Month: October 2016

Okay, let me begin by saying that Day 4 was NOT a continuation of Day 3 and also that when things go badly, sometimes my sarcasm quotient is highly diminished!

That being said, “What a beautiful morning!” Until we opened the door!

Air Traffic Controller’s strike for Europe. Oh, sorry! Only for Greece and France!

Can you say scramble?

Fortunately our excellent receptionist (who does everything from getting us to our room, making breakfast, bringing us extra toilet paper !) informed us on emerging from our room about the air traffic controller’s strike.  After several minutes of deer in the headlight shock followed by more minutes of mindless panic, waving of arms, turning circles in our room, Don remembered reading about a ferry to Athens. We wolfed down scrambled eggs, then scrambled ourselves out the door to get tickets before they were sold out.

Unshaven and unshowered we raced to the ticket office and managed to get our 80 Euro tickets via the 8 hour ferry to Athens, Greece.

On the return trip we realized there was no way we were dragging our bags across half a mile of cobblestones to catch the bus in the morning – at 6 AM mind you. (Yes, the early ferry is at 7 and then we get to relax on our 8 hour boat ride! There goes one of our Athens 3 touring days unless we’re stuck for extra ones due to the air strike.)

We’re fortunate that the wind has picked up to near gale force so that on boarding the boat, we may arrive early. (Can you say sea sick? Well, it won’t be the first time I’ve hung over the side of a boat!)
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Back to panicking for the afternoon and a trip to Oia (Pronounced EEEOOO) to see a sunset from the beach. And hopefully the sun will come out tomorrow, the strike will end prematurely and teleportation will become a reality and we’ll be whisked home before Thanksgiving.

So we arrive in Oia, Oea, Oae, EIEIO! We try to get to the best of 2 beaches down an amazing hill. We found the hill when our precious – and very cheap .75 Euro – giant water bottle was dropped down one of the steepest hills we’ve encountered since the volcano!  It’s amazing the twists and turns a water bottle can take on it’s half mile journey and nearly get to the bottom!

Neither of us were in any shape to chase it so we sauntered down the half mile to retrieve it and were surprised to discover we were no nearer to the beach but next to a really nice new resort.  “Follow my lead!” I said to Don. We went into the lobby dripping wet and happy to be in air conditioning and were soon being whisked around the new resort on a golf cart. Piece of cake, we’re getting a ride back to the top!

After examining a room – very dark and not facing the sunset – we were whisked back to the office, given a brochure and the bum’s rush out the door, business card in hand!  Crap!  Long walk back up the hill to find we’d gone in the opposite direction from the beach all along by our new friend we’d met at the airport.

We proceeded to find the Trip Advisor #1 restaurant to have a drink while we waited for our reservation time.  We requested a table facing the the sunset which everyone had raved about on TA.  In truth, it was very windy so the terrace was closed but we received permission to climb up on the terrace anyway for the view – alas, a building blocked the sunset view completely. Could this be a new building? No!  So we got a slightly better table and ordered.  Let’s just say the food was not up to number 1 Trip Advisor standards. Let’s just say a McDonalds would have been significantly better even if you were a Vegan! I must admit though that the price for our nearly inedible food was reasonable – had it been as good as advertised!

The bus ride back from EIEIO was indeed a highlight of the trip as the lights were left on inside the bus so all we could see was ghostly reflections outside against the glare on the windows as we were whisked back to Thira at what can only be described as roller coaster speeds on the numerous switchbacks up and over the mountain.  I would have kissed the ground but then I’d seen it during the day. Can I just say that like Paris, no one curbs their dogs anymore?

We went to sleep secure in the knowledge that the next day, while planned, would likely be something from purgatory but ever the brave face! Such innocence!

We decided to make it an easy day as we had a late night planned.  It had rained until late in the morning plus the day before had involved lots of walking.  We even ate lunch before we left.  Larry, Jerry, and Joyce went to the Chinese Buffet where they were given star seats in the front window so everyone could see them eating.  (They didn’t know Fausto either).  Debbie knew that she would not get full buffet value so ate an egg at the flat.  (Did you know that they don’t refrigerate eggs in Europe?  That should be worth an Adventure Award).

