I enter the Roma train station excited to soon be at our next destination; Innsbruck, Austria.  This is my first time on a train and just a few hours into our 8 hour trip I’m really enjoying the experience.  After catching a few hours of sleep, we arrive in Trento, Italy to switch trains.  While the others hurry around the cabin, I take my time packing my deck of cards, wireless speaker, and can of Pringles.  I soon realize that Teddy and James have already packed up their bags and exited the train.  After putting the last of my belongings in my bag I hear a buzzer go off.  This buzzer is what I now call the “Oh Shit” buzzer.  If your hear this buzzer while you’re still trying to exit the train you are in trouble.  I start to do the math in my head…Oh shit, I’m definitely in trouble.  I have 3 seconds to get off this train and I’m nowhere near the door.  I sprint towards the door but I’m too late.  I hit the green “open” button 3 times…nothing.  I hit the green button twice, followed by the red “close” button thinking there may be a secret code to getting the door to open…nothing.  I try 3 reds, 3 greens, 2 reds and 2 greens all in a row…nothing.  Maybe if I press the green and red button at the same time the door will open and I’ll win a prize?  Nope. Nothing.  I peer out the window of the door at Teddy and realize I won’t be getting off this train.  I’m now separated from my friends in a foreign country, James has my passport, my phone doesn’t work, my Italian vocabulary is limited and I have no idea where the train will stop next.  Needless to say, a string of cuss words comes out of mouth that would have impressed any sailor.  That’s what I get for dilly dallying.

As the train starts moving, I do my best to gather my thoughts and analyze my situation.  There are no passengers left on the train and the first train employee I find can’t speak a lick of English.  I decide to try some Italian and I start to make some progress but when I accidentally insert a few Spanish words I totally rock his world and our conversation is completely derailed.  He leads me to a lady who thankfully speaks English.  After a few minutes, we decide that the best idea is to get off at the next station and hope the next train heading back south stops in Trento.  When the train stops, the lady and I jump off the train and at the same time a train heading south is arriving at the platform.  After speaking with that other train’s engineer, she tells me to get on and I’ll soon be back in Trento.  If she would have let me, I would have kissed her.  As I arrive in Trento for the second time, I spot Teddy and James and get a giant reunion hug.  I was only gone for about 25 minutes, but it felt like a lot longer than that.

With the excitement and jokes about my disappearance a few minutes behind us, we’re able to explore the historic town of Trento.  A small city nestled in the valley of two mountain ranges, Trento has one of the highest standards of living in Italy.  We soon realize this as we walk down the marble sidewalks.

After walking for a few minutes, we arrive in the city center, Piazza del Duomo, which is filled with Late Medieval and Renaissance buildings including Trenton Cathedral.

Just outside Trento Cathedral, the Fontana del Nettuno (Fountain of Neptune) stands at the city center.

Buonconsiglio Castle, a 13th century fortress that is now a modern day art gallery is located just outside the city center.  Unfortunately, the castle was closed and we didn’t have enough time to stay and visit the art galleries within.

Before heading back to the train station to continue our journey to Innsbruck, Austria we stop and get a much needed breakfast.

I safely make it on to our next train and luckily for me this train’s final destination is Innsbruck so I can’t miss this stop!