It's All in the Accent

Conversation at the Firenze train station ticket counter which took place in Italian, but I've translated below.

Me:  I would like a one-way ticket to Terontola.

Clerk:  Where?

Me:  Terontola.

Clerk:  Where??

Me: (Enunciating carefully)  Terontola.

Clerk:  Sorry, I don't understand.  

Me: (Writing on a piece of paper the word "Terontola")

Clerk:  Oh, Terontola!

Me: (Thinking silently and quite irritatedly) "ISN'T THAT WHAT I SAID!?!???"

And that, ladies and gentlemen, happens all too frequently.

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