As I also recently returned from a 2 week trip to Italy, I enjoyed reading your report even more!! Taking a trip like yours, by yourself, and meeting with friends and/or family in Italy, is a dream of mine that I have yet to realize. But it is "on my list" and I have been planning it in my head for a long time. After reading all your wonderful experiences (in Italy), I want to get there even faster.

Thanks again and condolences on your Mother.

I'm bookmarking this one. You got me at "Journey of Personal Healing"...I'm doing the same thing on this trip...as well as a little self-reflection. Thanks for posting!

bookchick - I have just read the first couple of days - and can't wait to read the rest when I return from my own holiday.

Sandy

Great report... It wasn't really that long... I was hooked the minute I started reading it and I simply couldn't stop till I was done.

What a great report, bookchick. It seems you really did have a healing journey. My mom (who I nearly lost two years ago) also read The Secret Life of Bees during our time together in Rome this spring. It is a wonderful book.

Thanks for the great report. I, too, was hooked from the first word. :)

I just read your trip report from start to finish. I was deeply touched by your emotion and ability to share it with all of us.
Loosing a parent starts a new chapter in your life. The grief and sadness do subside and you will be able to think back on nothing but the wonderful times you had together.
I wish you the best

Wonderful BC---you write so well.

Thanks Bookchick for a wonderful report. My mother died almost two years ago (followed a week later by her younger sister to whom I was very close) so I can sympathize with your need for a journey of personal healing. I don't think we ever get over those things, we just get better at coping. Bless you.

Welcome back Statia. When Bookchick was at my house she suggested I read that book too. So many of us shares losses of parents and have sick relatives. Kathy is an inspiration.

Hey bookchick, good to see a report from you.

So sorry about your awful departure, and glad to hear it sounds like things only went up from there.

Great report. Sounds like the trip (as opposed to the flights) was exactly what you needed.

Thanks for sharing, Capri has certainly moved up on my 'to do' list...What a great report.

BC,
Very nice report. We will be flying on Lufthansa from Frankfurt and Munich on miles as a United share. Did you need a paper ticket? I have seen other posts about needed paper tickets which we do not have. Thanks.

Thank you all very much for your comments. You are very kind indeed!

Because US Airways was routing me to Munich, a destination not on my original itinerary, the gate agents in Philly printed boarding passes for me for both the flight from Philly to Munich as well as the Lufthansa flight from Munich to Rome. Lufthansa had no problem honoring these. I could not help but notice that on these boarding passes were printed the words "involuntary re-route". I had purchased trip insurance very soon after booking, and was able to collect for both "trip delay" and "baggage delay" on the way home. So the trip insurance actually paid for itself!

BC

Bookchick, Thanks for sharing your experiences and feelings. I lost my mother this past August so can identify with your grief and your need for personal healing.

Interestingly, I read the Secret Life of Bees last year in Costa Rica where my younger brother and family live. It turned out to be my final trip with my mother although we didn't know it at the time. I'll have to reread it now.

Wonderful, wonderful trip report! I felt like I was traveling with you.

Monica ((F))

I have been maning to look into trip insurance which I have never used. Who did you use? Thanks.

Thanks again, folks.

Millie, I went to www.insuremytrip.com and comparison shopped, and selected an insurance which would provide delayed baggage and delayed trip insurance, as well as other considerations like Medi-vac to another location for treatment if necessary.

BC

Wonderful report. Gave me some good grins this morning. Thanks.

Wonderful report.I also love Rome. My mom passed away last December and the part about your mom brought tears to my eyes.