Our goal that day was to follow the Jewish Walk.  The start was approximately 20 minutes away beginning on the river. We walked down to a bus stop and asked an Italian lady how to get to a certain bridge and if we could walk under a car tunnel?  The lady spoke no English and we spoke no Italian.   She kept saying “St. Peter” and pointed us to the Vatican.

Joyce told her “Grazie” and turned to the other 3 and said “She is wrong.”

At that fateful moment a priest and tour group of about 20 college age kids walked by.  Joyce  and Debbie said “Let’s follow them”.

Turns out that the tour group was walking straight up one of the 7 hills of Rome.  The four split into groups.  Debbie and Jerry’s function was to try to keep the tour group in sight.  A German Mom and son also fell between the tour group and us.  We felt confident that we were on to the correct way.  (Germans are efficient and they know what they are doing)   Larry and Joyce fell to the back consulting maps as we went.  (No, they were not huffing or anything like that.  Why would you think that?)  Jerry’s role was to keep both Debbie and Joyce in sight if the group got too strung out.  We walked straight up that hill for 30 minutes.  (We never did see the priest again – he must be in excellent shape).  The tour group peeled off and went into a garden.  We arrived at the top of the hill with the German tourists, no river and no idea where we were.  The German tourists were more lost than we were. (So much for German efficiency).

Joyce did an excellent job finding someone who spoke English and the old Joyce that we were in Trastevere.  At this point, the Jewish Walk was abandoned but we still needed to find the river to follow the Trastevere Walk (Yes, this was all just a clever plan to not go on the short Jewish Walk).  It is more difficult to find the Tiber River than you might think.  We found another English speaking man that we asked “Where is the River”?

He responded “Go down this hill and turn left and then right.  There are stairs but you will have to ask someone to find them.  It is not easy”.  Then he really insulted us and said “It is not a close walk.  It is about 25 minutes”.  (Seriously, we just hiked up one of Rome’s seven hills.)

We responded that we liked to walk.  He looked at us doubtfully and walked away.  (Hey mister, we didn’t have to drive a car to get where you got today now did we?  We walked it).

After several starts and stops, we found our way to the river seeing some interesting sights along the way.  Jerry did find the secret stairs without asking (How you like that mister?  Can’t find the stairs… Yeah we did)

We visited more churches:

Church of Santa Maria in Trastevere Church Moment: One of Rome’s earliest churches.  Probably the first church to be dedicated to the Virgin Mary.  This church is plain on the outside by surprisingly beautiful on the inside.
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San Crisogono Church Moment: This is a church  dedicated to the martyr Saint Chrisogonus.

We had now been out 5 hours on our short walk and returned to our flat.

That night, we went to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel.  History Moment:  The Vatican Museums  are the museums of the Vatican and are located within Vatican City. They display works from the immense collection built up by the Popes throughout the centuries including some of the most renowned classical sculptures and important masterpieces of Renaissance art in the world.

We were surprised that you went inside and then upstairs to begin the tour outside.  The crowds were more manageable at night. The museums contain amazing art with pieces that you hear about all your life.

Our next stop was the Sistine Chapel for 30 minutes or more. History Moment:   The Sistine Chapel contains Michelangelo’s ceiling and his huge Last Judgment.  The Sistine is the personal chapel of the pope and the place where new popes are elected.  (The small, old-fashioned stove that burns pope-vote ballots – which send out puffs of tell-tale colored smoke- is located in this room)

The chapel was packed as the opening had been delayed.  We were all eventually able to find chairs to sit and view.  Woe to the visitor that (A) sat on the steps or (B) took pictures.  We are happy to report that the guards did not clap or yell at us.  Although at one point, someone yelled over the loud speaker “Silenceo!” to the room.  This seemed ironic to Debbie to yell Silence over a loud speaker.

So what two lessons did we learn today:

1.  Listen to the local when they tell you how to get somewhere (We still think she was wrong so not sure how well this lesson will stick)
2. Do not follow tour groups

Getting around Rome can be very time consuming and exhausting.  It is not as simple as Paris or Venice.  Below are the transportation options.

