Here is the start of trip report to Italy from plmn..."My Travels with Mom & Dad"
 

I'm sorry if the first part is boring but I'm just laying the ground work. I promise, it gets going once I land in Italy :)

First Part, Day 1:

My DH couldn?t take me to the airport and my daughter had to work so my father-in-law was kind enough to drive me. Poppy picked me up right on time and I hoisted my 40 lb suitcase, (bought a scale just to weigh the thing) and my two carry-ons into the trunk. I wore my new buddy hugging black leather small travel purse with my cell phone attached. (I mention this because at the end of the trip there is an incident with this small item.)

The bag I was going to check had wheels, but the two carry-ons did not. One was a knapsack/backpack and the other was the zip off portion of the bigger suitcase. I didn?t realize how heavy and cumbersome these carry-ons were going to be. I had weighed them also and they clocked in at around 13 or 14 lbs. I had walked around the house carrying them while rolling the suitcase for a few minutes and should have realized that was sort of a stupid test.

I lugged everything inside the airport to the check-in counter where I was the only one on line. (Did I mention this was a really small airport?) No problems checking in. The representative tagged my check-in bag and instructed me to turn around and give the big to the TSA agent. The TSA agent proceeded to use a long q-tip looking thing on the zippers and tags on the bag. I had never seen this done before and asked what she was doing. She said she was checking for explosive residue. Quite sobering. Can you tell I haven?t flown since 9/11? After my checked bag cleared the test and it was taken away I proceeded to the area before the gate security. My carry-ons were starting to annoy me.

I still had about an hour before my flight so I decided to get a quick bite to eat. (Not so easy to do juggling the stupid carry-ons.) When I presented my new visa check card to the clerk and it wouldn?t go through, I thought unh oh, and here we go. For some reason the card would not work. She handed it back to me and said it might be their machines. Thank goodness I had other cards on me. (Thank you Fodor?s!) I did have a little US cash on me but I wanted to save it for more important things. After I paid for my meal with alternate card I maneuvered to a table and ate my food. As I was sitting there I saw people walking by with their carry-ons attached to little wheeled carts. I wished I had one.

When I got up I decided to check the little gift shop to see if they sold the wheelie things and sure enough, they did! I was overjoyed and the little thing was only $21!! It was black metal with two bungee cords that had hooks at the ends and it was collapsible. I presented the card that had been declined earlier just to double check. Thankfully it worked just fine this time. I thanked the clerk profusely and was on my way after setting up my carry-on situation. I felt like I was back on track.

I made my way to the security area and put everything, including my purse, cell phone, jacket and shoes on to the conveyer. (I had to take the bags of the wheelie thing and fold it up or it wouldn?t have fit.) I stepped through the beeper machine and beeped. I was wanded and beeped again. The TSA agent, thankfully a lady, had me lift my shirt a little and we discovered I must have been beeping because of the little metal buckles on the sides of my pants. She was satisfied and let me pass. (The poor man behind me wasn?t so lucky, he was practically stripped searched.)

After putting back together my wheelie thing I waited just a few minutes and eventually my flight was called for boarding. I proceeded onto the plane. Not an easy thing to do considering the size of the thing. I believe it holds 50 passengers. It was a Continental Express Jet. Good thing it was only going to be about a 2 hour flight and I?m the size I am because I just can?t imagine having to fly on that thing being any taller and bigger. One side of the plane had one seat and the other side had two. The aisle was barely wide enough for my wheelie thing. Most of the overhead bins were already taken so I could only fit one carry-on in there and the other was partially shoved under the seat in front of me. The wheelie was placed in a closet up front.

Although the flight was supposed to be full there was one empty seat, directly across from me. We all used the seat to place items on when we had to get up or down. As for snacks and drinks it was a wonder they were able to build a cart that would go up and down the aisles. If anyone had to use the bathroom the poor stewardess had to back all the way up the aisle.

We finally made it to Newark. Hustle and bustle for sure. I wanted a cigarette and asked where the smoking lounge was. No such luck. (I guess I was thinking of LaGuardia, I believe they had one there.) I was told I could go outside the airport to smoke. After checking to make sure I had enough time to get back through another security check I made my way outside to join the rest of the addicts.

After two quick cigs back in I went. Unbelievable as it may seem there was no one else on that security line. More unbelievable was that they let me go right through the beeper thing. I don?t even remember being asked to take my shoes off. They barely glanced at my ticket.

I found my gate for the next leg and waited. I wanted to get something to eat and they had tons of places to choose from. The place closest to me was Italian but I didn?t want to sully my taste buds before getting to Italy. So I set off to search for other fare. None of the lines were moving and I didn?t want to take a chance on being late for the flight so I gave up and decided to just wait for something on the plane.

They called for boarding and away I went.

Part B of day one to come, perhaps tonight.

Looking forward to Part B!

I honestly don't mean to sound rude, but I strongly suggest that you not go into so much detail in the remainder of your trip report.

Please don't listen to Howard...I think your writing is entertaining.

If it's a hassle for someone else, they have the option not to read it.

Pay no attention to Howard. Those of us who "helped" you plan this trip are dying to hear the details! And not to say "I told you so", but remember when I made you weight those suitcases and insisted you pack light~ you just wouldn't listen -LOL!!!

Please continue...

