We're Here!!!

Bonjour from Paris!  It's 10 AM here (3 AM your time). We have been traveling all night and are awaiting our connecting flight to Rome in a beautiful Air France Lounge.  It is snowy here in Paris, (like an inch or two) and gray, but we are only here until 2:00 and then off to sunny (I hope) Italy.

Corey and Duncan came to Manchester yesterday at 11:30 to pick us up and take us to the Cedar Rapids airport.  Our flight to Minneapolis left right at 3:00 and we were in the Twin Cities by 4:10. Of Course, our little dinky plane from C.R. left us at the exact opposite side and corner of the airport from the big monster that we were flying to Paris.  We hustled on the electric walkways and made our 5:00 flight in time.

We were on a big new Delta plane, and there were some seats empty in economy, so Jerry and I each had 2 seats for the 8 1/2 hour flight.  Economy overseas is normally sort of like being a sardine in a can without the oil, so we were happy to have an extra inch or so in which to wiggle and try to get some sleep.   I was more successful than Jerry, but at least he did not keep me awake.  I am of the philosophy that one should do anything to sleep when it is night, so with a half of a Tylenol PM, and later 2 Melatonin, earplugs, eyeshades, and extra pillows and a glass of red wine, I was pretty sleepy.  Jerry, not so much. He watched movies.  He is now trying to get some shut eye as I write, but we all know he won't get much sitting up in a chair, and will be exhausted when we reach Rome at 4 PM.

First thing I did when we got here was have an espresso and a croissant   YUMMM!  They really know how to do breakfast!  We will eat lunch before we leave this afternoon so I will get 2 French meals.

I am still pinching myself that we are actually doing this, and am so excited to get there and get started.  Jerry is up now (that didn't last long) so I will relinquish the computer so he can read the paper. The internet is free here in the airport for 6 hours, so he can surf to his heart's content.  Just wanted you all to know we made it at least this far.  Until Rome, Au Revoire!

2 weeks and counting

2 weeks from today we leave and anticipation is mounting.  Jerry and I are reading everything we can get our hands on about places that we will be.  We both are of the opinion that planning is as much fun as going. Somehow I feel that if I read the right travel book, pack the right things, and study the right language phrases, when I get off the plane I will automatically know exactly what to do.  This NEVER works, by the way, but I still have this naive faith in knowledge.

We have also used the internet so much, you would think we were tour guides.  We have unconsiously divided the trip planning into expertise areas.  Jerry retains more from written words and maps, so he is downloading and reading all the " TripAdvisor" reviews about restaurants, sights, etc.  that are within walking distance of our apartments/hotels.  He studies maps and really does remember them, so when we get there he knows where he is at all times.  I, on the other hand, never know where I am, even when I am there, so reading a map in Iowa about Florence is a waste of my brain power. But if I see a place on a Rick Steves Video, or the web, I remember how to do something (validate the train ticket, get on the subway, etc.)

I am the trip detail person.   I have printed out the confirmations, made reservations, gone over the budget innumerable times and made chicken scratching on several yellow legal pads.  I have a 6 folder binder that has a pocket for each place we will be with printed instructions, arranged the bank, credit cards, garbage pickup, mail, prescriptions  phone numbers, Google talk, plant waterings, etc. etc. etc.  My clothes have been in neat piles for 3 weeks on the guest bed, and I daily add and subtract things we can or cannot live without.  Jerry will pack on Sunday before we leave.  But, we will both have exactly what we need.

Interestingly, when we get there, Jerry is the detail guy and I just follow along.  He decides the days agendas, how we will get there, where we eat (or don't), and when we leave.  Those of you who know Jerry know that he has very strong opinions on agendas and it is just easier to go with the flow, but actually, I like that.  I'm in Rome (or Paris, or wherever)  and I'm happy no matter what.  As long as my feet hold out and I get a glass of wine and a snack every once in awhile I am happy.

Our poor friends are sick to death of us talking about this trip, so now this 2 week waiting period is going to be hard.  We will soon be off and the real fun can begin.  I need to go and listen to my Italian language tape.  Do you think, just by listening to it, I will arrive in Rome speaking fluently?  We shall see!  Ciao!  (See, I'm fluent already!)

Still in Iowa, but getting ready!

We have now finished booking our trip to Italy and France.  We will travel to several cities and locations in those countries and now that we have the hotels, apartments, and travel arrangements solidified we can begin planning the sites that we will see in each place.  So excited.

A quick introduction to our trip.  We will fly to Rome and stay 5 days.  We were there on our last trip but only stayed 2 nights and found that the city has so much more that we wanted to see.  Also, it was so hot when we were there in September 2011, we are hoping that that the end of February will be more to our liking.  Today, Rome is 54 degrees F, so we hope it will be in the 60's or 70's when we are there.  Anyway, ancient sites and beautiful art is our plan for Rome.

After exploring Rome, we will train to Florence, another place that we visited and did not have enough time.  However, I have heard it said that no one ever has enough time in Florence.  We have an apartment booked there in the old city, and are looking forward to exploring this birthplace of the Renaissance. We will stay there 7 days hopefully eating locally from the market, and living like a temporary Italian. And...if time and $ permit, possibly a Chianti vineyard.

Our last Italian stop is 2 nights and 3 days in Milan.  Milan is the home of daVinci's The Last Supper, La Scala opera house, and it is the shopping mecca of Italy.  We have a hotel in the middle of town, with easy access to their metro.   From there we will travel to Lyon,  France, which is the 2nd largest city in France!  This is a "extra city" for this trip, but it is a transportation hub between Italy and France, and we decided to take a couple of days to explore, since we are not going to Paris this time.

The second half of our trip will be spent in the South of France.  We just loved Provence the last time we were there, so we decided an extended stay would be the way to explore this wonderful area.  We have an apartment in the southern city of Avignon, which was the 13th century home to the Vatican for 7 popes.  It is a very ancient area also;  the Romans were active here during the height of their power, so there are many ancient Roman ruins in the area.  Plus, probably the best food and wine in France is grown and produced here.  Sounds like a perfect place for us!  We will have a rental car for part of this leg of our trip, and are looking forward to just exploring the little towns and vineyards.

Well, that's about it for the plans.  We expect to fly out from Amsterdam at the end of our trip, after a visit to our dear friend, Kristine.  The plans for that will have to wait for another post.  I just have to pinch myself when I think that we will be doing this, and look forward to sharing the highlights through the blog with you.  I am busy learning a few phrases in Italian and brushing up on my  poor French. EEEK!  More later.  Jean