• Scooters – You only have to be 16 and don’t have to take a test.  They are everywhere and driven as if running from the Hounds of Hell
• Cars –  A continual game of chicken.  Brakes are not an option.  (Larry and Jerry stood transfixed for 10 minutes at one traffic circle staring at the mass confusion).
• Buses –  As far as we can tell, the tourists support the bus system in Rome.  We have never seen a local use a bus ticket.  It is only the Americans and good Germans that use tickets.  The driver takes no personal interest in any of his passengers or is concerned if they have paid. (Debbie is sorry that she has ever said anything negative about Venice’s vaporettas.  They would help you get up if you fell).  Once the bus driver closes the door, the driver takes off as fast as he can sending all passengers reeling to the back.  Stopping is slamming on the brakes, sending all passengers forward.  Debbie can’t seem to brace herself without planting both feet and holding on with both hands.  We have  never seen a passenger unable to get on a bus because it was too full.  The new passengers just fight their way on regardless of the number of passengers.  Boarding a bus is like going into battle.  (Our bus route 64 is called the PickPocket Route).  On a side note, we have made many close personal friends on the bus.
• Pedestrians – They have the right away and pedestrian crossing are everywhere.  Occasionally, there will be a  walk/don’t walk light.  There seems to be no actual logic to when the walk light is assigned to a light.  If you are a tourist clutching a guidebook looking nervously down the street, anything on wheels (AOW – cars, scooter, or buses – ) will speed up to race through the pedestrian crosswalk.  The first strategy is to walk with the locals as they know the rules of chicken.  But alas, there will come a time when you are with  standing sadly on the side of the street waiting and waiting.  At that time, you must take a stand.  Stride into the street and bravely cross followed by other tourists taking advantage of your bravery.  We have developed different techniques.  Joyce will hold up her hand like a traffic cop and then trot across with the other 3 trailing behind.  Debbie has taken a more militant technique.  She turns, shouts ‘ Let’s Do it!”, makes eye contact with the driver, steps off and gives them the stink eye all the way across the road. ( She has found herself on the other side of the street alone while the other 3 stood stunned with mouths open.  Debbie has also been scolded by Larry on her crossing technique and asked “What happened to safety first?”  Debbie will tell you what happened, she came to Rome!)

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We know that you could take a taxi but we are Les Cheap Girls.

Day 3 began with glorious weather and an 80 degree forecast.  No worries, always a breeze from the shore.  We decided to do the volcano and hot springs tour for a nice boat ride, a peek at the volcano and a look at the hot springs.

We descended on the cable cars to the old port of Santorini to be greeted by the endless trail of cruise passengers anxiously awaiting their ascent to buy yet more useless trinkets to take home.  Doesn’t anyone read Rick Steves anymore?  We waited around the narrow quay in the diesel fumes of many many boats with no escape.  The next foul odor was the parade of 10 donkeys up the steep staircase and even worse, the stench of the man selling tickets for the ride!

Finally we left on the sailboat – less any sails – but had a most pleasant ride out.  Halfway there we were told that it would be an additional 2.50 Euro each for the privilege of climbing the mountain looming in front of us.

After buying water on the boat – highly recommended by our tour guide – we left, happy that our wallets were a little lighter for the climb!  All I can say is that it’s a good thing we had three weeks of training touring Paris and Venice behind us because this climb was not for the faint of heart.  Many were seen from our boat making the return trip less than halfway up the black, lava, silt laden mountain and there were moments yours truly wondered if he would make it to the top.  Even more worrisome was the thought of descending the slippery slopes on the return journey.

Ever perseverant, Don was the first to elect to go the last third of the way to the top after our rest at the sulfurous gassy stop where we were forced to listen to our guide telling us about the volcano’s history. Once finished she raced away from us back down the mountain with instructions to “Keep left!” with a wave goodbye over her receding shoulder.

Don chose the longer smoother route to the top when I spied the way back to the same which was considerably steeper but shorter and in a burst of newfound energy, ascended beating him to the top by seconds.

