camanoescape – The Wagnerson's Travel Adventures

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It has been over 30 hours since we arrived at SeaTac airport on Wednesday to catch our first flight on our trip to Italy.  We arrived in Venice with it pouring down rain late afternoon today (Thursday).  Our Air France non-stop flight from LAX to Paris, France was amazing in every way.  Little sleep was had, however……maybe 20 minutes tops.  We all ended up having to check our carry on suitcases in Los Angeles because Air France has a 39 pound total weight limit for both of your carry-ons.  Oh well, the trip went off without a hitch.  I was able to practice our trip motto…..”Attitude is everything…enjoy the journey!”   Despite the rain in Venice, we took a water taxi from the airport to our hotel.  The excitement was too much for Lynda and Barb as they hugged celebrating our long awaited arrival.  The internet here is painfully slow, so we’ll have to figure our a better way to load the pictures.  In any event, after fresh clothes and a shower we are off (around 9:00 pm) to sample the food wares of Venice!  Great pasta and we’re back in our hotel at 11pm (2:00 pm Seattle time).  Boy am I tired.  Tomorrow brings new adventures.

Wow,we really did it, We’re in Italy. Thanks to Kristin and Kevin for a great send-off dinner at 13 Coins. Soooo fun, First class on Air France was amazing. Pretty sure that’s the life to which I’d like to become accustomed. Thanks to my husband for all his hard work that got us here. Sitting in our beautiful hotel room taking in the sights, sounds and ,yes Lynda, the smells of Venice. The adventure begins!

Well I am here looking at my CARRY ON suitcase all packed for our Italy adventure. Wasn’t sure all would fit but after many tries it is ready!! Hairspray is my biggest concern cuz I just know Italy does not carry my brand. As you can see my concerns are very trivial if hairspray is the biggest. REALLY…….EVERYTHING IS PACKED!! Dale and 1 are sitting here waiting to leave for the airport on Tuesday. I know something will fill our time. Until then…..Ciao. Lynda

The suitcase is packed and we are so close to actually leaving for “the TRIP.”  After 4 months of study, I made it through level 2 and into level 3 (out of 5) of Rosetta Stone Italian language learning program.  Whoooo that’s a lot of stuff to cram into this now 60 year old brain of mine.  I think however, if I happen to see a woman running or a man swimming or a bambino eating…..I should be able to accurately describe it. 🙂  I guess by now I will need to finish level 3 in sort of an on-the-job-training situation in Italy.  I wonder if a glass or two of Chianti while I’m trying to learn over there will actually help the situation.  Mmmmmm, probably not but after a glass or two, maybe I won’t be worried about correct pronunciation!

Are the roads safe to drive on in Italy? Well, the long answer is yes, they used to be. Until today, when I got my International Drivers License! There is no place safe in Europe, at least until they catch me. Hellooooo Perugia! Can I have Amanda’s old cell?

Here is a picture of our actual ride as we visit the Sirens up and down the Sorrentine and Amalfi coasts.  There doesn’t appear to be a mast that we could be strapped to like Ulysses had done to himself so he wouldn’t jump overboard to his death in attempting to follow the sweet Siren song!  But it certainly looks safer than the 2 person kayak Barb usually paddles around Elger Bay

I will try not to be too ska-od. After all I’m sure it is a really “safe” boat.

We have finalized our Italian race car (or sedan) that Doug will be racing through the Tuscan countryside during two separate weeks in Tuscany.  With his drag racing experience over several years at Bremerton Raceway, his three passengers will be cinching their seat belts tight and waiting for his patented shout, “Get out of the way !#@% for brains!”  Here’s a photo of Doug’s new Italian wheels.

In a nautical note, we finalized our all day Amalfi Coast private boat tour.  We have arranged for the four of us to spend all day in a 36ft Fratelli Aprea Sorrento, also known as the “Big Biagio”  I’m not sure that I know what a Biagio is, but in any event we know it’s big.  It will just be the four of us and the Capitano, cruising up and down the Amalfi Coast like Ulysses battling insanity from the Sirens in Homer The Odyssey.  You remember the Sirens, those beautiful sweet singing ladies or mermaids who could drive men insane so they would do anything to get to them?  Hey wait a minute……that’s Lynda and Barb!  Anyway, here’s hoping the boat is big enough so Barb won’t be “QUITE as skeered.”  I think this afraid of boats thing of hers is not really serious.  We all know Barb likes sailing.  In fact, we’ve all seen her out by herself in a 2 person kayak paddling around Elger Bay!  Now only 61 more days, 14 hours and 52 minutes until we leave for Italy.

We purchased our train tickets today to go from Venice to Bologna. That is on the Frecciargento train. That is a fast train……125 miles an hour PLUS it tilts. I’m thinking we won’t know immediately if it is “tilting” normally or tilting because it is derailing. I guess the thundering metal screeching as we’re laying on our sides will be the one indicator of the latter. We also purchased our train tickets from Roma to Napoli (Rome to Naples on our way to Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast) as well as our return train trip back to Rome all of which are on the Frecciarossa. The Frecciarossa is a REALLY fast train, like 186 miles an hour fast. The video of the Frecciarossa train shows the stunningly rapid travel across the countryside. Whew!!! Now only 72 days and counting until we leave