13 October '05, Thursday
First just a quick up-date on the last couple days. Tuesday we just hung around the campground and did "nothing", but a little catch up on a little laundry. Wednesday we stayed in camp until 3 and then caught the campground bus down to the train station into Rome. We didn't want to see or do anything "sightseeing" before Ann arrived, so we just went looking for a cash machine and a grocery store. We were never able to find a grocery store, but we finally found a cash machine...we were down to $0.70 in my pocket. Taking care of that, we caught the next train back. The train station is about a 20 minute walk from the campground, and they have a bus that makes the trip every half hour. While waiting for the bus, we did find a "mini-market", so we picked up a couple of items there. We did see something interesting on the street in front of the grocery store. On one side of the street was the grocery store and a "tobac" shoppe, and then on the other, is a concrete wall that stands about 3 1/2 feet tall. Lined along this wall, were about 30 men, all in a joyful converstation and each enjoying a beer. Fact is, they had been enjoying quite a few beers...the top of the wall was filled with tall bottles. They could go into the mini-market, buy a large beer for less than a Euro, take it across the street, lean on the wall with all their buddies, and enjoy a "beer hall" of their own without the cost of one. Well, today is the day..."Auntie Ann" arrives from Spokane. We left early for the airport so that we could look for a super market along the way. The only market we did find, was in a small town about 5 miles beyond the airport, but the important thing is, we did find one and it was a good one... We found everything we were looking for and for Italian standards, a good value as well. Leaving the grocery store, we headed off for the airport with about 30 minutes to spare before Ann was to land. Fortunately the time of landing and the time of her actually coming out of the airport to meet us in front of "C" terminal, was much different. Fact is, it was about 45 minutes additional...AND WE NEEDED IT... I just don't understand it, just when you feel you have everything under control, you are hit by a sign that is either missing or non-existent. We got lost again...fact is, we were lost for about 45 minutes. Luckily enough, we did beat Ann to the pick-up area, although Louise went in one door looking for her and Ann came out another...now where is Louise??? While I was "triple" parked for over 20 minutes, the police lady came up and wanted me to move. We were now without my wife... OK, Louise found, Ann has arrived and made her trip out to the campground, checked in, had dinner, and is now having a "family" conversation with her sister (Louise). I just to let everyone at home know that all the conversation is "totally about them", the juicy stuff... Tomorrow...Rome
First just a quick up-date on the last couple days. Tuesday we just hung around the campground and did "nothing", but a little catch up on a little laundry. Wednesday we stayed in camp until 3 and then caught the campground bus down to the train station into Rome. We didn't want to see or do anything "sightseeing" before Ann arrived, so we just went looking for a cash machine and a grocery store. We were never able to find a grocery store, but we finally found a cash machine...we were down to $0.70 in my pocket. Taking care of that, we caught the next train back. The train station is about a 20 minute walk from the campground, and they have a bus that makes the trip every half hour. While waiting for the bus, we did find a "mini-market", so we picked up a couple of items there. We did see something interesting on the street in front of the grocery store. On one side of the street was the grocery store and a "tobac" shoppe, and then on the other, is a concrete wall that stands about 3 1/2 feet tall. Lined along this wall, were about 30 men, all in a joyful converstation and each enjoying a beer. Fact is, they had been enjoying quite a few beers...the top of the wall was filled with tall bottles. They could go into the mini-market, buy a large beer for less than a Euro, take it across the street, lean on the wall with all their buddies, and enjoy a "beer hall" of their own without the cost of one. Well, today is the day..."Auntie Ann" arrives from Spokane. We left early for the airport so that we could look for a super market along the way. The only market we did find, was in a small town about 5 miles beyond the airport, but the important thing is, we did find one and it was a good one... We found everything we were looking for and for Italian standards, a good value as well. Leaving the grocery store, we headed off for the airport with about 30 minutes to spare before Ann was to land. Fortunately the time of landing and the time of her actually coming out of the airport to meet us in front of "C" terminal, was much different. Fact is, it was about 45 minutes additional...AND WE NEEDED IT... I just don't understand it, just when you feel you have everything under control, you are hit by a sign that is either missing or non-existent. We got lost again...fact is, we were lost for about 45 minutes. Luckily enough, we did beat Ann to the pick-up area, although Louise went in one door looking for her and Ann came out another...now where is Louise??? While I was "triple" parked for over 20 minutes, the police lady came up and wanted me to move. We were now without my wife... OK, Louise found, Ann has arrived and made her trip out to the campground, checked in, had dinner, and is now having a "family" conversation with her sister (Louise). I just to let everyone at home know that all the conversation is "totally about them", the juicy stuff... Tomorrow...Rome