Finally!

Yes I am finally in Italy! I am having the experience of a lifetime and mildly jealous that my kid and her man get to continue this adventure for another 2 years!! Pics are on flickr; Jessica and Greg and eventually debcolomb.
Naples hits you in the face. It is raw and intense, yet there are snapshots of beauty and tenderness there too. There is beauty in the rows of antennas on top of the buildings or the gently waving awnings in their striped wonder. The sadness is in the dogs, languishing and uncared for, yet gentle. J&G home is lovely, quiet in a way even though the dogs and nightly fireworks are interesting, you get used to them quickly. The constant burning or trash is more disconcerting and I am sure not good for people.
Tuscany was a lovely respite from the city yet so much beauty can lull you into a duldrum of wanting to do nothing but sit in the town square and watch the tourista. The cities are ancient with construction on top of construction, 12th century just under a 16th century addition. Or, as with the churches in Sienna and Montepulciano, no further construction.....we have just stopped.
I got to see Civita de Bagnoreggio. When we asked the owner of Antico Forno if his building was old...."No, just 1300, just 700 years". Every town here has substantial walking and hill climbing but I am holding out well and hopefully not holding the kids back much. The churches are opulent, gold and marble, workmanship of such beauty. Even today there is intense pride in good workmanship, no matter the end product. The people are so pleasant they enjoy talking to tourists and the Italians themselves love stuff with English writing on it. The agrituismo was nice and convenient to everything, I am so glad that we decided to home base and drive out from there. I am also thankful to be a good backseat rider as I don't get car sick, even on the winding Tuscany roads. Food and wine have been exceptional here, no surprise there either. Best get ready as I don't know what I am doing today. More catch up later.

Throwing barbs

OK, so I know that having everyone far away is freaking the old girl out but can she truly believe that we should stop living and just stay with her?? I'm sure it's my fault...."where are the tennis balls in case the girls need them"? Mom has tennis balls on her walker legs to protect the floors and make the walker glide easier. I just changed them and, the pair that were on it, were there for a few months. "In the closet but I just changed them, don't think that you need to make up things for the girls to do". My friends are great but they are not use to extended exposure...it could be detrimental. Time for drops and good night, "my blood pressure was 170/90, that can't be good for my eyes". Do I say....well you are just working yourself up, calm down and your BP will be fine. Maybe smuggle a little Valium from work, slip it in her morning coffee. Just a little over 24 hours....please let me get away, please!!

T Day

Travel Day is almost here. This evening was a quick Sushi excursion, none of that for a month! Tomorrow morning is Bonnie's.....it's all about the hash browns. Then a primer...Antica Toscana. Lovely Italian food, wine and friends. A great send off.

Sleep was elusive last night and I don't really expect it to improve. I feel like I might be going to outer space as much as to the other side of the world. Traveling by car to Paso Robles just doesn't prep you for going to a country where a nappie is a diaper and everyone rives on the wrong side of the road! It does not seem any less of a challenge than going to Italy and listening to a totally foreign language in incredibly passionate tones.

Some preparations may be useful or they have simply given me a false sense of security. I hope I am as prepared as I hope to be and that the flight is swift and that there is a big warm hug waiting for me on the other end.