bfrac & friends–a parade float in Roma/an angel in Orvieto on the first day
Nov 9th, 2009, 05:07 PM
#21
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OK I was curious enough so I googled it. I laughed! Bright, yes, but it could have been much, much worse! Just think about all the lovely descriptive words used to describe some shades of green......insert little sick- faced icon.
Nov 9th, 2009, 05:29 PM
#23
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<b>Yes, it is still October 16, day one…</b>
One thing I forgot to mention on the previous post was that Giacomo had asked me to call him and let him know we arrived and were safe and sound. Well, I hadn’t called because he would have been worried sick if he knew what was going on. So while I’m riding in the tow truck my phone rings. It’s Giacomo. “You’re never going to believe where I am… in a tow truck.” I was right, he was worried and called Professoressa and just about anyone that would talk to him to get him through the day. I promised I would call back when we arrived at our hotel. I think P had emailed her husband and B’s husband was waiting to hear from one of the others.
So we’re off, happy to be driving again and in control. Little do we know there is one more hurdle to overcome.
P is reprogramming Garmin, B is creeping along in traffic while building up her left calf and thigh muscles on the clutch and I’m reading maps. It takes at least an hour or more to get out of Rome and onto the A90 again. Finally, we are back on the A1 and happily blow by the exit for Settibagni. New territory ahead!
B admits exhaustion and I volunteer to drive, so we stop at the Autogrill for something to drink and to switch drivers. When we park to go in I’m worrying about our luggage being in view and someone breaking into the car. P says, “No one will think we have anything worth stealing because they will know we have no taste just by looking at this ugly car.” Very true.
Back on the road and we exit for Orvieto in no time at all. I have my Viamichelin directions to drive up into town and the hotel said once we get into town to follow the signs for the hotel, and we have the Garmin programmed with the address of the Hotel Palazzo Piccolomini; sounds simple. Up into the hills we go.
My cell phone rings, B answers it; it is P’s husband calling to see what is going on. P’s phone is not working, will call back soon, she promises.
It soon becomes apparent that Garmin does not like Orvieto. I am trying to follow Garmin’s directions and we do not see any signs for our hotel. Garmin takes us into a parking lot for some kind of official looking building. I retrace our steps and go back to the lot by the funicular and we still don’t see any signs for the hotel.
Garmin is recalculating and we start off again. Turn left in 300 yards – there is no left turn. Recalculating – turn left in 200 yards – there is no left turn. We are doing our best to read the signs and finally see one sign for the hotel. Our car will not fit down that street. It is getting dark. Recalculating.
My cell phone rings and B answers; it’s Giacomo still worried because he hasn’t heard from me. B tells him we are in Orvieto but not at hotel yet, will call soon… promise. He calls Professoressa again with an update.
Recalculating! She’s getting testy. Please drive the highlighted route! There is no highlighted route. I see a restaurant parking lot and stop. I’m done. We can walk from here. Okay, I’ll call the hotel and ask them to come get us. Actually, I beg. He (Jude) is so nice and patient, but only two people are on staff and he can’t leave. He tries to tell me how to get to the hotel from where we are, it is just a couple of turns, but I’m shutting down at this point. I see an angel in the form of a young man walking across the parking lot and ask him for help. He probably thinks I’m crazy but agrees and gets directions from Jude on the phone and tries to tell me.
I say, “What is your name?” “Nikky.” “Nikky, can you drive us there?” Of course he will because he will never be rid of us unless he does, and I seriously doubt he wants us for his dates that night. I hand him the keys and climb into the back with B and sit/lay across the coats, cameras, etc. P is riding up front and finds out our Nikky is really Russian, living and working in Orvieto.
In about 3 minutes our <i>angel</i> Nikky delivers us to the front door of the Hotel Palazzo Piccolomini www.hotelpiccolomini.com . We all hug and kiss Nikky and give him a tip for being so kind to three exhausted and stressed ladies. Jude is waiting for us and we are finally at our home for the night.