The trip back down was considerably faster – and steeper – and fortunately all the jutting rocks faced upwards so if you kept your feet under you, you could stop yourself from tumbling to the bottom. So far the equivalent of a total of 98 flights of stairs and counting!  Ugh!

Once back aboard we were barraged with smokers trying to get their lungs in shape for the hot springs while I waited, desperate for a beer to wash down all the dust and sulfur fumes.
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A quick 30 minutes around the island and we saw the hot springs coming – or should I say the sulfurous mud pit?  It seems everything to do with a volcano has something to do with sulfur!  Again the warnings began, “Sulfur will eat your jewelry.”  “Sulfur will permanently stain your clothing.” “It’s a half mile swim to the mud pit!”  “Turn back now!”

Many hardier souls than us decided to brave the elements, some so skinny you could even see their bikinis beneath their huge bellies.  The more svelte were invited to dive over the side before the ladder was put in place for the less agile.

Life rings were liberally thrown out for those who overestimated their swimming abilities and many returned well ahead of the departure time, heaving and gasping as they were pulled unceremoniously aboard by the guide and the boat crew.  (One woman swore she would have made it if the boat hadn’t hit her.  Really?  We were tied to the boat next to us!)

A pleasant journey back followed, barring the smokers getting their lungs back into shape.  (Has anyone mentioned that all the young people smoke in Europe?  It was all I could do not to remind them that they’d soon be broke and hospitalized prior to a painful death.)

Fortunately we were on the opposite path of the cruise ship people again for our ascent in the cable cars.  The line back down the hill was easily a quarter of a mile long with people admiring their worthless trinkets and custom made sandals while we cruised right to the top of the hill and had a pleasant walk to our hotel, downhill for a change, for an afternoon of hot tubbing and sunset.

Day 3 was a hit all the way around and day 4 had to be just as good, right?

We started off our first full day in Rome at full blast.    We followed a walk called the “Heart or Rome walk”.  Below is  what we saw and we walked almost all of it.  (Technically, not on purpose).

St. Peter’s Square – We walked through and took pictures.  We are about 15-20 minutes walking distance from the square.  (We were just trying to get to the beginning of the walk and got sucked into St. Peter’s square. ) It is impressive and then we saw a castle and ran off to see that which lead to the Tiber River (We have all read about the river in history/geography, right?  Who wouldn’t  want to see it?)  At this point Joyce, told us to get a grip and  we needed to get on track.  We discovered the wonderful tourist maps that were provided have print so small that no one can read the street names without a magnifying glass.  This forces a lot of “Well, I think it might be via whatever discussions”.

Santi Celso E Guilano – Church Moment: This is a is a minor basilica church in Rome, Italy. It has held this status by custom and practice since ancient times. (We don’t know what made it minor except that it was little – pretty impressive to us and the first church that we could go in).  –  Church # 1 of the day

San Gregorio Magno al Celio – Church Moment: The church had its beginning as a simple oratory added to a family villa suburbana of Pope Gregory I, who converted the villa into a monastery, before his election as pope (590). Saint Augustine of Canterbury was prior of the monastery before leading the Gregorian mission. (More impressive – Another church that we could go into – still off track)  – Church # 2 of the day

Piazza Navone – After much map reading and back and forth, we discovered stop 3 on our walk. (We decided to skip 1 and 2 stops as they probably weren’t very interesting  and we would have to backtrack).  History Moment:  This square dates back to 80 A.D when it was a Roman athletic grounds.  (This would fall under Debbie’s Tour Guidelines – It is really, really old).  We were very happy to be here because well mostly because we found it and it did have some interesting things.

Fountain  of the Four Rivers –  This is part of the square and built by Bernini. Everyone posed for  first fountain pictures in Rome.  We would explain the fountain to you but you should just come and see it yourself.

Agnese in Agon – Church Moment: Sant’Agnese in Agone  is a 17th-century Baroque church.  This is the site where the Early Christian Saint Agnes was martyred in the ancient Stadium of Domitian.  Inside the church is also a shrine for Saint Agnes, containing her skull. (Church #3 – Yikes – not what we expected and this one had police guarding it and we aren’t sure why there were so many guards.  Larry kept sneaking pictures of the guards).

