We continued on to Cortona, where we had a lovely lunch and strolled the fabulous hillside city. This was where we had previously found the glass jewelry artist...but no luck this time. We did find a couple of nice scarves.
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Day 3 May 2012
We drove to Perugia to take my camera for repairs. I had to call B&H Photo to have them send the original receipt to them, so it would show it under warranty. Luckily, I had bought minutes on Skype, so I could use my iPhone (internet only).
We continued on to Cortona, where we had a lovely lunch and strolled the fabulous hillside city. This was where we had previously found the glass jewelry artist...but no luck this time. We did find a couple of nice scarves.
We continued on to Cortona, where we had a lovely lunch and strolled the fabulous hillside city. This was where we had previously found the glass jewelry artist...but no luck this time. We did find a couple of nice scarves.
Day 2 May 2012
We slept in to rest up, then drove to Orvieto. This was such a beautiful drive, and the Orvieto Cathedral is one of the most beautiful in the world. When we got home, we uploaded our photos to our computers, then, when I reinserted my picture card, it was not working on my new Canon 7D. YIKES! This was the only camera I brought, except my iPhone and iPad. We found an authorized Canon place to take it for repairs.
Day 1 May 2012
We arrived in Rome on Monday, May 14, 2012, rented our Fiat Pinto, then got on the Autostrada and drove to Fabro and Casa Rondini. They had a welcome basket of red and white wine, six jams and jellies, and spices all produced by our hosts. They also had picked flowers and had them on the table to greet us. We unpacked, took a nap, then were off to dinner at Montegabbione.
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Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Day 29 Italy 2008
That 2:30 a.m. alarm came much too soon. We showered, dressed, repacked and went down to the lobby to await the 4:00 a.m. shuttle to the airport. Since our breakfast was included with the price of the room, they had prepared a sack for us to take with us including a cheese sandwich, croissant, banana, juice, water and jams.
We had heard that the doors at the airport are locked until 5:00 a.m., but luckily our shuttle driver knew to take us to gate C, so we could get in and walk to gate B. At 4:15 a.m. there was already a long line for our flight to Frankfort, because there were only three people working the desk. Finally, at 5:00 a.m. staff started showing up and the line moved faster. No little shops were open that early to get coffee, so we had to forgo it.
We knew we had a close connection in Frankfort to go on to Houston, but had no idea how long we had to walk. It took forever walking all the way through terminal A, then catching a tram to terminal B and C, then up and down escalators, moving walkways, going through security again, and through a customs area. We had an hour and a half between flights, but by the time we got to the gate, we boarded 10 minutes later. Cheryl and I did not sit together coming back. We had reserved seats, but they had no record of it. In the Rome airport they had assigned us the very last seats in the back of the plane, 56 B & C. She likes the window and I like the isle, so it sounded like she was in the middle seat. She got them to find her a window seat on the other side of the plane. As it turned out, the seat I was in had only two seats, one aisle and one window. So, I got to stretch out and get some sleep, having no one beside me. I am writing this on the plane now, and we should be in Houston in 4 hours!
Nick picked us up at the airport and we drove another 3 1/2 hours back to Kilgore. We had been up 24 hours straight, but were non-stop chatter bending Nick's ear coming home.
The trip was truly magnificent. I have so much to share with my family and students over the next few months.
I am so anxious to go to Italy again in March with my students and Angela and Wells.
I will be going to Paris July 31st for the EF Tours orientation...another great experience to report!!
We had heard that the doors at the airport are locked until 5:00 a.m., but luckily our shuttle driver knew to take us to gate C, so we could get in and walk to gate B. At 4:15 a.m. there was already a long line for our flight to Frankfort, because there were only three people working the desk. Finally, at 5:00 a.m. staff started showing up and the line moved faster. No little shops were open that early to get coffee, so we had to forgo it.