Jude quickly assesses the situation and makes us a reservation immediately at Le Grotte del Funaro. A good meal and bottle of Sagrantino di Montefalco fix all that went wrong today and we are quite giddy that we finally made it. Dinner consisted of three appetizers which none of us remember because we devoured them so quickly, B had the assorted meat dinner, P had Chianina steak in a red wine sauce and I had wild boar with roasted potatoes. Two bottles of water and I can’t recall if we had dessert or coffee. Total was €87.
Short walk back to hotel and bed.
<b> Day two, pizza and wine for breakfast</b>
One thing I forgot to mention on the previous post was that Giacomo had asked me to call him and let him know we arrived and were safe and sound. Well, I hadn’t called because he would have been worried sick if he knew what was going on. So while I’m riding in the tow truck my phone rings. It’s Giacomo. “You’re never going to believe where I am… in a tow truck.” I was right, he was worried and called Professoressa and just about anyone that would talk to him to get him through the day. I promised I would call back when we arrived at our hotel. I think P had emailed her husband and B’s husband was waiting to hear from one of the others.
So we’re off, happy to be driving again and in control. Little do we know there is one more hurdle to overcome.
P is reprogramming Garmin, B is creeping along in traffic while building up her left calf and thigh muscles on the clutch and I’m reading maps. It takes at least an hour or more to get out of Rome and onto the A90 again. Finally, we are back on the A1 and happily blow by the exit for Settibagni. New territory ahead!
B admits exhaustion and I volunteer to drive, so we stop at the Autogrill for something to drink and to switch drivers. When we park to go in I’m worrying about our luggage being in view and someone breaking into the car. P says, “No one will think we have anything worth stealing because they will know we have no taste just by looking at this ugly car.” Very true.
Back on the road and we exit for Orvieto in no time at all. I have my Viamichelin directions to drive up into town and the hotel said once we get into town to follow the signs for the hotel, and we have the Garmin programmed with the address of the Hotel Palazzo Piccolomini; sounds simple. Up into the hills we go.
My cell phone rings, B answers it; it is P’s husband calling to see what is going on. P’s phone is not working, will call back soon, she promises.
It soon becomes apparent that Garmin does not like Orvieto. I am trying to follow Garmin’s directions and we do not see any signs for our hotel. Garmin takes us into a parking lot for some kind of official looking building. I retrace our steps and go back to the lot by the funicular and we still don’t see any signs for the hotel.
Garmin is recalculating and we start off again. Turn left in 300 yards – there is no left turn. Recalculating – turn left in 200 yards – there is no left turn. We are doing our best to read the signs and finally see one sign for the hotel. Our car will not fit down that street. It is getting dark. Recalculating.
My cell phone rings and B answers; it’s Giacomo still worried because he hasn’t heard from me. B tells him we are in Orvieto but not at hotel yet, will call soon… promise. He calls Professoressa again with an update.
Recalculating! She’s getting testy. Please drive the highlighted route! There is no highlighted route. I see a restaurant parking lot and stop. I’m done. We can walk from here. Okay, I’ll call the hotel and ask them to come get us. Actually, I beg. He (Jude) is so nice and patient, but only two people are on staff and he can’t leave. He tries to tell me how to get to the hotel from where we are, it is just a couple of turns, but I’m shutting down at this point. I see an angel in the form of a young man walking across the parking lot and ask him for help. He probably thinks I’m crazy but agrees and gets directions from Jude on the phone and tries to tell me.
I say, “What is your name?” “Nikky.” “Nikky, can you drive us there?” Of course he will because he will never be rid of us unless he does, and I seriously doubt he wants us for his dates that night. I hand him the keys and climb into the back with B and sit/lay across the coats, cameras, etc. P is riding up front and finds out our Nikky is really Russian, living and working in Orvieto.
In about 3 minutes our <i>angel</i> Nikky delivers us to the front door of the Hotel Palazzo Piccolomini www.hotelpiccolomini.com . We all hug and kiss Nikky and give him a tip for being so kind to three exhausted and stressed ladies. Jude is waiting for us and we are finally at our home for the night.
