Curious title, perhaps tongue in cheek? Federico seems rather neurotic; he has a hard time focusing on the present unless everything is perfect. He is nervous before leaving for his trip, constantly irritated and trying to adjust his surroundings during his trip, and encumbered by a tension after he arrives. Then again, I've experienced this same nervousness when preparing for a trip, but once I'm on my way, I try to relax and am not too concerned about my surroundings (other than appreciating new sights and sounds). There is a certain calm in traveling; you only have to be concerned about yourself and the next stage of your trip, when it comes. I'm able to detach a bit from my other concerns when I arrive, and I find that fretting about limited time is counterproductive to the purpose of the trip. I suppose he is in love; many of his thoughts seems to carry him toward his lovely Cinzia. However, he seems more taken with a nervous anticipation than a sincere appreciation for his situation.
Is there a Zen koan in each of these stories?
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