Dear readers, I have exciting news! Older Daughter and I are on our way to EUROPE!!
Younger Daughter (our Navy daughter, for those who don't know) has spent the last few years on shore duty stationed in Naples, Italy. She's been begging us to come visit for a long time. Now, just ahead of a planned change in duty stations, Older Daughter and I are actually taking her up on it. (As YD put it, it's our last opportunity to stay in Europe for free.) She is paying for the whole trip, an incredible act of generosity. We've had this trip planned since last October.
I've never traveled abroad before, much less to Europe, so this is an entirely new venture for me. I actually had to get a passport.
I had to buy a suitcase larger than the small carry-on bag I had been using when visiting my parents. I purchased it online and accidentally got one that was comically HUGE.
I mean seriously, I could fit my entire wardrobe into this thing, with room left over. Well over half of the suitcase is empty. Fortunately there's room for Older Daughter to put some of her travel things in it too. I'm seriously considering stuffing bubble wrap into the empty spots just to secure things.
We're in for a week of excitement. Younger Daughter has an itinerary all planned for us, including a visit to Herculaneum and an overnight trip to Rome. Heavens, I can't believe those exotic names are just dripping off my tongue.
We'll be in Italy for a week, plus travel days bracketing both ends. Older Daughter and I will be flying out of the Spokane Airport, then changing planes in Denver before heading for Munich, Germany, then a quick hop to Naples. After we arrive, Younger Daughter has already informed us we must stay awake until such-and-such local time before she'll let us crash into bed, to help adjust our internal clocks.
Don chose to stay home on this one. He's already been overseas during his own Navy days, and he's even more of a homebody than I am. Besides, someone has to take care of the property and animals.
You can bet I'll take you along every step of the way, dear readers, though I won't make any guarantees that I'll put up a new post each day since we're likely to be very busy. I told Younger Daughter that even cobblestones are exotic to me, so she shouldn't be embarrassed if her old mom drops to one knee to photograph those humble wonders.
Italy, here we come!
Wow, what an unexpected blessing! Now, go have a wonderful time and enjoy!
ReplyDeleteWhat a blessing!
ReplyDeleteLearn what you need to about Denver International, it is massive. Don't want you to miss your connector flight.
Your extra room will be filled with all your collectibles you bring home! Have a wonderful time!
I’m so happy for you! Enjoy this adventure with your daughters.
ReplyDeleteHow exciting.
ReplyDeleteDon't mean to rain on your parade but I'd rethink that huge suitcase. The first time I went to Europe, I had a check through bag as big as the one you pictured. After many 5 or 6 story walkups with no elevator and too many cobblestone roads to pull my bag on, I always returned to Europe with a backpack style suitcase that I could carry on my back.
SJ now in California
Have fun and stay safe.
ReplyDeleteYay! I love Italy.
ReplyDeleteI was stationed in Belgium for 2 years and the one regret I have is not seeing Italy. Have fun!
ReplyDeleteHow exciting! Enjoy every minute of the time with your daughters. Prayers and blessings . . .
ReplyDeleteI have a friend who travels on a motorbike for his vacations.
ReplyDeleteHis advice to me was to discard your socks and underwear every day to leave room for items that will be of value in helping you remember and celebrate your trip of a lifetime.
I know that you are very frugal and unlikely to do that, so I am sharing it for entertainment reasons.
Enjoy your time overseas. More importantly with your daughters.
ReplyDeleteDebbie in MA
Safe travels. Have a wonderful trip.
ReplyDeleteYay and hurrah can't wait to hear all about it.
ReplyDeleteThe food! Let us know about the food! What a blessing your daughters are. Don too.
ReplyDeleteEXCITING! and I am so happy for you ladies! (It will be fun for us readers, too.) Prayers and best wishes for a trip that is wonderful in every way.
ReplyDeleteYou seriously don't have cobblestones in US?
ReplyDeleteIt's always a small shock to realize how little you Americans travel. I have been in 10 countries on 3 continents and that is really very mediocre on Europian standard.
I get that your own country is big and there is plenty to see, but it seems to me that most of you still never visit the states that are further away. I mean here in Europe it is very common to pop for a weekend to other country. With foreign language, foreign culture etc. People even have their weddings and aniversaries in other countries.
Most of you still don't speak other language, do you?
Nice generalizations. Not only have I been all over the US (including Alaska), I’ve also traveled to S. America, Asia, the Middle East, and lived in Austria 3 years. I’ve studied Latin, modern Greek, French, German and Arabic.
Delete-MV
We have cobblestones in New York. And I'm sure it's delightful to "pop for a weekend to other country" but ours is large and not teensy like many European countries. And I've traveled the world pretty extensively and pretty much everyone speaks or at least the signs are in English. As for other languages, this ignorant American knows Latin, ancient Greek, Spanish and German. Cut with the snottiness, Europe, especially as we Americans saved your butts in several world wars.
DeleteYou can drive through all of Europe in 6 hours! It takes almost 48 hrs just to drive through the state of Texas. Not only is it time consuming, it's expensive.
DeleteIf you want cobblestones go to Philadelphia. You will find them in the Independence Hall area. As for the traveling, Americans actually do travel a lot while just going about their normal day, unless they live in a major city.
DeleteIm bilingual, I speak English, Australian and Canadian.
DeletePraying you two have a safe and enjoyable trip and visit.
ReplyDeleteYou will have a wonderful time! We were stationed near Naples in the '80s, and it was 3 years of exploration and appreciation of the "Old World!" Bon voyage!
ReplyDeleteJust a word of warning on your suitcase, those style of wheels are very breakable if the baggage handlers are not careful with bags, so be prepared to not be able to easily wheel your suitcase around if they get broken. I've flown several times when I've seen the baggage come off the plane and just crash on the ground when the baggage handlers aren't paying attention with wheels flying everywhere, so it's not a rare occurrence, then you see people struggling to maneuver their bags in the airport. Leave the open space in your bag for souvinirs, you will for sure want to buy something whether you plan to or not! Enjoy!
ReplyDeletePrayers for a safe and fantastic journey!
ReplyDeleteHaving been to Europe while in the Navy, looks like you will have a Glorious time. In my case stationed in Spain and Crete, Greece. And carry a phrase book at all times. My experience was if I would try the locals language, they would find somebody who spoke English to help me. Also at my base cities when eating or what ever and trying to use the local language, the locals wanted to work on their English all the time with me. So I did not learn the languages as I had wanted, but I still remember all the fun times I had.
ReplyDeletePhone apps do instant translations now
DeleteHaving space in your luggage can be a wonderful thing! Maybe you can take something from home to YD. Then on the return trip, surely there will be items you want to take back! Maybe a good pair of shoes or something else that strikes your fancy!
ReplyDeleteYD has been on my mind lately and I've been praying for her. Happy ya'll are going!
What a wonderful trip and so nice you ladies can be together.
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