Jude quickly assesses the situation and makes us a reservation immediately at Le Grotte del Funaro. A good meal and bottle of Sagrantino di Montefalco fix all that went wrong today and we are quite giddy that we finally made it. Dinner consisted of three appetizers which none of us remember because we devoured them so quickly, B had the assorted meat dinner, P had Chianina steak in a red wine sauce and I had wild boar with roasted potatoes. Two bottles of water and I can’t recall if we had dessert or coffee. Total was €87.
Short walk back to hotel and bed.
<b> Day two, pizza and wine for breakfast</b>
Nov 9th, 2009, 05:38 PM
#24
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bfrac! If only I had known you were going to Orvieto and staying at Palazzo Piccolomini - I could have told you exactly where to park and how to get to the hotel.
We stayed there 3 nights quite a few years ago, but believe me, it's definitely in the permanent memory banks!
Can't to hear how you liked the hotel and town!
We stayed there 3 nights quite a few years ago, but believe me, it's definitely in the permanent memory banks!
Can't to hear how you liked the hotel and town!
Nov 9th, 2009, 06:09 PM
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Dayle, did you drive to the hotel? That is what they told us to do and then they took the car away which we were only too happy to let them do. Please tell me what you did so I can note it for next time. I definitely want to go back there with Giacomo.
Simpson, we liked the Piccolomini very much. Did you drive too? More report tomorrow.
Simpson, we liked the Piccolomini very much. Did you drive too? More report tomorrow.
Nov 10th, 2009, 10:05 AM
#28
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The Qubo was efficient, exceptionally comfortable in the back seat, but bright....yet fun.
Bfrac, it is sooooo much fun to relive these experiences and you capture them so well. In Orvieto, it was like our GPS was having a melt down....just like us!
Bfrac, it is sooooo much fun to relive these experiences and you capture them so well. In Orvieto, it was like our GPS was having a melt down....just like us!
Nov 10th, 2009, 10:10 AM
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The photos we have of us on the tow truck bed are priceless....it certainly must be illegal to ride on a tow truck in Italy...but we did, nevertheless.
It is funny how none of us remember what we ate for appies at Le Grotte...we usually take a photo of every dish! Just goes to show how tired we were...having been awake and alert for almost 40 hours!!!!!
It is funny how none of us remember what we ate for appies at Le Grotte...we usually take a photo of every dish! Just goes to show how tired we were...having been awake and alert for almost 40 hours!!!!!
Nov 10th, 2009, 05:17 PM
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bfrac,
We parked at the parking structure beneath town. We didn't know where the hotel was, so called them and they came and picked us up. We got the easy way, I admit! However, the hotel let us know that we could take the underground acensori (SP?) - escalators!!! They go right from the parking structure and up multiple escalators and come right out just a fews steps from the Palazzo Piccolomini. We went up and down several times over the 3 days were were there, doing day trips out. We travel light and our rollers easily fit on the acensori, just like at the airport.
So, drivers to Orvieto take note.
Funny, I was thinking the same thing about riding in the car on top of the tow truck! Never in the US, what with lawyers, insurance and rules. Only in Italy!
We parked at the parking structure beneath town. We didn't know where the hotel was, so called them and they came and picked us up. We got the easy way, I admit! However, the hotel let us know that we could take the underground acensori (SP?) - escalators!!! They go right from the parking structure and up multiple escalators and come right out just a fews steps from the Palazzo Piccolomini. We went up and down several times over the 3 days were were there, doing day trips out. We travel light and our rollers easily fit on the acensori, just like at the airport.
So, drivers to Orvieto take note.
Funny, I was thinking the same thing about riding in the car on top of the tow truck! Never in the US, what with lawyers, insurance and rules. Only in Italy!
Nov 11th, 2009, 12:46 PM
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Dayle, thanks for that info about where you parked. I will definitely note it for the next time. I am hoping to take Giacomo to Orvieto next trip, especially since we didn't get to spend as much time there as we had hoped.
