And So This DOES Come to an End!

November 25, 2010

And HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

I have said this blog was over, and I really thought that I was through writing about my trip to Italy and Spain. And I really meant it! But then I would think about some more things I wanted to add. But this WILL be my final post-for this blog at least! I am clearly back from Rome and Sardinia and Spain....
I returned home four weeks ago yesterday. On November 5th, I had foot surgery on my left foot (at least I can drive!), so my “re-entry” was slowed a bit. There was three months of mail to go through, although I had paid most of my bills on line while I was away. I needed to (quickly) get out my winter clothing and put away the clothes I had lived in for three months. (I am still delighted that I had a minimalist wardrobe for the smallest “wheelie” suitcase in a four piece set! Its weight hovered around 33 pounds to stay within the Ryanair requirements. My one carry-on weighed roughly fifteen pounds, although it was only weighed for one flight of the six Ryanair flights.)
Writing my blog helped me to remember most of what I had seen and done while I was away, as well as sharing my travels with friends and family. (I did forget to include the sad turtles I saw-one was on Sardinia trying to climb up onto the sidewalk, and the other was in Aquilas crossing the street on the way to the Cope beach. I used a Google template, although I was late to learn that I could see how many people where following my escapades, as well as where they lived. I still don’t know who in Korea was reading it, but the statistics information was really interesting. I loved everyone’s comments and emails giving me feedback! It is too bad the Comment section is not too user-friendly, however!
I’ve heard back from some of the friends which I made along the way, so that has been great! I love to think that we might meet up again and share travel stories and a glass of wine! Francesca’s later Couch Surfing friends are benefitting from the Sardinia travel book which I left with her, as I lightened my load. Gloria’s husband has suffered from major heart attacks and surgeries on Tenerife, but his recovery sounds most promising. He will be home in early December. Kathy, our next door neighbor in Aguilas, is back home in Glouceseter, England, which she says is COLD, but their return to Aguilas is scheduled.
Before I had left in August, I had talked with someone in the Newton Adult Ed program. So shortly after I returned home, I lead a two hour session at the Newton Adult Education program on Vacation Home Exchanges. Thirteen people signed up for it, although only eight people actually came. One of the first woman who came to the class said, "I've been so looking forward to this class ever since I read about it in the catalogue! I've always wanted to do this, but I wanted more information!" That was a great start, and I was delighted. So I've been contacting other cities and towns in the area who have similar programs to see if they might like to add this to their program. At this point, it looks like six other communities are interested! However, I was cautioned that some of them do not get a good response for adult programs....In any event, I've decided to blog about what I've learned about Vacation Home Exchanges...at http://AtoZofVacationHomeExchanges.blogspot.com! It will not be limited to home exchanges, I am sure I will digress and talk about other travel topics, but I especially want to share my vacation home exchange experiences. I hope you will check out that blog also. Thank you very much for following my wonderful trip with me!

Last post on Wednesday

Ending a blog is not easy...there always is just one more thing to say! AND it does mean that my wonderful trip is REALLY OVER! So my last post will be on Wednesday, as that will mark my fourth week at home! For all my countdowns before I left, I've not counted much now that I'm home! (But I am looking to future trips!) Ten days after I returned, I had foot surgery on my left foot. Everything has gone well, and I'll be driving with a boot until December 16th!
Thanks for coming back...see you on Wednesday!

PS.My notes from the train as I left Venice

I had forgotten to add these notes which I made on my Blackberry on the six hour train trip from Venice to Rome the day befiore I left....


So I watch Italy fly by f 6 person comprt. Many tunnels block the view. Makes my ears pop a bit. Andy&Megan, Ping, Marco. Really wonderful to have made this jy. Firenze, Bologna, Padua, Maestre, Arezzo at 5:12, Did I ever hear of Arezzo before? Rigutino. Camucia. We don't even slow down as we pass Castilon. We stop at Terontola. That is ter-on-tola. Panicale.
Chiusi-Chianciano Terme.(Conductor called out Chiusi ChiaTerm) Hope I can find place nr Termini for big plate of pasta but may just head to the airport.
Very flat here. Evergree tree farms. Fields brown & raked & quiet unil nxt year. Lovely cloud formatns advertise sunny days ahead. People walkg home f work. Lvs on trees show foliage colors of reds & yellows& rust. Another conductor checks my ticket . Flat fields fly by.
laundry dryg on balconies filled w chairs&plants&misc things to make living easier.
Sun has come out to say goodbye!
Countryside, rivers, rushg streams
Hills, acres or hectares of vineyards
Waitg for harvest! Parallel to highways. Church steeples. I'm hanging on to remember it all-miss nothing! On top of the trees.another long tunnel. Ugly power wires! Subaru Forester in a field looks abandoned, but too new to have been.
Man w cart walks by callg out misc food items for sale. Can only make out cappicino f mumble. Vendors at the ballpark are far more articulate. His enunciation lvs MUCH to be desired!plus sm box of candy was €2.50!

Now it is time to reflect. Look forward; look back! 70 is just a number. "I thought you said she was 70!"
Every big trip is the trip of a lifetime!
Takg pix need to go to camera shop to see why it doesn't do what I think it should! So I'm defly nearly home thinkg that way!
Gamey fellow travellers crowded into this compartmt now! Most of them are sleepg.
SPECTACULAR SUN! After2 gray days of rain le sol e bellesimo!
The electronic traveller w head phone, Blackberries, ubiquitous mobile phone.
On the other hand I truly can not get on the plane soon enough tomorrow!
I've got my Kindle out & have read some of Crime & Punishmt but also Ca Rezzonico book which is only major tourist purchase I made. So if Kindle loses power I can read my tourist book.
I've abt another 90 minutes on the train and luckily it is till light. I DO want to make this last! Interstg to watch wires dip as we pass them. Are they electrical wires? Man ridg a white horse. And I'm sittg backwards. Tough now to keep my eyes open. Towerr w 7-8 levels to climb alongside tracks for? "I'm king of the castle?"
FAST train way over on another set of tracks.
Now a bit over an hour to Roma!
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