We knew we had a close connection in Frankfort to go on to Houston, but had no idea how long we had to walk. It took forever walking all the way through terminal A, then catching a tram to terminal B and C, then up and down escalators, moving walkways, going through security again, and through a customs area. We had an hour and a half between flights, but by the time we got to the gate, we boarded 10 minutes later. Cheryl and I did not sit together coming back. We had reserved seats, but they had no record of it. In the Rome airport they had assigned us the very last seats in the back of the plane, 56 B & C. She likes the window and I like the isle, so it sounded like she was in the middle seat. She got them to find her a window seat on the other side of the plane. As it turned out, the seat I was in had only two seats, one aisle and one window. So, I got to stretch out and get some sleep, having no one beside me. I am writing this on the plane now, and we should be in Houston in 4 hours!
Nick picked us up at the airport and we drove another 3 1/2 hours back to Kilgore. We had been up 24 hours straight, but were non-stop chatter bending Nick's ear coming home.The trip was truly magnificent. I have so much to share with my family and students over the next few months.
I am so anxious to go to Italy again in March with my students and Angela and Wells.
I will be going to Paris July 31st for the EF Tours orientation...another great experience to report!!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Day 28 Italy 2008
Today is our last day at Casa Rondini. We are packed and ready to go. I went down and had a great visit with Bozena. We took some pictures of our hosts and bid them a sad farewell. We dreaded carrying those heavy bags down the long stairs, and wouldn’t you know, it was the hottest day since we had arrived, so we started out to Rome hot and tired.
Cheryl made us up a picnic, and we stopped before we got to Rome to enjoy it.
We went to the car rental place at the airport to turn in our car, and hauled our heavy bags down a very long hot corridor toward the Hilton Hotel where we had reservations for the evening. Upon arriving, we found that our reservations were for another Hilton that was on the other side of the airport, which opened last December. Luckily, they shuttled us over there. We planned to get a quick night’s sleep to get up at 2:30 a.m. to catch the 4:00 a.m. shuttle. We found our room to be quite nice, very modern, with wooden floors, and free internet access. We strolled around the hotel to check it out, sat in the lobby, and enjoyed a glass of wine. We then had a nice dinner, and called it an early evening.
Cheryl made us up a picnic, and we stopped before we got to Rome to enjoy it.
We went to the car rental place at the airport to turn in our car, and hauled our heavy bags down a very long hot corridor toward the Hilton Hotel where we had reservations for the evening. Upon arriving, we found that our reservations were for another Hilton that was on the other side of the airport, which opened last December. Luckily, they shuttled us over there. We planned to get a quick night’s sleep to get up at 2:30 a.m. to catch the 4:00 a.m. shuttle. We found our room to be quite nice, very modern, with wooden floors, and free internet access. We strolled around the hotel to check it out, sat in the lobby, and enjoyed a glass of wine. We then had a nice dinner, and called it an early evening.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Day 27 Italy 2008
Today we packed, and I took more pictures of the area. We fixed our last meal with pork chops, artichokes, risotto, salad, lintels and bread. We had a nice visit with another resident, Maria from Ireland.
Our bags were bulging, and we were hoping that we would not go over the weight limit.
Our bags were bulging, and we were hoping that we would not go over the weight limit.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Day 26 Italy 2008
We decided to go to Castiglione del Lago and go into the old city, since we did not stop the first day we drove through. They had lots of stores with spices, wine, wooden products and honey. We sampled some wine and bought a bottle to have on our last night at Casa Rondini. We had a nice lunch with pork, vegetables, and wine. We took some pictures and stopped in some interesting stores. I bought a couple of Pinocchio’s for Harper and me (since I gave away all the ones I purchased on my last trip).
I had promised Angie I would get her an espresso pot, so we stopped at Citte della Pieve on the way home to get one.
We were suppose to have pizza night on Sunday, where we make our own pizza, but because of the rain, Franco made us a great meal with sausages, proscuitto, and vegetables from the garden, with a great chocolate and gelato dessert.
I had promised Angie I would get her an espresso pot, so we stopped at Citte della Pieve on the way home to get one.
We were suppose to have pizza night on Sunday, where we make our own pizza, but because of the rain, Franco made us a great meal with sausages, proscuitto, and vegetables from the garden, with a great chocolate and gelato dessert.
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