The Best of Italy: First Day In Rome

by | Apr 24, 2022 | Italy, Travels | 0 comments

Ciao!

March 6 – The First Day in Rome

After three flights with a combined flying time of eleven hours, we finally touched down in Rome.
We waited for our transfer to the hotel to meet our tour directors and fellow travelers. The bus did not leave the airport for an hour and a half, so we had a little time to catch our breath and take in the moment ten years in the making.

At the Rome Airport, waiting for the bus to take us to the hotel

We saved money while searching for the perfect Italian vacation. We endured the heartache of having three previous trips canceled. And now, we were sitting in the Rome Airport. It felt surreal. My body was tired from being up for twenty-four hours, but my mind was racing with excitement knowing our journey was about to unfold. A million thoughts came to mind…  What would be our favorite city? Did we pack enough clothes for two weeks? Would Seppe and Lucca behave while at Happy Tails? However, the thoughts that kept coming up the most… Is this happening, or was I dreaming? I had to remind myself that we were at Rome Airport and about to discover our Italian dream.

Not only was my mind racing, but also my heart. My AppleWatch had notified me that my heart rate was above 120 beats per minute for longer than ten minutes with no physical activity. I was not nervous. Instead, I was beyond excited, filled with great emotion about the trip.

The bus was scheduled to leave at 3:30, but our hostess said it would be closer to 3:45 because more people were a part of our tour had not yet arrived. The time quickly passed, but thankful we had this opportunity to rest. We had never experienced a flight longer than four hours or having to make three flights in less than twenty-four hours. Our hostess left the waiting area after we talked with her. By 3:40 pm, she had not yet returned, and I wondered if we correctly understood her. We went outside to look for her and our bus. A cabbie came up to us, offering us a ride to the hotel as we looked around. He didn’t speak much English, so I didn’t understand what he was trying to ask. I mentioned Trafalgar, the bus, and the hotel’s name. He just looked at me strangely. I said NO, and we walked away because I knew we wouldn’t be going with him to the hotel. We walked to the entrance and went back to the waiting area. At this point, a gentleman walked up to me and asked if we were waiting for the Trafalgar bus. We said that he and his wife were also waiting for the bus and that they had seen us when we talked to the hostess. We spoke only briefly when the hostess arrived and told us we were ready to leave. As we walked back outside, and the same cabbie came up to us again and offered us a ride to the hotel. Again, I said NO; we continued to follow the hostess.

We were on the bus, ready for our thirty-minute ride to the hotel a few moments later. The journey gave us a glimpse of the sights of Rome. Our hotel was located near Vatican City, in the heart of Rome’s city center. Our bus driver Vincenzo maneuvered the large charter bus from the highway to the narrow city streets with ease, around the mopeds, bicycles, and minicars. Vincenzo parked the bus in the hotel’s parking area, located in a city’s residential area.

We arrived at 4:15 pm. We walked inside, where Sally and Iya waited for us. As our tour director, Sally would be leading us on our journey for the next two weeks. Ilya, our well-being director, would ensure that COVID protocols were followed and that everyone was taken care of. We had a few forms to sign, tags to add to our luggage, and to get our room keys. Sally let us know that we didn’t have much time to settle in. We were to meet in the lobby at 5:30 pm for a bus tour of the city and a Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant.

We made our way to the room on the third floor and realized that we had only one hour to get acclimated before we had to leave. We thought, WOW, this is amazing. We are already getting started. In less than five hours, we arrived at the Airport, gathered our luggage, went through customs, met our hostess, waited for the bus, traveled to the hotel, met our guides, and checked in. And now we are on the bus again, touring the city. One of the many mind-blown experiences that this trip had to offer.

The bus departed from the hotel, and for the next hour and a half, we experienced many treasures of Rome. Sally provided us with information about the next thirteen days, as she called them, the practicalities; and a little bit of the history of Italy and Rome while providing details about the things we saw – the Colosseum and other ancient ruins, the Vatican and other religious markers and the shopping districts and other modern aspects. The City of Rome is described as a lasagna because it is made up of multiple layers built on top of each other, just like a lasagna would be.

We arrived at San Marco Restaurant for our Welcome Dinner, the first of many dinners together. We sat at a table that included Ron and Marilyn, the couple we met at the Airport, and Margie from Tazmania, Australia. The dinner was designed to allow the travelers to get to know each other and settle in. The dinner offered a traditional Italian meal with bruschetta, meats and cheeses, salad, pizza, and dessert. Each course came out individually – first the bruschetta, then the meats and cheese, followed by the salads. The server brought two pizzas to the table for everyone to share. We didn’t realize that they would continue to bring more pizzas. We lost count of the number, but it had to be at least ten different types before they brought out the desert. But the crust was super thin, so eating one piece was like eating one bite of a traditional thick American crust. I enjoyed all the varieties – cheese, mushrooms, and meats. The only exception was the one with sardines on it, which tasted too fishy for my liking.

We talked with our companions and learned about their travel experiences while taking part in a non-stop meal with all of the pizza delivered to our table. I knew that this was going to be a truly memorable experience. And my expectations were right on the mark.

