Sept 12, 2019
Another brutal travel day. We had full intention of having a nice relaxing Italian coffee and breakfast before leaving the sleepy little town of San Vito Lo Capo. Got ourselves up and packed and went to pay our ticket first at the police station, thinking it would take just a few minutes. Nope. Police sent us to the post office to pay it and then told us to return when paid. The post office was slower than molasses in January and there was a line of people in front of us. By the time we finally got it paid and returned to the police station to have them "file" our ticket and xerox a copy for us, we had to get on the road without a minute to spare. No computers used here folks. Just weird. Everything communicated with paper.
We hit the road with 90 km to drive to the airport and not a minute to spare. None of us had eaten or even had a cup of coffee. No time. David drove like an Italian bat out of hell and I just held my breath much of the time. We got to the airport with a little time to spare but then couldn't find a gas station. We had to drive another four miles to find gas and drive back. David took the bat out of hell driving to a whole new level. Of course, when we returned the car, everyone was moving in Italian time, nice and easy. By the time we headed into the airport, it was 30 minutes before our plane was scheduled to leave and we hadn't gone through security yet. We bumbled about figuring out where to be and what was needed and we did make our plane. While standing in line, David grabbed a sandwich from a vendor in the airport and we shared it. Still no coffee. The flight was uneventful and quick.
Landing in Rome, I finally got a cup of coffee. I was feeling pretty out of body by now with little food and running like crazy the entire day. We went to the train station thinking to buy a ticket into downtown Rome and then take a taxi to our Air BnB. But the concierge in the train station told us it was cheaper and better to take the Airport Shuttle. Oh, boy. Throw-up city driving in a hot shuttle. My favorite thing. About 75 minutes later, we got to our BnB and I was never so happy to get out of that shuttle. I cannot even believe the way these people drive. I am so surprised they don't hit pedestrians or other cars.
Our apartment here is beautiful. Much nicer than the bare bones place in San Vito Lo Capo that we paid a fortune for and it literally had nothing but a bed, and not a good bed. This place is lovely although we were informed the air conditioner in the second bedroom doesn't work. Sorry. Really?? It is hot and muggy outside but we will survive. We were given a fan even though what I really want is some money back. But the bed is nice and this Air BnB actually has a beautiful living room where we can sit and relax.
We headed out for dinner, finally, and then walked to a couple of the sights of Rome - the Spanish Steps and the Fountain of Trevi. Rome is so so crowded. The streets are filled with throngs of people. I don't remember seeing this many people here when we were here before. But it is Rome and it is a lovely city. I'm happy to be here and I finally got a salad for dinner!
Tomorrow will be an entire day on our feet seeing everything we can cram in a day. Should be fun and exhausting. This trip has been pretty brutal for travel as we covered a lot of territory. Maybe too much.
Another brutal travel day. We had full intention of having a nice relaxing Italian coffee and breakfast before leaving the sleepy little town of San Vito Lo Capo. Got ourselves up and packed and went to pay our ticket first at the police station, thinking it would take just a few minutes. Nope. Police sent us to the post office to pay it and then told us to return when paid. The post office was slower than molasses in January and there was a line of people in front of us. By the time we finally got it paid and returned to the police station to have them "file" our ticket and xerox a copy for us, we had to get on the road without a minute to spare. No computers used here folks. Just weird. Everything communicated with paper.
We hit the road with 90 km to drive to the airport and not a minute to spare. None of us had eaten or even had a cup of coffee. No time. David drove like an Italian bat out of hell and I just held my breath much of the time. We got to the airport with a little time to spare but then couldn't find a gas station. We had to drive another four miles to find gas and drive back. David took the bat out of hell driving to a whole new level. Of course, when we returned the car, everyone was moving in Italian time, nice and easy. By the time we headed into the airport, it was 30 minutes before our plane was scheduled to leave and we hadn't gone through security yet. We bumbled about figuring out where to be and what was needed and we did make our plane. While standing in line, David grabbed a sandwich from a vendor in the airport and we shared it. Still no coffee. The flight was uneventful and quick.
Landing in Rome, I finally got a cup of coffee. I was feeling pretty out of body by now with little food and running like crazy the entire day. We went to the train station thinking to buy a ticket into downtown Rome and then take a taxi to our Air BnB. But the concierge in the train station told us it was cheaper and better to take the Airport Shuttle. Oh, boy. Throw-up city driving in a hot shuttle. My favorite thing. About 75 minutes later, we got to our BnB and I was never so happy to get out of that shuttle. I cannot even believe the way these people drive. I am so surprised they don't hit pedestrians or other cars.
Our apartment here is beautiful. Much nicer than the bare bones place in San Vito Lo Capo that we paid a fortune for and it literally had nothing but a bed, and not a good bed. This place is lovely although we were informed the air conditioner in the second bedroom doesn't work. Sorry. Really?? It is hot and muggy outside but we will survive. We were given a fan even though what I really want is some money back. But the bed is nice and this Air BnB actually has a beautiful living room where we can sit and relax.
We headed out for dinner, finally, and then walked to a couple of the sights of Rome - the Spanish Steps and the Fountain of Trevi. Rome is so so crowded. The streets are filled with throngs of people. I don't remember seeing this many people here when we were here before. But it is Rome and it is a lovely city. I'm happy to be here and I finally got a salad for dinner!
Tomorrow will be an entire day on our feet seeing everything we can cram in a day. Should be fun and exhausting. This trip has been pretty brutal for travel as we covered a lot of territory. Maybe too much.
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