Joyce purchased roasted chestnuts and passed them around.  (Debbie even ate some).  Everyone was happy and smiles all around.  We had snacks, were on the tour and then things started to go wrong.  First, it started to drizzle, so we ate our chestnuts huddled under a canopy,  Then the dreaded map hand-off occurred.  Joyce turned to Debbie (Larry and Jerry ran to the back.  Debbie thinks that Larry might even have pushed her forward – chickens) and said “You find the next stop”.  (Joyce, you do a fantastic job.  We don’t want to lead, don’t you know that?).

So, off we left with Debbie in the lead to find the Pantheon.  After walking in the rain for awhile, it was obvious that Debbie was lost.  (Did we mention that Debbie and Larry did not bring umbrellas for rain jackets because it was such a nice day?  Jerry whipped out his dollar store jacket and suited up.  Joyce had her rain jacket.)  Debbie had soggy maps clutched inside her sweater like it is going to help.  Sometimes she would bring them out, squint at them for awhile and flip them over.

We took refuge from the rain in our 4th church of the day,  Basilica San Agostino  Church Moment:  The church contains the tomb of Saint Monica, mother of Saint Augustine, that of Fiammetta, lover of Cesare Borgia and a famous courtesan, and that of Olav Trondsson, archbishop of Norway 1459 – 1473. His tombstone has an  inscription meaning: “Here a cold stone covers the bones of Olav, to whom Norway rightly gave the holy chair.  ( Debbie says that she actually just wanted to work in another church before lunch and wasn’t lost.  Disregard that paragraph above).

We splashed our way to another church, San’t Eustachio – Church Moment: Named for the martyr Saint Eustace.  Church number 5 and close to the Pantheon.  (Debbie was circling, circling getting closer still raining).

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There were no churches left in the Pantheon area for Debbie to visit in the quest  for the Pantheon.  So, they stood dejectedly under cover waiting  until a friendly street vendor appeared.  Debbie and Larry purchased souvenirs of their trip which just happens to be two black umbrellas.  ( Lindsey, Jennifer, guess what Mom and Dad are bringing you back from their European vacation?)

Pantheon – History Moment:  Once a Roman Temple later a Christian church.  (We will count it as .5).  It has a hole in the top that water comes through. (We know because we stood in the rainwater but it was okay because our feet were already wet).  The two modern day kings of Italy are buried there.

After this stop, Joyce took the map back.  (Joyce,  this is a sign not to give the maps to Debbie.  It rains when she has the lead.  Nature intends for you to lead.  Debbie will lead you to a church)

Next stop Trevi Fountain.   History Moment:  This fountain shows how Rome took advantage of the water brought by aqueducts.  It was built to celebrate the reopening of several ancient aqueducts in the Renaissance / Baroque periods (1700s).  Under great personal duress, Debbie obtained several pictures of the fountain for you and had to run away from a taxi.  She thinks that she is probably in a 100 selfies of other people.  While Debbie was obtaining your pictures, she caught the others in liquor and bakery stores instead of looking at the fountains.  They said that they were looking for Debbie but all came out with purchases.

Joyce was in total map control and led us to the Spanish steps.  History Moment: 131 steps named for the Spanish Embassy to the Vatican, which has been here for 300 years.  We were expecting more.  There were many annoying tourists with selfie sticks.

We closed out the church extravaganza with one more church.  Eglise de La Trinite Des Monts Church Moment: Also very old and used to be the location of a vineyard.  Located across from the Metro.

At this point, we were tired and bought Metro tickets.  We had trouble finding the correct train, got yelled out by the workers because we couldn’t understand them, and eventually made it home.

So, we are declaring this day a church extravaganza of 7.5 churches in one day which is a high mark.  We know that the Greek boys are sorry that they missed it. We mostly just put churches  in the blog to keep track of church pictures.  Debbie is trying to get Larry, Jerry, and Joyce to pay here money for the research.  Joyce says that she won’t pay for “it is a really, really, old church.  Debbie says that if someone would stop handing her the maps that she could do better research.

