A very long post (and more to come)...if you don't want to read all the details just look at the bolded days for an outline of the trip.
At the end of September my mom and I decided to make a long talked about vacation (5 years!) a reality. We planned a 16 day, later 15 day excursion to Italy.
Day 1: Houston Airport
Day 2: Frankfurt to Rome to the train
Train to Roma Termini to La Spezia to...
Day 3: 3:38AM La Pisa to Santa Margherita - arrive 6AM
My dad took us to the airport on the 3rd and we were suppose to be off by noon. Unfortunately after a malfunctioning part and several hours of sitting aboard the plane it was canceled:( which crumbled into one of the most downward spirals...not to worry we laugh now:) So we missed our connector flights, specifically our Italian airline flight, and had to take the train to Santa Margherita from Rome. Most of you are thinking that's not too bad well let me preempt you with... my mom and I are the worst navigators ever! So this was not good. Plus, my mom's luggage didn't make it! This is why carry ons are the way to go:) We finally get our train tickets, make it to the first train change successfully but end up on the wrong train thereafter, and headed almost all the way to France! By this time the stations are closing and the polizia(police) direct us to take the next train back to the Pisa station for safety measures. Off to Pisa! Apparently we were suppose to purchase another ticket so the conductor made us stand in the galloway by the bathrooms and doors opening onto the tracks!...he was not very happy with the dumb Americans. Oops:) At Pisa, we had to spend the night at the train station on a bench with the homeless people in 38 degree weather. 3 hours later our much anticipated train arrived for our final stretch to Santa Margherita.
The people at the hotel were definitely wondering where we were. As we walked in the door we were greeted with a thick Italian accent, 'Ah, you must be the Rodriguez's!' We were planning on only sleeping until 9 but we didn't wake up until 1pm! We decided to forgo Cinque Terre (it was 1.5hrs away) and checkout Santa Margherita instead. I definitely recommend making time for this if you're going to visit.
At the end of September my mom and I decided to make a long talked about vacation (5 years!) a reality. We planned a 16 day, later 15 day excursion to Italy.
Day 1: Houston Airport
Day 2: Frankfurt to Rome to the train
Train to Roma Termini to La Spezia to...
 |
| No surprise our 3:28AM train is delayed |
My dad took us to the airport on the 3rd and we were suppose to be off by noon. Unfortunately after a malfunctioning part and several hours of sitting aboard the plane it was canceled:( which crumbled into one of the most downward spirals...not to worry we laugh now:) So we missed our connector flights, specifically our Italian airline flight, and had to take the train to Santa Margherita from Rome. Most of you are thinking that's not too bad well let me preempt you with... my mom and I are the worst navigators ever! So this was not good. Plus, my mom's luggage didn't make it! This is why carry ons are the way to go:) We finally get our train tickets, make it to the first train change successfully but end up on the wrong train thereafter, and headed almost all the way to France! By this time the stations are closing and the polizia(police) direct us to take the next train back to the Pisa station for safety measures. Off to Pisa! Apparently we were suppose to purchase another ticket so the conductor made us stand in the galloway by the bathrooms and doors opening onto the tracks!...he was not very happy with the dumb Americans. Oops:) At Pisa, we had to spend the night at the train station on a bench with the homeless people in 38 degree weather. 3 hours later our much anticipated train arrived for our final stretch to Santa Margherita.
It was like the heavens parted when saw the first glimpse of this place! Santa Margherita was gorgeous and by far our favorite place of the entire trip. It's definitely not NY.... 6AM the taxis do not run. We knew our hotel was on the water and we could see the beach so we just started walking, met a really nice Italian lady who didn't speak a word of English and was so nice to walk us all the way to the wonderful Lido Palace.
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| The molding around the shutters on this building is actually painted on! |
