The medical establishment...

The good, the bad, the ugly...

Today was the day to bid James's staples "arrivederci", so we went to the "ospedale" -- a building that was probably 400-500 years old.  We walked right in, seeing no one.  Reading a directory, I saw "Pediatrica" on the first floor, so up we went.  The ceiling was beautifully plastered and arched.  Still no one.  So we kept walking.  Saw another sign for Pediatrica, so hung a right down a corridor.  Saw someone who appeared to be in very ill health (an adult)with no medical staff in the area.  Kept going.  Ended up in a cul-de-sac, as it were, that was unlighted.  No Pediatrica in sight.

So we wandered farther, and found a nurse.  We were told to go to "Primo Succorso" -- "first aid" -- I think their emergency department.  The place was deserted.  Finally, we found people behind a glass window -- I showed James's head -- "Ah!  Go to Primo Succorso!"  So we kept going. Hurray!  A sign!!  Hung a right down the corridor -- and behold!  Glass doors!  Going OUTSIDE!  Could this be it?  Huh?

Along came a man wearing (not kidding) fluorescent red-orange pants and sporting some white (once again not kidding) glasses with seriously wide frames.  He told me off for having kids in the hospital and told me sternly that they weren't allowed in the hospital.  I showed him Exhibit A (James, in this case), and he told me to meet him by the restroom in the Primo Succorso.  Hmm.

So outside we went.  Then back into a different door.  A waiting room!  We'd arrived!  Still no receptionist or any indication of what to do except for a black button next to an interior door.  So we waited in the chairs next to the bathroom.  Ten minutes later, out came our buddy with the pants and glasses.  He took us into the emergency room(?).  I gave him our information, explained the situation, and he was absolutely a teddy bear in the end.  Talked to James in seriously broken English, told me about Gone with the Wind, and extracted the staples.

In the end?  Staples out, and NO CHARGE.  I kid you not.  This was a HOSPITAL.  Even giving the wandering around, the whole thing really only took 20 minutes from the time we set foot into the place.  And we have a new friend who will be looking out for us.

Love,
Alexandra