When in Rome...

... should you really do as the Roman's do? Depends on the situation at hand.

Living in Italy had it's perks. We were encouraged to "blend" in as much as possible and to take in and enjoy our experiences and embrace them. I was attempting do this and thought things were going well, until I came upon that late October night in 2002.

Driving in Italy is a whole other ball game that I wish everyone had the opportunity to experience. From driving regurlary at 160 km's per hour and still being past by FIAT's like you were standing still. Seeing a 3 lane highway turn into 6 lanes at rush hour. Having a car fly past you only to have them abruptly get in your lane and slam on their brakes so they can take the upcoming exit. These were just a handful of the joys that were an everyday occurance.

One thing though is there is a whole different mentality of doing things over there. A common act that would never be accepted here in the states, is to have a faster moving car come up behind you and flash their lights as they approached. This was a somewhat "courteous" way of saying get out of my way because I am going faster. Everyone seemed to practice it and it was just accepted. I did not live in Rome but I was close enough. So, When in Rome, Do as the Romans do, right?

I was headed to Cody's house in Villa Literno which was about 10 miles down the road. To start things out, I made the mistake of not taking my BMW but chose the hooptie. I was about half way there when I started coming upon a slow moving car in the left hand lane of the highway. As I approached I flashed him a few times but to no avail. I slowed my car and proceded to pass in the right hand lane. As I came along side of this other car, I was just about nose to nose with him when he sharply steers into my lane. I had to slam on my brakes as I got cut off to avoid hitting this car or being pushed into the guardrail.

With the left hand lane now open, I moved over and stood on it to make the pass. I got around him okay and proceeded on my merry way. As I had a large enough gap, I signaled and moved into the right hand lane. Upon doing this, the car behind me promptly started tailgating me and flashing his lights even though there was a clear lane to pass. He continues doing so along with laying on his horn. I would slow down and then speed up but the guy stuck right behind me no matter what my speed was. Like I said, I should have taken the Beamer and I might have stood a better chance of getting away.

Needless to say, this idiot was still following me and being obnoxious as I took the Villa Literno exit. I called Cody and told him what was going on and that I was going to head into town real quick and see if I could possibly lose this guy. At this point my anger had taken over, so in turn I lost my logical thinking. Just past Cody's street I slammed on my brakes and pulled over. The guy drives past and like an idiot I started following him. He continues a short distance and stops in front of "some" building. Upon seeing this, I open my newly purchased orange gatorade, take a drink as I roll down my passenger window and upon pulling alongside the stopped car throw it out my window. It fly's through his open window, hits the steering wheel and beautifully splashes all over the guy. I quickly make a U turn and head back up the road towards Cody's place. I was almost ready to turn onto his street, when the Carabinieri pull alongside me with their lights flashing and automatic weapons drawn and pointed at me as they hang out of the window.(For those of you that don't know, The Carabinieri are not to be taken lightly and it's rather best that you have no encounter with them. It is often said that they shoot first and then ask questions.) Upon knowing this, I could not have stopped my car any faster!!

Before I realized what was happening, I was alongside my car, handcuffed and being searched. At this time a number of people were already on hand including the guy that this had started with. His lovely white shirt was covered with orange gatorade! As my pockets were emptied, they came across my pocket knife. Upon seeing this, my adversary started going crazy and was rambling very quickly in Italian, most of which I could not understand and not just because I wasn't too familiar with the language at that time. It was only later that I found out that I was arrested because the guy stated that I had forced him to pull over on the highway and attempted to rob him. Also, the story got stretched to robbery at knife point upon him seeing my pocket knife. So there I was under arrest and numerous Italians trying to speak to an American who didn't have a clue as to what they were saying. Although the Navy was contacted and sent personnel over to that "building" that the guy had stopped in front of, Which just so happened to be the Carabinieri station, I ended up being sent to an Italian jail that night.

Upon my entry to the jail, I was searched again in which case I had to fully remove my clothes. All of my personal belongings (wallet, phone, cash and whatever I had left, except my knife that had been confiscated.) were placed into a plastic bag and labeled with my name. My shoe laces were even removed for some odd reason. I finally was brought to my cell around 2 a.m. although this whole incident had started somewhere around 8 p.m. the previous night. My what a lovely cell it was too! Concrete floors and walls, iron bunkbeds that had a thin piece of foam layed on top of flat piece of metal to sleep on and a thin issued blanket that was not much comfort. So there I was in a cold cell in late October and having no option but to leave my contacts in my eyes. I sure had a lot of time to think and stare out the window. On Sunday a priest came by that spoke english but seeing his look after I told him my story it was clear that he did not believe me.

Sunday evening I was told through an interpreter that I would be meeting with a judge the following day. Talk about some comfort!! I slept much better that night and was anxiously waiting for the judge hearing. The hearing was at 10 a.m. and the Navy had sent an Italian lawyer and interpreter that worked for them. Upon reviewing the evidence, the judge said that there was no evidence that I did or didn't attempt to rob that guy. He also said that he could not rely on that guy's word without any witnesses along with mine. He did mention something about me throwing the gatorade bottle but his exact words slip my mind now. With the evidence before him, the judge said he could not hold me any longer and I would be released that day. Although, I was not released until about 8 that night, it was a great relief! Luckily I had my phone, and was able to call my friends upon my release. Thank goodness that I didn't live too far away either. Well I almost got away from jail unscathed! I was forced to donate 37 cents to an orphanage and they broke my 100 euro bill to take it!!

This is a long story that continues on. I should have broke it up into a few different posts. I will continue on with it soon. However, back to the punchline, So should you always follow the advice of, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do"......?