Editing Maria-sama Ga Miteru:Volume17 Chapter 7 2 (section)

===<noinclude>The Parakeet's Hint </noinclude>Part 2===

They got a brief impression of the other paintings, then left the gallery around lunchtime.

"Well, what shall we do?"

Yumi, Yoshino-san, Tsutako-san, and Mami-san: the four of them exchanged glances. They had tentatively decided that the plan for the afternoon was shopping (including window), but they were getting hungry. The story was, the school had arranged panini lunches for folks who wanted them, but since the four of them didn't want panini, they set their sights elsewhere.  Amidst the fading memories of conquering the leaning tower, feelings of "if we cannot get lunch on our own, what will we do" grew bigger.

So they started the discussion off with "what shall we do?" While watching the Arno river.

"If this were Japan, we could look for a fast food place or a convenience store. But there aren't any on this map. There will probably be one if we go to the train station."

Mami-san went while flipping through pages of the guidebook.

"Uh. Yesterday's hamburger, today too? No thanks."

"But, Yoshino-san. Are you confident enough to go into a restaurant and eat?"

"No. First, I don't know the proper etiquette."

Me neither. Yumi shook her head in agreement.

"I do not really understand how to pay the bill. It's complicated, with tax and tips and service fees."

I see. So what to do?

"Anyway, can't we think while walking? I'm hungry."

With Tsutako-san's one statement, the four of them headed to the other side of the Arno river. Perhaps if they went past a food place, a solution would more easily come to mind.

Ponte Vecchio is a wondrous bridge with both sides lined with precious metal shops. Originally it was butcher shops and grocers, but Ferdinando the First hated the smell, so he replaced the whole area with gold and silver artisans. If you look him up, you'll find he was someone of importance, a "Grand Duke of Tuscany."

High school students had no need for precious metals. Actually, they did notice some, but the change they carried was totally not enough to buy anything. And that's how they persevered Ponte Vecchio's shops, just looking from outside. After they became adults, worked, and had money of their own, they could come again.

"But old is good for the look of the town."

Thus urged on by Tsutako-san, they took a souvenir photo on the bridge, then finished crossing.

Following the street that extended from Ponte Vecchio, they came out in front of Palazzo Pitti. According to the guidebook, there are lots of art galleries and museums in the vicinity. But if they went sightseeing they wouldn't be able to fulfill their original purpose of shopping so they turned around. If anything, they had the impression that this left bank of the Arno was more spacious than the right bank with the train station.

"Okay, I got it."

Mami-san suddenly stopped and said.

"Let's get take-out from this place here."

Here before their eyes was a bar like there was everywhere in Italy.

"Take out... I see."

This way, at least, they won't have to worry about etiquette or tips. Of course, this also clears the "no hamburgers" requirement.

"All for this plan, raise their hand."

Mami-san raised her hand. The remaining three hands went up.

" 'Can I take out O.K.?' "

"Take out" might not have the same meaning here as it did back in Japan, but the young man in the restaurant understood perfectly. The four of them each purchased panini and a bottled beverage, then they left.

"One way or another, we did it."

"Yep. They want to sell; we want to buy." So it's like we tried with all our might to understand the meaning of each other's words."

They crossed Ponte Vecchio again, and stopped in at the hotel for a moment. Since eating at the side of the road would have been ill-mannered, they searched around for a piazza or a park or someplace. While searching they decided to sit at the hotel.

Panini and drinks. In the end, it was the same as the lunch provided by the school, but theirs came with a sense of accomplishment. The results were the same, but the process differed.

Easy do to in Japan, but in a foreign country, an adventure.

The field trip was the embodiment of thrills and excitement.