On our way back to the hotel, Sally let us know what to expect tomorrow during our time at the Vatican and the Colosseum and the tour that would take us through the streets of Rome. We arrived back at the hotel with a stomach full of Italian favorites and a mind full of anticipation. This was no longer a dream but a reality.

The Best of Italy: Arriving In Rome

by | Apr 9, 2022 | Italy, Travels | 0 comments

Ciao,

March 6 – Connecting Flights in London / Arriving in Rome

To have been to London Heathrow Airport is to understand this part of our journey to Rome.

We disembarked our plane at London Heathrow Airport in Terminal 3 and had to make our way to Terminal 5. We followed the signs, turning several corners, heading down long corridors, and turning more corners. The fast-pasted walk had lasted more than ten minutes when we reached an escalator, going down. In my naivety, I assumed we were now in Terminal 5. Instead, the escalator took us to a bus station. I realized that a ten-minute bus ride would finally take us to Terminal 5. When we left the bus, I thought we would soon find our gate and get ready to board the plane. I didn’t realize that the journey was beginning. We had to follow more signs directing us to Terminal 5.

Riding the Bus to Change Terminals at Heathrow Airport

We past the British Airways customer service desk and finally arrived at the point where we had to go through security. We had to scan our passports and boarding passes to access the next part of our journey. However, my boarding pass was not accepted on the scanner. I was told to return to the customer service counter for further assistance. Thankfully that was just a few steps away, although we had to wait another ten minutes. The agent examined my boarding pass and was unsure why it didn’t work, but she issued us new ones and said there shouldn’t be any problems. I asked her about our departure gate. She said that we would be able to find that out when we went through the checkpoint.

We went back to the checkpoint and were able to scan the passports and the new boarding passes, and they worked without any issue. A large group of people was huddled near an escalator going up. At the top of the escalator, I thought we would find the screen telling us our gate number. Little did I know that at the top of the escalator was where the line began to go through the actual security checkpoint. If you travel not that much, please remember to fill one plastic bag with liquids you think you will need on the plane. To our surprise, the airport had plastic bags available for people who didn’t bring one. If you bring your plastic bag with you, it’s effortless to pull out and put it back in, and you will not have to worry about your lotions and perfumes being thrown away. We had to work our way to the security agents and X-ray machines. We had to take off our coats and remove our electronics and plastic bags of liquids out of the backpacks. After that, we each had to walk through the security while keeping an eye like a hawk on all our belongings going through the conveyor. After we went through security, we gathered up everything, found a seat to make sure we checked we had everything and then proceeded to find our gate. The time was now 9:45 am.

We found the screen that had gate information. Our flight was listed, but the gate was not. It indicated that the gate would be announced at 9:50 am. We waited five minutes, but still no gate information. It wasn’t until 10 am that the gate was announced with a departure at 10:40 am—more on that a little later.

Having a little time before we needed to board the plane, we stopped in Harrod’s, next to the security checkpoint and departure gate screens. My wife and I have seen the iconic London store on many television shows and had hoped that we would get an opportunity to go into the actual store one day. We didn’t expect to see at the London airport. We picked up a few things, including English tea and a journal. Now off to our gate.

Harrods Department Store at Heathrow Airport

Our flight was assigned to Gate A10. According to the sign, the gate was just to the right of Harrod’s. We walked down the terminal, following the sign for A10. The next sign directed us to the right and then down an escalator. As we reached the lower level, I realized Gate A10 was divided into five additional gates, so our actual gate was A10C. We sat down in the designated area for A10C. Checking out our surroundings, I looked around for where our plane was but didn’t see it. I didn’t think anything about it as we waited for our boarding time. At 10:30 am, the gate agent began to call people to start boarding the plane, but no plane was nearby. She announced that the first group of people would be able to board the bus to get on the plane. A little confused, I didn’t say anything. When our group was called, I realized that a bus would take us from the gate to the plane. We departed the bus and then walked up the steps into the airplane. You can say it was the old-fashioned way of getting on a plane.

We didn’t realize until writing this post that the flight’s departure time that been changed from 9:40 to 10:40 am, and actually, the plane did not leave until after 11:00 am. The additional time was needed to change terminals and go through the security checkpoints. We had to fill out a declaration form for the Italy government that we were coming into their country COVID-free and that we tested negative within the last 72 hours. The flight crew collected the declaration and said they would take care of it for us. Our final flight took just over two hours and went by fairly quickly. We arrived in Rome just after 1:00 pm, ahead of our scheduled arrival time.

Once we departed the plane, we trekked to the baggage claim area to retrieve our suitcases. With three connecting flights and departure time changes, I prayed that our bags would arrive safely. Our journey from the airport to the baggage area took a while, so we didn’t have to wait long when we arrived at the baggage area.

We retrieved our suitcases and made our way through the customs checkpoint. We met our tour group representative around 1:45 pm. Our bus would leave for the hotel at 3:30 pm, so we had time to grab a bit to eat and relax before our true journey would begin.

