La banca and other adventures (aka Bed Rest, Day 7)

Well, I'm feeling much much better today - a full 10 hours sleep last night did the trick. ;-) Although I did dream strange things... that's been happening all week though. The strangest dream was of my going into outer space as part of a special program, and I had my Kodak camera with me and I was ready to take pictures, but I was paranoid about hitting the glass of the windows (probably not glass but anyway) and being sucked in the void of outer space. It was kind of a terrifying dream! I have this horrible fear of outer space and never would want to go up there!

It was unavoidable... since it's my last day of "bed rest" I had to go to the bank since they have weird hours (open in the morning until 1, then closed for 1 1/2 hours then open for 1 hour). The bank was in a part of town I'd never been and once I got there I was like... wow, this is really Biella! :-)

(damn dogs. I'm sorry but in the week I've been confined at home, I've developed this obsession with these 2 german shepherds that live in the house next to my apartment building. They bark at everyone and everything. They are so loud that for several days I was convinced they lived somewhere in this apartment building despite the fact that you can't have a dog here.) Yesterday I stood at the window of my 3rd floor apartment watching them when one of the dogs turned its head, saw me, turned around and started barking at me. Damn dogs.)

Anyway. Back to the bank story.

Banks here in Italy have this unique security feature. At the door of the bank, you push a button and wait for a circular bullet-proof glass door to open. Then you step inside this little chamber that looks oddly like those little things you use to put money in when you use the drive-through banking services at American banks, although in this little chamber you don't go anywhere powered by vacuum-suctioning. You stand in this claustrophobic chamber for some time until a green light goes off (in Rome I had to stand in one of those things for what felt like 15 minutes) and the door opens into the bank (perhaps it's some kind of scanning device?). At this point I'm sweating like crazy because a) taking no chances, I bundled up myself quite well, b) it's not that cold outside and c) I'm hoping there's no problem in cashing my checks so I'm nervous. I go to the counter and introduce myself and why I'm there (very briefly) and hand the letter of introductions from Rome along with the checks. The teller excuses himself and talks with the manager for what seems like a long time, she comes out, asks me some questions in English, etc etc, asks for more paperwork, *rapid Italian that sounds distorted to my still sick ears* smiles and says buona giornata and leaves, teller smiles takes my passport, copies copies copies everything, spends an eon in front of the computer typing typing typing, muttering to himself and talking to the teller beside him. I'm so focused on his lips making sure he's not talking to me that I realize I'm gripping the counter with sweaty hands. I step back and relax, grab a kleenex to occupy myself to realize I need to blow my nose. I hate blowing my nose in public places (especially banks, stores, and restaurants) so I'm trying to decide what to do. He's not paying attention so I decide to risk it. Feeling better but a trickle of sweat pouring down the side of my face, I turn back to the teller who finally takes out the coveted stamp and stamps away at the documents and the checks. Whew. I'm in the clear. Money handed over, he shakes my hand, damp with sweat. I thank him and go through the process in the little portal again. Whew. That was my bank ordeal for the month.

I walked through town and realized that there's much more to see than in my part of town. Will definitely need to do some walking here over the weekend. It reminded me of parts of Trastevere - alleyways and cobblestone streets with stores and restaurants. There's nothing like it in the US... nothing. It's a small city yet still manages to have what looks like fashion boutiques out of Milan, people walking around dressed very nicely (although it's quite typical of people's dress here). I'll try to get some pictures. I still have to say that Roma is still one of the most beautiful cities I've seen so far!