Why do I travel? I like to tell people I am a “lifelong learner.” So far, have not graduated from the “school of hard knocks.” Just after getting married, was drafted in the US Armed Forces. That big adventure was 1967-68, spending time in Vietnam. As one of the handful of advisors to the local province, Binh Dinh, learned a lot. First and foremost, you can’t believe all that you read (magazines & newspaper) or TV – reports from home regard what was shown. Typically, I felt the observations and interpretations were “incomplete,” not necessarily incorrect.
Was it the “whole truth?” Maybe.
To “learn” about anyplace, I feel I need to spend some time there. Not just what I see, but what did I - Do? Eat? My year there was spent at times traveling to other parts of the south part of the country. Like most places, something different in each area.
This adventure, we, Carol & I, do something different too. Plan an intergenerational adventure. Focus was on Road Scholar (RS) tour – Adventures Afloat: The Magic of Italy: A Grandparent Adventure by Riverboat. Program # 21395 July 8 - 17, 2015.
http://www.roadscholar.org/n/program/summary.aspx?id=1%2D6W4S1L&MC=
Summary: Program intended for grandchildren from 11 - 15 years of age.
Benvenuti in Italia! Let the River Po lead you and your grandchild on an unforgettable journey among the canals of enchanting northern Italy. Get your first taste of Italy in beautiful Verona, then step aboard a river barge for a five-night voyage back through the centuries, floating past tiny villages and lush landscapes and tasting the many flavors they produce. Come ashore again in Venice to learn about the canals, bridges, lagoon and medieval streets of one of Europe’s most magical cities.
After Carol & I agreed on that, asked 13 year old, Mya – are you interested? Without hesitation, answered – YES! One of her school friends told her about a trip her family took to Rome, this past summer. Mya asked, could we visit Rome too? Of course. Carol & I did an RS tour 2 years prior -
Italian Classics; Rome Florence & Venice Details @ Road Scholar #18206. We added extra days prior to the tour so she could visit the same locations we did – Rome plus Florence & Venice.
http://www.roadscholar.org//n/program/summary.aspx?id=1%2D4PBJNK&MC=
When our daughter, Mya’s mom Maggie, heard about the plans – asked – me too? Sure you and Dan can come to on the part prior to the tour.
So today, we all leave the same airport – but Maggie & Dan on a different flight since our reservations were made by RS.
Today’s Schedule
Get to Rome, using my 6 step process:
- Wake up at correct time. No problem today, since flight doesn’t leave until after 4 p.m.
- Taxi shows up when scheduled.
- Taxi gets us safely to airport.
- Get through TSA security check with no issues. All OK.
- Plane leaves on time – done.
- Planes arrives at correct airport – on time – done.
When “somebody” else does the logistical planning, everything looks, easy. My experience - far from easy.
In our case, where do we meet Maggie in Rome airport? What transportation do we take from airport to hotel – Taxi? Train? Bus? Are we both using the same map for hotel location? Whose name is the reservation made under? And, as I will find out in Venice – did I get a confirmation numbers after numerous notes to hotels to get reservations made correctly? I’ll save that story until we get to Venice.
Here are internet links for highlights:
Airport – FCO - Fiumicino
http://www.rome-airport.info/in.html
http://europeforvisitors.com/rome/transportation/rome-fiumicino-airport.htm
Taxi – Take white color cabs with rate posted on door.
http://www.roninrome.com/transportation/new-taxi-rates-take-effect-in-rome
Train - Maggie & Dan took train to Termini.
http://www.roninrome.com/transportation/leonardo-express-the-trenitalia-nonstop-train-to-the-fiumicino-fco-airport
Bus – We took T.A.M bus line. Got us to same Termini train terminal. Just 2 short blocks from hotel.
http://www.adr.it/en/web/aeroporti-di-roma-en-/pax-fco-bus
http://www.tambus.it/index.php?lang=en
Photo 1 – See. Saw that our plane was on time (-:
Photo 2 - Do. Flew high above the clouds for 5,500 miles / 9,000 kilometers with nary a bump.
Photo 3 - Eat. Nothing fancy since we ate most meals at home. Had cookies and coffee while we bid our time for cab ride to airport.
Click here for today's online photo album.
