The Barber of Seville

Tuesday a.m.

We had a fun evening last night at a restaurant with entertainment during the meal.  We arrived by bus, rather late because we had to make a detour because of some unknown road closure,.  We had a plate of some assorted prosciutto awaiting us.  Then four people came out singing some operatic arias.  Then we had the first course, of risotto...which was quite delicious, and more singing, then pasta course...also quite delightful, followed by selection from Barber of Seville in which an audience member was chosen and shaved using a huge sabre sword. So cute. Then main course of veal, spinach and roast potatoes and dessert of tiramisu.  All in all a great evening full of fun. The pianist who was the accompanist played a piece by Scriabin which I had played oh so many years ago.  It was impressive and I had forgotten it until hearing it last night.  Back home by 10 and had a good sleep until 4:30 am

Calzone!

Monday September 29

We had an exhausting day today...we had breakfast at 7 in the dining area packed with tourists from all over. Chatted with an Aussie couple who are on 45 day trip.  She is a quilter and went to America on a quilting trip,last year.  She liked Hancocks of Paducah.  We met our bus and 8 and proceeded to sight see until after one o'clock.  Most of it walking on cobbled streets. I used my walking sticks and don't know if they help as my knees hurt but I think they help a bit.  Rome has some beautiful things to see.  The colosseum was amazing, and we went down in the catacombs, too. Dark, but joyful, the guide said. We then went to the Piazza Navona...so beautiful, with a giant obelisk in the centre, and fountains, too. Our guide was a little difficult to understand but she was a champion of her Rome!  You could tell, she was so enthusiastic, and humorous too..I think!

We finally had lunch at about 1:30...the ubiquitous pizza and a whole bottle of water each as we were all desperately thirsty after our trudging along in the sun on cobblestones.  Dinner tonight and a show following. What fun it is.  Tomorrow many are going to the Vatican but I am not, so will have a restful day seeing Rome without the pressure of time.

Last night we had dinner at a restaurant nearby and the amount of food served was enormous...antipasti, then lasagna, then main course, and finally, best of all, gelati. Yummy. 

Sunday September 28

Today breakfast in the dining room with a rather odd assortment of stuff...filling but not sumptuous.  We walked to the train station about 3 blocks away, and I used my walking sticks for the first time.  Two of our group needed SIM cards and that was the place to get them.  So, it took them 2 hours to get them, so one of the fellows and Marilyn and I walked to Ruplica Piazza and then Santa Maria maggiore...then lunch where I ordered a calzone.  It came and was enormous.  Tasty but huge!  Then back to our hotel for a nap.  Dinner with our expanded group...about 20 Americans for a four course meal. Assorted meats, and bread with tomatoes on top and olives, followed by lasagna and then veal and oven browned potatoes.  A scarcity of vegetables...then the dessert which was two kids of gelati..one strawberry and the other pistachio...quite delightful.  Coffee too, if one wished, but I didn't.  We meet tomorrow at 8 am for the bus trip,for the day.  I signed up for Rome at night which is a dinner followed by a show of mildly operatic nature. The opera La Traviata is on near by but unfortunately cannot do both.  More adventures tomorrow.  Hope to get a picture of me and the calzone. 

Italy September 27, 2014

Well, we left Calgary for Montreal yesterday in good time and had two hours in the terminal there....NOT. instead of leaving at 9:30 pm we left at midnight, after sitting in the plane for an extra 3/4 hour while they did some engine repairs.  Flight was good and uneventful and food was served about 2 am and was adequate, but by no means a stellar meal.  The Aiir Cananda rouge was merely adequate.  There was a slice of banana bread at about 9 a.m.  Coffee arrived about an hour later.  Finally out of the terminal in Rome about 2 and met by our host girl and on to the hotel.  There was a demonstration and we couldn't get to our hotel, until 5:15.  But had a shower and fell better for that.  We will meet for dinner in 30 minutes and a bit of a wander.  We are quite central, and weather is perfect!  Will have a better day tomorrow with fun things to see and do.  We have free day tomorrow and have a dinner to welcome all at night! 

Day one September 26

Well, hurry up and wait!  Here in Montreal and plane delayed by two hours.  Instead of leaving here at 9:30 it is now going at 11:30.  I had a little sleep on the flight from Kelowna to Calgary especially as I had been up since 2:30....who knows why?  I am certainly a lark not an owl!  Had to get things organized to go so up I got!  We were lucky to have a sandwich on the plane from Calgary to Montreal as they ran out after we got the last two.  We apparently get nothing on the next flight except a continental breakfast.  
Very busy airport.  The adventure continues.

Diane Draffin🎵

Italy 2014

Here we go...departure day -1.  Awake way before the birds, but not before the dog!  He, who must be obey, wanted out at 1:30 a.m. And here he is now.  I, on the hand am wide awake!