Arriva Derci Roma

26 December,
Arrivaderci Roma
Well the time has finally come to leave this part of Italy for the trip home; a little sad and a little exciting as well. We have both missed our boys and home, most especially on Christmas day.
Up early this morning to catch our trains, and as Sulmona and Introdacqua are still in the middle of their Christmas break there were none of the usual buses, and instead of the usual trains to Rome every 2 hrs; there was only two for the day. So to connect to the fast train to Milan we had to catch the train on time and this required a combination of e-mails and phone calls to our friendly personal taxi driver Alfonse.
I think he was a little sad to see us go as well, probably as taxi calls in Sulmona in winter are little slow; or maybe he will just miss the torture of listening to me butcher the Italian language.

We left Brad, Trish and Judy with a little sadness as they have made our trip more enjoyable, it was great to get back to our Villa after trips away and catch up on all the news and travels, this was usually done over a glass or two at one of the town bars.

Like a pair of traveling professionals we made it into Rome via two trains carrying all our worldly possessions like two fat snails. Why is it that the bags have increased in number and weight? Most of the bags have wheels but the Rome underground is full of stairs so we were glad to finally sit down on the fast train with a full tummy and all bags secured.The train was 40 minutes late and I think they are trying to make up time, they are entering tunnels at such a speed the cabin pressure increase is really hurting my ears. And when we run along side the motorway we are passing traffic as if it were standing still!

We are looking forward to a full day in Milan, it is our last day of Italy and it will be one of ice and snow as the big freeze gave this area of Italy a good thumping. It would be a real shame if the airport had to close again and we were stuck here for longer.

Linda’s Bit.

It’s Boxing Day and Russell has told you of our travels to this point. We are currently on the bullet train to Milano and it’s a brilliant time to catch up on our blogging.
I keep thinking of things to say and couldn’t get to write them down, so I have a little book of things to add that we want to remember form our journey.
As Russell explained it’s our final leg of our Journey. When Alfonse arrived in his Taxi to take us to the station he saw our luggage and asked if we were departing today.
“Treni Presto? Presto?” he asked. Now I have no idea what that means but Russ in his way has a knack of communicating even as he fractures as much of the language as he can. They just understand each other…
“No, no plenty time Alfonse, Treni 10.30am” Alfonse gave a nod and off we went on the ‘scenic route’ to the stazione.
It bought home to me why I feel so comfortable here. We could be driving the back blocks of Mildura, the little gardens and grape vines, the conite (rendered cement) houses and the beautiful dark red dirt.
The road kept getting narrower and narrower until finally we pulled onto a dirt road….Alfonse kept looking over to see Russell’s face with a big grin on his face saying what we think must mean “short cut”
“Hang on Alfonse, your not Mafia are you?” Russell asks him and honest to God I thought Alfonse would lay an egg he was cackling so hard!
In our lonely planet phrase book it said to be careful of not offending and to not mention the War; the Vatican or the Mafia. Obviously Russell didn’t read that section and the locals have delighted in his “political incorrectness”!!!! Gotta love him!

Christmas was wonderful, in Eva’s little fairy story house; nice and cosy with the central heating we feasted until there was no more room then watched “The sound of music” on the TV in Italian. It was wonderful. By 7.30pm I was nodding asleep in the chair and had tucked myself into beddie byes for the best nights sleep in ages, leaving the others to play cards for another hour or so.

The train just passed Firenze (Florence) next stop Bologna when we’ll lose our Italian older lady sharing our seats; who is off to morocco to walk and camel ride across some desert for two weeks. She’s by herself and I hope that when I’m her age I’m fit and independent and adventurous like she is.

Very nostalgic going through Rome for the last time. There are so many things we forgot to mention…like the one of us wise cracking that the “city of Rome is Monumental.”
Or the Gladiator outside the Colosseum who offered “Signora, I kill your husband for you…” waving his big sword at Russ “For Christmas!” I tell you I wondered at the “quanto costa” of that deal….
Or the two American tourists, declining the guided tour as they had a “Rome For Dummies” book each…wish I’d got a photo of that one.
I’ve looked back over our entries and each time I think of more I can add so when it comes to compiling time I’ll have to have an add on for each entry. It’s going to be an awesome coffee table book.
The other thing about this journey has been the time to contemplate where we are in our lives and what comes next. Our options have increased a thousandfold…the world really is our oyster and the things that seemed a big worry at home, fade into insignificance when compared to the really, really big picture.
So still more blog to come folks…the escapades of the boombahs is still underway. Will find some pics to go with this of our beautiful Christmas feast. Also shots from a little village we visited in Aquila province. Lots of damage still from the quake.
A whole day in Milan tomorrow so more news still to come….
Stay tuned……
Linda x
PS guess what friends….
Just had my first encounter with an Italian B#*@h who decided I was sitting in her seat when she boarded the train and really arced up when I explained that the carriage was almost empty and that there was room to sit anywhere. Our neighbours were I think embarrassed at her….the conductor came around and told her there were no special seats and the rest of the cabin gave her daggers and she left…was a bit scary how angry she was… ttfn
Linda