrifying. I want to believe these days that the screaming would come first, and reporting soon after -- but we all know that even now that's not how it goes. I'm so sorry, Prue. Here's to Sorrento for helping you recover some of the magic of that trip, though I don't blame you for a lifelong distaste, under the circumstances.
You are as beautiful now as you were then, and just as stylish, with a deep wisdom gained across your years. Thank you for sharing this part of your story.
I had a little laugh at the deep wisdom comment, Elizabeth, but thank you for it. My husband is my wise old man, my Yoda. I pale into insignificance. I'm just me. Honestly, whilst I might have been named Prudence, I'm the least prudent person I know. Parents wishful thinking, I imagine.
But there were some nice experiences in Rome - not least was watching a film with Marcello Mastroianni being shot at the Colosseum. I should be rattling on about the history of what I saw, but it was the odd little things - like the film, like the most beautiful little shell fountain at the end of a small street, like the squeaking parquet, like simple Italian sandals, like St. Peter's which held me breathless, like the nonna - tiny little things that spoke to me and are remembered.
Laughing is good. I stand by my observations. Your memories of Rome are no less special just because they feature less popular or well-known subjects. For me, it's those details that matter most. I can read and learn about the other stuff without ever having been there.
And if all things didn’t go against your plans it wouldn’t have been a story to share. Thank you. I’m so glad it had a happy ending.
I look back on it now, Kate, and can't believe how lucky I was that the chap just gave in! There have been so many women through time who have not been as fortunate.
I certainly travelled the rest of the way through Europe and Asia older and wiser, with eyes wide open.
Yes it is scary when we reflect on those moments, how easily the outcome could have been so different.
Oh my goodness!!!! I’m so glad it worked out ok. Scary!! Unforgettable.
The ingenue grew up, Beth.
Thankfully, yes. We all do eventually. Grin. An amazing story. Thanks so much for sharing it with us. Hoping that your hubby is doing better and that you’re feeling much improved too. Hugs dear Prue.
My poor husband is still testing positive for Covid and has a terrible cough. So its my turn to look after him. I'm clear though thank you, Beth.
The last 7-8 weeks have been quite a long haul with a few hiccups, but I can move on now. Hopefully he can too.
I still have to have another two weeks of dressing changes but I can go back to gentle ballet, I can garden and I can start increasing energy capacity. Relief! Life's now for living.
Oh thank goodness! Sending good anti-COVID vibes and lots of hope for the future. Take care dear Prue.
Wow. What an adventure…
I think I aged substantially in Rome, Beverley.
Oh Prue! I had a similar series of adventures in and around Israel and Athens when I was that same age. Cheeky us for believing we could travel alone. And hooray for standing up when it counts! Great story and so happy you can tell it so well now. Xx
Sisters in kind, Sabrina! Athens and the islands treated me kindly, thank the stars. Although by then, perhaps I was learning how to ward off the evil eye(s). Either way, I managed to make it home in one piece, older, wiser, poorer and even managed to sit my final exams to gain my degree some 6 weeks later!
OMG! Appalling! So glad you found Sorrento. A great name for a life theme. Finding one’s Sorrento— a place of calm, trust and safety.
Terrifying for a young, unsophisticated nineteen year old...
I'm sorry Rome treated you so shabbily, at least at first. But you got through it all with courage and panache, and I see that you were as lovely as a young woman as you are now.
TBH, Tinney, I've never returned, nor wanted to return to Rome. Memories burn deep. Florence and Venice however, and the Italian Alps, redeemed Italy, so that's okay. As for the panache, golly, I was like jelly!
I bet you grew up quickly in that moment! You were lucky he saw the intent in your eyes and backed away. It must have been such a big thing to travel alone at that age & in those days. Great post.
Joanne, I had only ever been treated politely, kindly and with respect by males, all of my life to that point, sheltered as I was. So yes, I grew up,and began to notice Roman men behaving appallingly to women as I toured through the city and its environs. Its coloured my view of the city ever since.
Beautifully told, Prue but also fraught with those *other* kinds of awakenings ...
You look so fresh and beautiful in these pics! The innocence of being young and yet shakily independent shines through in these words, you recall it so vividly. I think you did extremely well on all counts especially sorting those alternative lodgings for yourself, lol!
Intuition = everything!!!
I doubted my intuition, Sue, at that moment, but I think it grew minute by minute on The Grand Tour. Most people I came into contact with in Asia and Europe were trustworthy and it was a time when manners still mattered. TBH though, the gentlest, kindest folk were those in Asia. I still love Asian places although I'll never return now as they've become overcrowded with brash tourists, and one's experiences are spoiled by lack of respect and manners.
