Exit Strategy

I'm home now folks, exhausted but safe. I wrote the following on Satuday:
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So far, my exit strategy is proceeding as planned, but not without some anxious moments. After seeing The Last Supper this morning (see prior post), I walked back to my hotel, finished packing and checked out. On the way out the door, I re-checked the info I have on how to take the bus from Milano Centrale train station to Linate airport. It says that the bus runs da lunedi a venerdi. I know that lunedi is Monday, but suddenly, it dawned on me that I didn't know what day venerdi is, and it sounds a lot like the French word for Friday. I fished out my Italian phrase book and to my horror, confirmed that venerdi is Friday and oops, today is Saturday. Thus, according to the info I had, my plan to take the bus to the airport was no good. Still, I reasoned, people have to get to the airport somehow on Saturdays and the best chance of getting there is from Milano Centrale, so I took the subway to MC stazione as planned. After getting there, I followed a bunch of signs depicting paired bus and airplane symbols. To my relief, I found that the bus does, indeed, run on Saturdays. I bought my ticket, found the bus, boarded, and it left within minutes. Whew!

After a half hour ride, I arrived at Linate. I did a little airport reconnaissance so I can find my way around tomorrow morning, and then asked at a tourist desk to get directions for the Holiday Inn airport shuttle. I went where instructed, but didn't see any sign of any hotel airport shuttles, much less mine. Suddenly, a man jumped out of a car and asked if I was looking for the Holiday Inn shuttle. Relieved, I said yes and loaded my stuff into his car. Off we went and I belatedly realized I had just gotten into an unmarked car with a stranger. My anxiety mounted as we seemed to be driving further than I thought it should be, but all ended well when he pulled into the HI parking lot. I spilled out of the car, nearly liquid with relief, and got checked in.

This hotel is a delight after the last one. It is a near-American style room with a proper shower and towel bars and everything. I've washed my raggedy hair and will remain holed up with my book, computer, and CNN until heading back to the airport early Sunday morning.