The Best of Italy: The Journey Begins

by JTwisdom | Apr 4, 2022 | Italy, Travels | 0 comments

Ciao

Saturday, March 5, 2022 – Departure Day

The bags are packed. The COVID test results are negative. The travel documents are double-checked.
It is time to make our way to Italy. After dreaming for years, it is hard to imagine that the day is finally here.

I attempted to check in with the airline the day before. I needed to upload our contact tracing form and COVID test results into our passenger profiles. I mistakenly uploaded the rapid test instead of the standard test. The rapid test results were received on Wednesday, but the required date had to be Thursday or later. After a call to the airline, the agent advised that we arrive at the airport three hours before the flight so that they could review the itinerary and the COVID tests and get everything processed. Our flight out of Saint Louis lifted off at 2:55 pm, so we had plenty of time to get to the airport and get checked in. I planned to get to the airport by noon anyway, so we didn’t need to make any adjustments to our schedule.

Just before leaving for the airport

We woke early, said our morning prayers, and prepared for the day. We loaded up the jeep, ate breakfast, and were ready to leave home by 10:30 am. We dropped off our puppies Seppe and Lucca at Happy Tails, the spa kennel that we have been using for years. However, this was the first time they would be staying there for two weeks. I wanted to provide detailed instructions for their care and feeding. Our home, the kennel, and the airport are near each other, so there was not much time to get from home to the kennel and then to the airport. We arrived at the airport parking lot by 11:30 am. The first lot we tried was full, so we had to go to a second, which was larger and had many more open spots. We rode a shuttle to the airport terminal from the parking lot and arrived right at 12 pm. Perfect timing.

When we walked into the terminal, we found the American Airlines ticket booth just a few steps to our left. We had to wait a few minutes while the ticket agent assisted another family. We provided her with our passports, COVID test results, and confirmation number when it was our turn. I had more documentation at the ready in case she asked for it. However, she didn’t, and we were good to go. She tagged our luggage and put them on the conveyor belt without weighing them. All that rearranging the suitcase for nothing, but oh well.

After getting our boarding passes, we walked downstairs to go through the security checkpoint and make our way to the departure gate. We didn’t need to take anything out of our backpacks or take off our shoes at the Saint Louis airport. Our airport is small by comparison and the number of people going was minimal. This was by far the quickest and easiest security checkpoint that we encountered during our entire trip. With only a few people in line, we settled at our gate a little past 12:30 pm.

I was thankful for a smooth check-in process and that we were ready for our first of three flights. We had just over two hours before we would take off for Chicago. Looking back at it now, we didn’t need three hours to get checked in. However, I would rather be early and wait at the gate than rush through the airport to get to the gate before the airplane leaves.

We boarded the plane at 2:25 pm and departed on time. Our quick flight to Chicago was just over an hour. We arrived in the Windy City just after 4 pm, almost two hours before our next departure. Our flight to London was scheduled to leave at 5:50 pm. We quickly transitioned to our departure gate because we did not have to change terminals or go through any security checkpoints. By the time we found the gate, we had over an hour before boarding would begin. Since it was a long time since breakfast, we found a Wolfgang Puck’s Bistro for a quick sandwich and chips. We would be getting dinner on the plane, but we didn’t know what it would be or how long it would be before eating.

We returned to the gate and had thirty minutes before boarding would begin. The boarding process started about an hour before the scheduled departure time because the international airplane’s capacity was more than the typical domestic plane, with the third set of seats in the middle of the plane. More people on the aircraft meant that we had less room to store our backpacks. By the time we got to our seats, the overhead storage bins were full, and there was not any free space anywhere near us. We didn’t want to be so far from our bags, so we stored them under seats. There was enough room, but our feet had a tight fit, and difficult to find a comfortable spot.

The flight to London was seven hours and there was a six-hour time difference. Leaving Chicago at 6 pm meant that we would arrive the following morning at 7 am. Not long after takeoff, we enjoyed our dinner, BBQ chicken with peppers and rice, and a salad. It was just enough since we ate not long before. Once we finished dinner, we tried to sleep, knowing that by the time we arrived in London we didn’t have much time to catch our next flight to Rome. Getting to sleep was not hard, but staying asleep was. The turbulence hitting the plane, people walking by for the bathroom, and just trying to get into a comfortable position meant that asleep was often interrupted, not to mention having to sleep with a mask on. The CDC still required masks to be worn the entire time on the plane, with the exception of eating and drinking. I found myself waking up and having to take the mask off so I could get some fresh air. As we approached London, the cabin crew came back around with a quick breakfast of yogurt and granola. Just enough to get the day started off right.

In the air, over London

We arrived at London Heathrow Airport 45 minutes early, which proved to be needed to make our connection. We arrived in Terminal 3 but needed to get to Terminal 5 for the next flight scheduled to depart at 9:50 am. We now had almost three hours before leaving so I thought we would have a chance to rest before leaving. Little did we know that the most intense part of the journey was just beginning. We will be sharing our experience at London Heathrow Airport and our arrival in Rome in the next installment.