What should we do on our first full day in Italy?

Thursday, 24 June 2010: I noticed at the airport and then driving here to Lake Bracciano, I was getting no email updates on my Blackberry. That in itself was not a huge trajedy, EXCEPT that when Beth and Rob fly in Saturday, our way to make contact was by telephone instead of trying to just meet up at one of Europe's busiest airports! After ONE HOUR + on the phone with Verizon in Salisbury (how much is that bill????) who patched me through to Global tech, we finally got my phone to work so now I can call Rob and Beth when they arrive in Rome.

We explored all the way around the lake today, saw the other adorable villages perched on its shore the most important of which is its namesake, Bracciano. It’s a small medieval borgo surrounding this magnificent Castello Odescalchi built from the 13th through the 15th century.

And all around the castle was this photo of Tom & Katy and when I went to buy a book in English, they were sold out. Do ya think? Other towns include our own Trevignano Romano, and Anguillare. We walked around the castle, Phil heard all the story of the castle (do you think he is understanding anything this Italian worker is really saying??? Although he is staring intently! Hmmmm…)

and we had this fabulous lunch - and oh- drank some more wine. We explored the rest of the back roads going back to our town, sat and relaxed before we had an even better dinner across the street and gorgeous sunset and moon rising across the lake. My how gorgeous.

Wed 23 JUNE 2010 - Wake up in Rome

Well the day arrived and we were frantic running around doing a million last minute things: pick up one more script, mail 3 more bills, a couple of returned packages: fold the clothes and pack them in and gather up all the techie gadgets and wires we wanted/needed. We were in good time to the Salisbury airport where security check is considerably easier than big airports. We flew to Charlotte and changed planes and flew a LONG flight directly to Rome. Eight and a half hours. That seemed long to me as flying from the northeast airports to Paris is usually only six hours. Who knew the route was to fly north over Delmarva and Philly and then the same northern route over Newfoundland, Iceland and down over Paris and continue south to Italy. Wha-a-a-a-a-a-at??? Whatever happened going from point A to point B and the straight line theory?
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Wednesday 23 June 2010: Schlepping through the Rome airport was not that terrible. We got our bags and found this cute cute Puegot car and hopped in it and took off for the Rome beltway. Our rented GPS we brought from home worked like a charm and agreed completely with the Mapquest directions I brought from home. We call her Francesca as she informs of the next right turn and bare left., electronically controlled speed zones.

So here we are at Hotel Residence Recostano. We had trouble getting them to respond to my emails but they finally did. Fortunately for me I brought my email request, their email offer and my email confirmation as they had no record of our reservation. But no drama, we got in our room; and lovely pasta lunch, shower and power nap later we are snuggied in for the next 3 days.

A little exploring, a quick love affair with this pudgy little French bulldog,

another bottle of wine and canasta game later, we are both sawing logs. zzzzzzzzzzzz. In spite of the Blackberry drama. More on that later.

Tuesday 22 JUNE 2010

Monday nite 21 June 2010- Was a last minute dash through Hurlock to make a delivery to our dear friends Walt and Virginia who were having Tumpany for a couple of weeks. She seemed very jazzed to be there until she figured out that after some munchies and a couple glasses of wine, we were leaving her there. Actually she was very smitten with Virginia and had great fun exploring their spacious yard and lovely house with exciting nooks and crannies. Only her dads teared up as they drove away.

Reunited

Look at this dog...she is still grinning as we showed up at Walt and Virginia's to pick her up Sunday Morning. Tumpy was definately conflicted about leaving her vacation digs and all that swell pampered attention, but she sort of did somersaults when we got out of the car and she came tearing across the driveway. We were so grateful to not  have to worry about her care and affection while we were away. V & W said they thought we should travel more often.

Finally!!!

Today is the first day I have been able to get to the internet since I left home two weeks ago. My Blackberry even died. But we are in the Hilton at the Rome airport and leaving tomorrow morning for home. I have tons of great pics and wrote in Word Doc everyday so the chronicles will be posted soon.

Technological HELL

Now, (adesso) knowing that this is Italy and they have always had trouble keeping candy vending machines going....my Blackberry refuses to work and there is no wireless WiFi in the room as advertised. So - very little blogging has gone on from this computer in the lobby. I have tons of pics and they will be posted as soon as I find an internet cafe and can use my own computer. After an hour on the phone to the states, the Blackberry sort of works - don't want to see that bill.oh and BTW - I understand that its warmish in Md. For the record, with the breeze index, it was 76 feeling like 72 today. Its wonderful. More very soon.

T minus 2 and counting

Doesn't seem possible that we only have two days to pull this all together. Laundry to do, stuff to gather up and a grant to finish writing (I have completed THREE end of the year grant reports - early mind you!). The store is all populated with wonderful ladies who take care of things while we are away: Debbie, Ruth, Donna, Ann, Sally, & Barbara (what we do without these friends???).
The next step and the hardest of leaving town is taking our baby to her temporary digs near Cambridge. Our dear friends Virginia and Walt are having Tumpany for two weeks where she will be loved and fused over and put her dads' troubled minds at ease.

The last reservation is in place and the GPS we rented (in Italian!) was delivered here yesterday. Ain't technology grand (I still consult maps!)? I have been reviewing my Italian for a couple of months and its amazing how much of it comes back; even at my advanced age. Both places we are staying are off the beaten track and not EVERYONE speaks English as the pundits claim. BTW (yeah technology!) I have my blackberry and computer with me so emails and phone calls are easy.

Tuesday we leave from Salisbury "International" Airport, change planes in Charlotte and fly directly to Rome. We pick up our car and drive a short 75 klicks to Lake Bracciano - just down the road from the castle where Katie and Tom (Cruise of course) were married a couple of years ago. Then on Saturday, back to Rome to pick up Beth and Rob and head south for the Amalfi Coast. We've got cooking lessons and a boat charter all planned, as well as trips to Pompei, Positano and maybe Sorrento. We'll see how the 2nd week flies by! The weather forecast looks heavenly 72-78 and the most threatening is a couple of partly cloudy days.