Travel Blog Posts - Day 1

 To start at the beginning of my Italy trip, click here.

Then proceed to each day by clicking "newer post" at the bottom left of each post or navigate through the days in the right navigation panel.

Grazie!

Trip, Food, Stats

13 days in Italy

152,294 steps

67 miles walked (rounded up since I swam in the Golfo di Napoli and the pool two times each, in Sorrento. I left my watch in hotel room.)

Gained 3.5 lbs. (This is a big win! See all the food below?)

934 photos

Various treats along the way 

            

Rome - 3 nights

    

        

Pompeii - stop on the way

    

Sorrento - 2 nights

     

Capri and Anacapri - day trip

    

Florence - 3 nights

      

     

Pisa - day trip        

   

Padua - stop on the way

Venice - 2 nights

Sirmione - stop on the way

Milan - 2 nights

    

Lugano, Switzerland - day trip

Lake Como - day trip 

Reykjavik, Iceland (airport) 

    

My trip of a lifetime! So thankful and blessed!

7/29/2023 Saturday - back to America

What a day!

The final four, Maria, Toni, Mike, and me left for airport at 8:45. After hugs, Anna and I left them to go to their gate. Anna showed me where to get checked in for my United flight. It was too early for me to check in. She returned from the counter and told me my flight was canceled. I checked my email and received the notice ten minutes prior. That is when the craziness ensued! Phone calls, customer service lines, walking all over to get to the right people. United booked me on flight to Frankfurt on Sunday morning then to Chicago Sunday night, home by 10pm a day late. Then I started looking online and found an IcelandAir flight from Milan to Chicago via Reykjavik, arriving in Chicago at 9pm Saturday! I called and got it booked. Anna had to leave to catch her train back to Rome. I got checked in, did my tax refund paper, and got to gate. It was very confusing but I made it. Business class, very comfortable, and wonderful meals and service! Landed and was in Iceland Airport for just short of two hours. Through passport line for stamp and bought a couple souvenirs and got to gate. I was on chat hold for about an hour to cancel that other flight. Had to disconnect since my flight boarded. Another excellent flight with great service and food. Picture of Greenland from the plane as well as a beautiful sunset. Landed, deplaned, customs, baggage, and Sally picked me up. She has two grandkids that I know from Central High School, small world.

 

Home at 12:15. Got on phone right away with United to get flight canceled. Was sooooo tired since it was 6am in my mind and body with just two hours sleep on flight. My mistake was laying down while on chat hold and falling asleep. About an hour and a half later I woke and then couldn’t fall back asleep so I got up about 5am and switched laundry and watched Netflix while on chat hold and voice hold with United. Finally, the chat hold connected to an agent first and he canceled the two flights.

Next steps are to file claim with my travel insurance to reimburse me for the Iceland Air flight that got me home!

Happy birthday to Madi! Such a memorable day in 1992 and 2023!

Ciao!

7/28/2023 Friday - Milan and Lugano, Switzerland

A busy last day is in the books! We started early and went to Lugano Switzerland. It was about an hour and a half pretty drive. We drive past the Italian Alps, beautiful! We were there for a couple hours in a large shopping area and Lake Garda. Very expensive there! No sightings of George Clooney I’m sorry to say. Toured with the Montana Trio.

Loaded bus again and went to Lake Como for the rest of the day. I toured with Pat and Al. First we walked a little bit and had lunch then they went through a church while I looked through some tourist stands. Next was a boat ride around Lake Como. Such a relaxing ride! Got checked in for my flight during this boat tour. Made our way back to the bus and headed home.

Met in lobby at 7 to bus to dinner out. Good meal with the family! The last supper :(  Talked, ate, drank, talked, ate, drank, tal…well you get the idea! Had limoncello after dinner and an espresso. Everything was very good! 

We took pictures in restaurant and pictures with bus driver, Mirko, and tour guide, Anna. I kid you not, Mirko parallel parked the bus on several occasions! Amazing! We started to say good byes as we left the restaurant. Of the 40 on this tour, we have four airport trips starting at 4am and ending at 8:45. Thankfully, I am one of the final four with Maria, Toni, and Mike leaving at 8:45.back at hotel the hugs continued.  Think Brynne and I hugged about 5 or 6 times. We had the best group ever as well as the best tour guide and bus driver! We took a few more group pictures and sang a little 🎶 Volaré, ooooh 🎶 🎶

Ciao!