The day began with a call to the front desk for our breakfast.  Almost instantly a menu was delivered. One from column A, one from column B?  I think not!  Multiple choices allowed. Well hey!  Pig out time!

This was followed by a trip to the biggest grocery store. Google seems to overestimate all times or perhaps it’s erring on the side of steep hill climbs?Fortunately going was indeed less time but with the return trip – the equivalent of scaling a small building – things averaged out, not counting the groceries plus three bottles of wine!

This required at least an hour of relaxation before another trip down the lunatic girly chat – okay really spell check? “Lunatic girly chat” for mountain?

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Let me just say the Greeks have it all over the French when it comes to fried potatoes and were pleasantly surprised to find the entire bill even with 4 large beers less than our 2 drinks from the previous night.

The price of a scenic view!

When  last left, we had been dumped on the street in front of our door armed with the secret password “Fausto”.  A waiter took pity on us and asked if he could help.  We said “Yes, Fausto”.  He replied “Oh yes, Fausto, I will call – sit”. Eventually, we saw Fausto hurrying down the street armed with keys and papers.  Debbie spotted him first and believe her first words were ” Here we go”.  He gave us about a 30 minute introduction and instructions to the flat.  He said that we were such nice people that he didn’t need a deposit.

The flat is close to Vatican City  and just too mind boggling for one person to describe.  So, we have asked our guests to describe some of their favorite features in an interview format.

Moderator:  Could you tell me what first struck you about the apartment?

Debbie:  Well, I especially like the extra security feature of the front door of the apartment building.  If someone over 5 ft 6 in is chasing you and you run through the door, they will hit their head on the door and knock themselves out.  (Jerry has tested the head hitting theory – he was just walking not running so did not pass out)

Debbie:  Oh, here is another one.  I like that it is family friendly.  It is right across from an Italian elementary school filled with children that have never heard of quiet time or the quiet game.  They certainly have some healthy lungs and sure can shout loudly.

Moderator:  That is enough from you Debbie, let someone else talk for awhile.

Larry:  This never happens…. We have 15 Italian electrical outlets in our flat and only  2 international converter plugs!  One of which is being used for the fire stick (Larry wanted to put this in so you would know that he got the TV working).  Every outlet is ready to go.  This is fantastic.

Joyce:  I have one.  There are such cute little knick knacks sitting everywhere. (Note to self:  Remember this for Joyce’s Christmas gift)

Moderator:  Let’s talk about the bathroom facilities:

Jerry:  I would like to weigh in on that one.  My favorite thing is the cozy little bathroom.  It is so small when I close the accordion door that I can’t pull my pants up without opening the door again.

Moderator:  Debbie, I heard that you were banned from the small bathroom’s shower.  Is this correct?

Debbie:  Well yes, I do have a history of flooding bathrooms across three continents.  (North America, Europe and Africa).  There was the belief that I might be an accident waiting to happen.  I do enjoy staring directly at the kitty cat shower curtain when I visit the small bathroom especially since the shower that I use has no shower curtain.  Larry, do you want to tell them about the special skill that you have developed in the shower?

Larry:  Yes, since there is no shower curtain, I have determined how to use less water, reduce my shower time and shower by body segments.  I am also quite taken with the bidet.  (Debbie has said NO!)

Debbie:  I am not finished with the bathroom.  I have also developed a special talent of taking a bath with no plug.  I take one of the nice plastic flowers and stick it over the plug and keep my heel in the middle of the plug.  (Don’t use the one covering the rust spot)

Moderator:  Joyce let’s talk about your favorite feature, the “Red Button”.

There is no meaning to a person making love when the erections that happen between the two of them. buying online viagra viagra price pop over to this page Folic acid is rich in vitamins and minerals. Prevent Health Disorders Prevention is the key to staying healthy viagra super and having increased power. This checks down the states of ED or impotency for accomplishing or keeping up men’s erection until the peak is achieved. cialis prescription http://www.unica-web.com/archive/2011/hana%20jusic.pdf Joyce: Absolutely, I would love to talk about the red button.  In any room that uses water, you must push the red button to get water for 1 hour.  This includes a button in the kitchen and one in each bathroom.