I enjoyed this so much. Some of the stuff we did was crazy!
i can imagine that Mum and Dad must have been terrified for me at home, after I sent a telegram home saying 'Please send money urgently to London bank!'
Nixon had devalued the dollar and I was travelling with US dollars so my travelling amount halved in an hour... Yikes.
How scary Prue, its not till you are older you realise it could have been so different, good for you to stand up for yourself with that horrible man he probably wasn'texpecting that.
Sorry to hear that your beloved has got a bad case of covid. I hope he will soon be on the mend xxx
I can't even imagine what my 19 year old mind was thinking at that minute. Except fear. And a need to go home. But Libby, I made it to London and felt as if I HAD come home!
Yes, poor old hubby - he's really had a tough time with Covid. We had our first real day in the (Big) garden, together and he knocked up from Covid and I knocked up because bending and turning hurt a little bit. But we're getting there, both of us. XXXX
Oh Prue! I am so, so sorry that this happened to you.
Your descriptions of your travels, of people, architecture and amazing surroundings, the search for somewhere to stay are such a compelling read - and then BAM! - gosh, I was there with you too as you coped with such a horrible and frightening situation. Your writing is wonderful even when it's about things that aren't.
I'm SO happy that you took control and won the day. xxx
You always have the knack of making me happy I wrote what I wrote. Thank you, Rebecca.
That desk clerk definitely didn't know who he was dealing with and you quickly discovered something about yourself. I would have ratted him out when I checked out ;) Thanks for sharing.
Hope your husband feels better soon and I'm happy to hear that you're on the mend. Looking forward to the next Knots in the String
Me now would have indeed ratted him out. Ha! Me then was a scared, unhappy 19 year old who just wanted to get out of there as quick as possible.
Thankfully, I only had another 3 days in Rome after that and couldn't WAIT to board the train and head to Florence and Venice where things were more gentle and civilised.
I've never dropped my antipathy toward Rome - despite that the jeans and shirt from the Via Veneto were the bees' knees and lasted me forever!
Aahh Prue. How wonderful of you to share this “story”. I’m curious if your view of the events has in any way changed over the years. That perhaps you now see the “Perfectly on Time” serendipity that influenced the beautiful soul you have become?
Thank you for the compliment, Marilyn. In answer to your question, no, my view of the event hasn't changed at all over the years.
Many things happen in our lives that hurt and betray us. I could never believe that the death of my parents, my friends, my beloved pets, people I love and admire, or events that scoured me inside out to be 'Perfectly on Time' serendipity. Deep pain is deep pain and must be processed in all our own individual ways. Looking at it as punctual serendipity is not one of those ways, IMO. Best wishes.
Whoa! You sure had to grow up fast on that trip! Thank goodness all went well in the end (despite some scary moments!)
I grew up heaps on that trip. It was survive or die. But once back in Sleepy Hollow, I think I reverted back to plain old me with some fancy memories to draw on.
Oh, no he didn't!!! 🤬 Oh, no THEY didn't. The start of your stay in Rome was a barrage of deeply unsettling experiences, the last one horrifying. I want to believe these days that the screaming would come first, and reporting soon after -- but we all know that even now that's not how it goes. I'm so sorry, Prue. Here's to Sorrento for helping you recover some of the magic of that trip, though I don't blame you for a lifelong distaste, under the circumstances.
You are as beautiful now as you were then, and just as stylish, with a deep wisdom gained across your years. Thank you for sharing this part of your story.
I had a little laugh at the deep wisdom comment, Elizabeth, but thank you for it. My husband is my wise old man, my Yoda. I pale into insignificance. I'm just me. Honestly, whilst I might have been named Prudence, I'm the least prudent person I know. Parents wishful thinking, I imagine.
But there were some nice experiences in Rome - not least was watching a film with Marcello Mastroianni being shot at the Colosseum. I should be rattling on about the history of what I saw, but it was the odd little things - like the film, like the most beautiful little shell fountain at the end of a small street, like the squeaking parquet, like simple Italian sandals, like St. Peter's which held me breathless, like the nonna - tiny little things that spoke to me and are remembered.
Laughing is good. I stand by my observations. Your memories of Rome are no less special just because they feature less popular or well-known subjects. For me, it's those details that matter most. I can read and learn about the other stuff without ever having been there.