Arriverderci Roma...Again...from home

I have arrived home, safe and sound, once again. I am always quite thankful when I walk off the plane back in America. This time was especially meaningful after what had happened at the airport in Mumbai. My heart goes out to all of the people who experienced that terror, even though I am not aware of many of the details. I was thankful to arrive at the Leonardo DaVinci airport and see all of the armed guards everywhere. It was Justin's first time flying out of a foreign airport and he put it well, he said he felt like he was in a James Bond movie! He even spotted guards standing on a ledge around the top of the inside terminal. So we survived the 11.5 hour flight from Rome to Atlanta and by the time I reached home I'd been awake 24 hours, with only a 2 hr. nap on the long flight.

Our day in Roma left something to be desired with the weather, but even in the cold, dark, stormy day, it was magnificent! We didn't get to see nearly enough, but what we saw was thrilling! And the Trevi Fountain was my favorite place! I never expected it to be so huge and awesome! There is no way a picture can ever capture the magnificence of it! One has to stand there in person! And yes, we both threw a coin in the fountain, with our right hands backwards, so we will both be back in Rome!* We stopped at a little pizzaria and chose our pizza from a large selection. It is flat, rectangular and has a thin crust. They charge by the weight, then heat it up, fold it and hand it to you piping hot to enjoy! What a thrill! However I believe that the gelato was the highlight for Justin. He tasted several flavors before he made his choice and said it was the best food he had ever eaten! And the way it is displayed is appealing to the eye and stomach too! So we ate gelato in the cold rain next to the Trevi Fountain, not a bad way to spend a day!

I had dinner at the hotel, we stayed at the Hilton at the Airport so it would be convenient for our departure the next morning. I usually do it that way and once again I was not disappointed. They had a free shuttle into the city so that made it even a better choice. I have discovered that the convenience minimizes my stress level greatly. I didn't expect dinner at a hotel to be that impressive, but I asked the main dining room manager what pasta she would recommend for someone who had only the one meal to try something in Rome. She had the chef create a special dish, one that was not on the menu but is the most popular in Rome. It was noodles thicker than spaghetti and the sauce was divine! I could not tell you the name, of the noodles or the dish, but it was the most perfect last meal to have in Italy, without a doubt! Unfortunately I didn't have an ounce of room for the gelato, so that will have to wait until the next trip!*

Sitting safely at home I can reflect on this latest adventure and although it was not the best, there were some definite highlights that will make it memorable in good ways too. There was the fact that my British friends, Peter and Terry, were on the trip with me and seeing them was delightful! We didn't get to spend a lot of time together, but as always, they took good care of me and checked on me and helped ground me with all that I was dealing with! And as always they were a wealth of information, they are quite the travelers! And I was back in Mykonos and that was amazing! I loved the other Greek Islands too, each spectacular in a different way and they were a delight! The interesting sights and experiences, were as always, inspiring. And I know that Justin will have wonderful memories of his first trip to Europe.

*I had planned for this to be my last European adventure for a long, long time, but since there were challenges and bad weather that prevented us from seeing and doing everything I wanted, the next trip is in the planning stages. If all goes as planned, I will be flying to Rome to meet César for a few days during his vacation in January! (you know, I did throw that coin in the fountain!) It isn't a high tourist time so it is looking like we can put together a nice trip for a reasonable price, and being with him will make it a delightful, exciting trip, regardless of the weather, one which I am sure I will be content with as my last for a long time as I head back to work and school. So, as is typical for me, I am ending one international experience as I am planning the next.

One really never knows where life will take us!