Moderator:  Wait, I don’t understand.  Has this ever happened to anyone?  Why would Fausto do this?

Joyce:  As best we can determine, there was a flood at some time.  Once this was done, Fausto put these in as a fail safe.  Yes, Debbie has had the water stop running on her a couple of times.  This means she has to stop what she is doing and go push the red button.  (We are working with Debbie on her vocabulary   along with tone of voice when this happens.  There are children across the way that might hear some inappropriate comments).

Moderator:  So there is no washing machine?

Debbie:  Well, no not exactly.  Fausto has arranged for us to take our laundry to a laundromat to have it done.  However, he has left 3 washers in the flat to use as work tables.

Jerry:  I’d like to get in on that comment.  We have also enjoyed hand washing some items and drying them in the windows so that the Italian children have an opportunity to see American socks.  We like to think of it as a cultural exchange.

Moderator:  Larry, I know how much you like your A/C, how is that working out for you?

Larry:  Good, good.  We have portable units in each room.  While I have not experienced any real issues, I have managed to get some good repair time in on Jerry’s unit and have set up a maintenance program.

Joyce:  Yes, since Larry started his A/C maintenance service we have not had to clean up the water on the floor.

Debbie:  Don’t forget the entertainment center in Joyce and Jerry’s room.

Joyce:  Yes, we have turned the beds into an entertainment room since we have the only TV in our room.  Jerry, Larry and I all have beds.  We just make Debbie sit on the end of Larry’s station.  (She is not always gracious about this).

Moderator:  Thanks to our panel.  I think that you have given our readers a good overview of the flat.  I couldn’t have done it better myself.

On an end of day note, the guests were treated to a Chinese dinner which made some guests happier than others.  We mentioned Fausto’s name as instructed and the waitress said that she had never heard of him.

Travel day dawned with high hopes and anxiety.   Everyone was concerned about riding the water bus with commuters and luggage.  (Debbie said that she didn’t know that Greg and Don could get up that early).  So everyone allowed plenty of time.  Greg and Don to the airport (See the new blog contributor) and the remaining four to the rail station with few issues. (Commuters, don’t like to get up that early either).

We think that Italia has an interesting philosophy.  Let’s follow a real life sequence of events for our 9 A.M. train from Venice to Rome.

8:30 – Don’t worry your platform will appear at 8:45 (This to all the Americans huddled in the Italia waiting room looking for anyone that spoke English and afraid to go out in the actual train station.)

8:50 – Will the train come soon?  Yes (Idiot Americans)

8:58 –  Is the train late? No, it is on time (Just thinking, that the train is supposed to pull out at 9:00 sooooooooo that means you have to announce it, load it, start the train in 2 minutes).

9:00 – Where is the train?  It is not late.  It is on time.

9:05 – The train is here on track 7 but it is not late.

The arrival of the train was followed by a mad rush to get on the train with luggage by everyone on the train.  It was a cut throat affair.  Larry quacked at different people several times and Debbie shouted out “Scusi” (She thinks that is Italia to cut someone off).  We were in the very last car and had scored a table.  At 9:15, the 9:00 on time train pulled out of the station on time.

Everyone had counted on sleeping on the train.  Originally, this did not work out as anticipated.  Across from our table, sat a college student that liked to talk  loudly to the American family (actually anyone) sitting at the table with her.  (Debbie is sorry that she is having trouble with her Spanish boyfriend, will have trouble getting a job in art security, and thinks that young people could save all of Italy from it’s problems if the old people would just give up their jobs.  Debbie is even sorrier that you had to retell these issues to the Spanish family that sat down next. )

We think there is pictorial truth as to what happened on the train.  Debbie and Larry partied for awhile and then even Larry also rested his eyes.  (You should probably not go to sleep on a train with Debbie.  She has some worse pictures than those.)

