Mundane Monday in Massa Martana

Monday brought us to Massa Martana.  One of the hundreds of hill towns scattered throughout Italy.  Nothing much notable happened there.  Their church was built in the 1500's.  It was destroyed by an earthquake in the 1960's and rebuilt in 1997.  We were told they had a wonderful pasticceria, pastry shop, but we couldn't find it.  You can see some of the retro-fittings from the earthquake in the middle picture.

Then we had to order propane for the house.  We went back and spoke with Danila, or Dani as she prefers, and with the help of Google Translate we ordered propane.  I don't know how much it will cost or exactly when it's being delivered, but it's coming and I need to pay for it when it's delivered.  How's that for knowing what your doing.  Then some mundane grocery shopping, dinner and a movie.  "Finding Nemo"

Would have liked to have found that pasticceria!

Communication Breakdown

The past two days have been anything but a fun trip to Italy.  After getting the cars switched on Friday, it seemed just about everything went down hill.  Chris' bronchitis seemed worse, she was sucking on Halls Menthol drops like a chain smoker and her throat was scorched.  Our decision to put WiFi on her phone backfired as we removed the Verizon SIM card for a Wind SIM data card and lost our international calling capability.  Erin arranged for me to have international calling on my phone through Verizon at home, but it wasn't working.  Sickness, communication breakdowns and a language barrier that was more trouble than we had anticipated left us feeling a bit down.

Perseverance and patience was needed and it finally paid off.  Sunday night, using the phone given to us by Rina, were were able to get a hold of Verizon International and get my phone up and working.  Seems my settings were wrong.   Chris stopped sucking Halls Menthol drops and her throat was getting better.  So was her bronchitis.  Skyping with Erin and Chris' friend, also a Chris, proved therapeutic.  Then a walk to the Sanctuary in Collevalenza and a healing cappuccino at the bar seemed to work its magic.


And, nothing like some homemade meatballs and some spaghettini #3 to make everything seem a bit better.  So it's on to week two.

The Fruits of our Labor

Friday;
Today we are scheduled to return the Hertz car in Perugia.  So this morning we went back to Francesco's Nissan repair shop and rented a car.  This will be our car for the next 3 months.  We are turning in an Audi Quatro SUV.  It had 900 miles on it.  Navigation, Bluetooth, you name it, it had it.  We rented a Fiat Punto.  Manual transmission,  passenger rear side door opens with a bit of magic and finesse and a diesel that smells just a bit, BUT, goes zero to 90 kilometers/hour in about 4 1/2 minutes.

I mentioned yesterday we were expecting rain.  It came, in buckets.  Chris was to follow me in the Fiat.  That lasted about one mile.  Traffic, rain, foggy windows just about did her in.  So we switched.  I sympathized with her plight.  She wasn't suppose to drive the Audi.  It's not in the HERTZ contract.  But one thing I have found in Italy, rules don't mean squat as long as you don't get caught.  So off we went, in the pouring rain, me following her to Hertz.  I swear we got within 50 yards of Hertz, and we got separated.  So I pulled over and stood on an island, in the rain, praying she would somehow find me.  Five minutes seemed like an eternity, but I heard the horn and there she was.  I got in, got fuel and returned the car.  Then off to Euronics, Italy's Best Buy, to purchase a TomTom.  I am not driving in Italy without navigation.  Columbus be damned!  He didn't have to navigate round-a-bouts and scooters zig-zagging all around.

Got home and this was the best part of the day.  A Todi Sangiovese.  Blessed be the fruit of the vine.

Google me This!

So today, we set out to meet Bert and Rina's family.  We met Rina's sister, Maria and her daughter, Danila.  They own a dress manufacturing plant and happen to be next door to a Nissan auto repair shop that rents cars.  Who don't speak much English.  Thank goodness Danila was able to speak a little and we got our points across.  Just an aside, when you come to a foreign country on your own, learn the language.  However, there is a savior.  Besides that one....it's Google Translate.

Having rented a car at the airport to get to Todi, we have to turn it in this Friday.  At $280 euro for three days, we would have to come home before Thanksgiving if we kept it any longer.  That's where Franchesco comes in.  He's a friend of the family.  He also owns the Nissan repair shop that rents cars thats next to the dress manufacturing company.  So for $400 euros/month we'll pick up the car, a Fiat, and Chris will follow me to Perugia and we will drop off the Hertz car.  Then make our way back to Collevalenza and then huddle down as it's suppose to pour this weekend.

Looking Eastward, toward the gathering storm

Other exciting news; we got the fireplace working, found the electric gate opener and a place to put the trash.

There's a movie that came out this year that we streamed.  It's called "A Trip to Italy".  It's funny and light hearted.  Watch and see if they have these issues.

Searching for Tim!

Got to Italy, got a $300 euro car to drive up to Collevalenza to turn it in three days later.  Taking the bus wasn't an option after 11 hours in the air with four bags and sleep deprivation.  Regardless, we are here.  Greeted by warm winds and electrical storms we went out in search of the internet.  No easy task an a very small town where NOBODY speaks english.  Teem, WeeFee?  (i is pronounced ee) so Tim is pronounced Teem!  After finding two computer stores where they did not have Tim, a nice gentlemen who spoke just enough english pointed us to a new building just 3 kilometers from here.  Amazingly, we found the store, waited patiently and boldly asked, Teem?  WeeFee??  Teem fini! we were told.  Seems "Wind" is the new internet source.  $69euros later were had the Wind to our back and the internet allowing us to speak to you all now.

So now its off to new adventures, like finding food.

Silver Linings Playbook or VISA vs visa.

Chris went in to get our boarding passes for tomorrow and discovered that we need a visa for any stay over 90 days.  Even though we went over this with our travel person, thinking since we are leaving Italy to travel to other enchanted locals outside the boot, and are not spending 90 consecutive days there, it would not matter.  It does!!!

Arrival and departure dates are from the same city in Italy, they are more than 90 days apart,  therefore, you need a visa.  No visa, no leaving the U S of A.  Unless we changed our departing date from Italy to Feb instead of March with a slight charge for our stupidity, we weren't going anywhere.  So, we forked over the extra cash and now are on a 3 month stay.  The good news, we found out about it today and not at the airport tomorrow at 6:15 AM.   More good news, our bags are under 50 pounds.

Looking for those silver linings anywhere I can.

One Last Day

Today, being Sunday, is our last day to be sure we have done everything humanly possible not to mess up this trip.  I think only Eisenhower prepared more for the invasion of Normandy than we have for this trip.  Rental cars to bags packed, it seems that when you check one thing off the check list that 5 others pop up.  Chris is still fighting bronchitis, and is sure we won't be allowed to leave the country due to that medical scare that is sweeping the nation.  I won't even say the word.

Going over all aspects of life on Killdee with Erin while we are gone is also never ending.  Dogs, fish, pool, mail, bills, and her introduction of Kuipo, her cat, to our Bailey and Maggie, our dogs, is still a mystery as to how it will turn out.

Never the less, we are leaving.  Italy in the winter.  Expect rain, its expected on arrival.  Expecting snow, probably.  Expect getting lost, we can only hope so.  Travel along with us or join us, its going to be a fun ride.