Travel

Our travel adventure began with an uneventful trip to the airport via Gina Shuttle in her new Volvo. We arrived just as the SwissAir counter was opening and there was nobody in line ahead of us so it seemed the check in would be a piece of cake. And then they weighed our carry-ons! Both of us were over, me by 4 kilos and Amy by 10. Fortunately, their scale disagreed with mine at home since they felt there was still room for 2-3 kilos in each of our checked bags. So, there we sat, on the floor of Logan Airport, repacking all of our bags. The customer service representative conspired with us to allow us 10 kilos in each carry-on rather than the specified 8 so we were just able to get everything in. A few things went into our "personal item" which then went back into the carry on once we cleared customs. It was a good thing they didn't weigh my computer bag since it was actually heavier than my carry-on!

The plane ride was short (compared to Bangkok) and we transited through Zurich without a glitch. Our bags were checked directly to Italy so that was not an issue. We arrived in Rome approximately 5 minutes ahead of schedule and collected our bags which was where round two of fun began. Each of us had to negotiate with 3 rolling suitcases and a hand item totaling 145 pounds each. How do you pull three things when you only have two hands? Somehow, we made it to the train station where Amy quite adeptly negotiated the ticket purchase process at which point we realized the train we wanted to be on was 100 meters away and about to leave. Sprinting with the same baggage load was quite a spectacle but once again fortune smiled on us and we made it with a few seconds to spare thanks to the help of several onlookers who assisted us getting all of our luggage through the door.We had to change trains at Trastevere (in Rome) and then scoot north for almost two hours to Viterbo where we were met by Alessandra and Eleonora from the SYA who showed us to our apartment. The little car they brought was overflowing with our bags so I walked the few hundred meters to our apartment. It is literally that close to the train stop and yet still inside the old city walls.

Dinner of pizza at a place around the corner and then the unpacking of bags and exploring of the apartment ensued.