We arrived at the Rome station on time (Not really) but we did get up to 300 KM per hour.  It was very smooth.   The train station was a mad house.  It took awhile to get situated inside and then we took the madhouse out of doors.  Joyce called the flat owner, Fausto, to call a taxi for us.  Here was her report of the phone conversation.  “I have no idea what he said.  I can’t understand anything he says.  Someone else is going to have to talk to him.  I think a taxi is coming”.  (Larry, Jerry and Debbie refused to make eye contact in hopes that they would not be enlisted for the next call).  We finally decided to cross the street and wait for the taxi thus ensuing the first game of Italian Frogger. (This is the game when you try to cross the street,  no one stops  but tries to hit you).  Joyce stood with a sign saying “Fausto” on the edge of the street until Larry took over sign duty.  Fausto kept texting mysterious messages such as 3570 or 50 Sierra, a white cab (We never saw any cab not white).  “Tell them Fausto for the good price”.

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We all yelled back “Fausto, Fausto, Get in the cab”.

Joyce yelled back “We won’t fit!”.

We yelled back.  “Yes, we do.  Fausto.  Get in the cab!”  (More horns honking)

And then we were all in the taxi and Joyce said “Oh, well I guess we do fit!”

We are happy to report that the cab ride was only 20 Euro.  Fausto delivered.

Thus began our Roman adventure.

We are saving the Rome apartment description for our next blog.  It deserves it’s own blog.  You won’t be disappointed.

We are lucky to have a guest editor reporting on  Greg and Don’s trip to Greece.  They have proceeded the Italian 4 to Greece.  Please welcome “The Greek Boys”!

********************************************************

The Boys, try as they might, couldn’t compete with Les Cheap Girls and ventured off on their own to the Greek Isle of Santorini.

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The last day in Venice began with what else?  Another church.  We took the water taxi to the Isle of San Giorgio Maggiore to see the Basilica of San Girogio Maggiore.  It is the big church that can be seen across the water from Venice.  Here is a question that we know may have been bothering you.  What is the difference between a cathedral and a basilica?  A cathedral is the proper term for a church that is home to a bishop. A basilica may refer to anything from a church’s architecture to its importance to the pope, depending on its type.

We saw the Basilica of San Giorgio Maggiore.  It is a 16th-century Benedictine church  built between 1566 and 1610. The church is a basilica in the classical renaissance style.  We don’t really understand why it is a basilica even with the definition.  We did know that it is a nice church and very open.  Greg and Don went to the top of the Basilica but didn’t tell the others until they came down so it was unconfirmed.  It did violate some Les Cheap Girls rules.  (1) They paid and (2) rode an elevator.  (Debbie and Joyce don’t really think it counts if you take an elevator.

Since we were on the island, we decided to see other island hot spots.  Turns out that there were not a lot of them.  There was a special exhibit of the work by Paolo Venini, a famous Murano artist.  It met the Les Cheap Girls requirement of being free with the added incentive of being interesting.  (Greg would probably have been invited into Paolo’s back room – Les Cheap Girls would not).

We then went on a search for a Japanese tea house.   We wandered around into several dead ends before finding the tea house.  Debbie read about the tea house but can’t really explain what she read so here is her interpretation.  (Debbie’s Tour:  You go in this tea house  and you feel good about it.  Mostly you feel good about it because you found the tea house.   Only 2 can go in at a time but 30 can watch you. )

Now that we had looked at everything on the island, we went  back to Venice for lunch and the afternoon.  Joyce, Larry and Greg were extremely excited about the seafood special but only Greg picked seafood special. Every time one of Greg’s courses was served (Yes, they had a lunch with courses. ) Joyce and Larry looked sadly at Greg’s meal.  (Greg did not help the matter by smacking his lips and saying “It is so delicious).   They chose veal with tuna sauce (What happened to seafood, seafood, I love seafood?) .

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The final stop was the Museum of Natural Science.  We all enjoyed the museum better than the Museo di Pallazo Mocenigo.

We returned home and tried to eat all the food left in the flat accompanied by frantic packing for an early morning departure.