OK, I surrender. I guess it's a case of different strokes for different folks!

So did you pack an umbrella? :-) Sorry, couldn't help it!

Hey Howard,

At least she uses paragraphs.

Phoebe, so far it is what I expected. :)

Ira, thanks for the empathy!

Now I know PLMN smokes, thanks to the fine details, Howard :D

Waiting for B, I am liking this !!

Ah, Scarlett, that's just my point. Are details like that really necessary? I almost expect that Part B will list her visits to the bathroom.

Ohhhhhhhhhhh....now, I'll really get slammed!

Hi PLMN,

I'm also anxiously waiting for part II. It will be easiest for people to find if you post it here on the same thread instead of starting a new one. Thanks!

We already knew that she smoked, thanks to the details provided earlier in the description of her plastic bag she had to carry at work on a thread prior to the trip.

I understand what you're saying Howard. This could be one <i>long</i> trip report. We aren't even on the plane yet!

That's no secret. Phoebe never was a closet-smoker. She has let us know about this habit right from the start. I swear y'all are tuning in late to this program in progress... And we haven't even met Mom &amp; Dad or gotten to Italy yet!!!

Howard R was warned in the very first sentence.
I look forward to the rest of it, details and all.

Howard, I promise not to divulge the details about the bathroom visits. :)

Everyone else, thanks for the support. Here is Part B of Day One:

Anyone who says the Continental big jets to Italy are roomy is a big f _ t liar. (Don't know if anyone actually said so, but please..if you can afford it at all save yourself lots of discomfort and book bigger seats. (I did glance at the seats in business class and to tell you the truth, they don't look so great either.)

Most of the overhead bins on this flight were also already taken and I made do the best I could. (Which means I felt like a twisted pretzel.)

The lady sitting next to me was very nice except I think she talks more than I do. I had to pretend I was sleeping to avoid some of the conversations she wanted to have. Especially when she asked if anyone ever told me that I look like Bette Middler. (I think Ms. Middler is a good entertainer but I never considered her exceptionally pretty and so when people say this to me I try to sound pleased, but really I'm not...MY OWN PERSONAL OPINION.)

Sorry Howard, this part is for those that suffer from ear pain on flights- taking Sudafed did NOT help me on this flight, nor did the two Bloody Mary's I gulped down. I ended up having excruciating ear pain.

Movies and TV were a good diversion and counting the minutes between snacks and the main meal helped a tiny bit with the boredom. I found the dinner to be edible, a beef meal of some type with veggies.

It was on this flight that I had my first taste of the Continental Nazi Flight Attendant Contingent. Sorry Howard, here is a bathroom story. I needed to visit the lavatory. The closest one was on my side of the plane but it turns out it was reserved for business class. I had a feeling it was because during different times during the flight a little rope was used to cordon of that area. At my point of need the rope was not being used. I had stood up at my seat and pondered how to proceed. The passengers in back of me urged me to go to the one closest to us, the one I was not sure about. I figured what the heck and started off. As I neared the area Ms. S. (I got her name in full in my notes,) jumped out of a secret area and screamed &quot;NOOOO, YOU CAN'T COME HERE AND USE THIS ONE, YOU MUST GO TO A DIFFERENT ONE!!!&quot; and placed the rope back. I was mortified. I thought I had committed (sp?) some mortal sin. I slinked away and walked all the way down the aisle towards the back and around to the other side of the plane to the lavatory directly across from the off limit one. So beware of which lavatory you are entitled to use. Thank goodness I wasn't having an emergency.

About the time they announce the availability of duty free items I had a hankering for something sweet. I ended up having to buy a whole box of Toblerone (sp?) for $9. I had one bar and gave some of the others away. Pretty expensive craving hunh.

Finally, we prepared to land. My ears were killing me and I just had to deal with it. If I went deaf at least I made it to Italy.

Passport checks and baggage claim were a breeze. Thank you to those Fodorites that warned me about the drivers with signs near the baggage claim area not being the drivers I needed. If I did not have that info I would have been very worried. When I got to the area outside of baggage claim I got my first real taste of Italy.....I can't recall ever having seen so many good looking men in one place!!!! (Well, except for the guys my husband works with...lifeguards/EMT/law..they are mostly blonde though and these guys were all dark haired..yummy. :) )

Anyway, I looked for my driver, reserved via Limoservicerome.com and did not see him there holding a sign. I figured it might be a little wait because he was supposed to get there in time for my parent's flight. The only thing was that their flight had gotten in early and I had hoped that by the time they picked up their bags and went through passport check that the driver would be there. BUT OH NO, not when my family is involved.....

Part C to come soon.

This is fun- waiting for &quot;C&quot;!

Hi Tallulah,

Nope, no umbrella. But thank goodness I had my RAINCOAT.

Now here come my folks, looking like weary travelers. Hugs, kisses, and no limo driver as I had promised. By this time he definitely should have been there. We waited and waited, still no driver. During this waiting I thought this would be the perfect time to use my cell phone to call the numbers I had been provided only I did not have the TIM chip yet. ADVICE: Buy the TIM chip before you go. I had asked the policeman at the airport if there was a place to purchase one because the place near where I was standing was not open.

He tried to tell me about one down the airport and around the corner but I didn't want to miss the driver in case he showed up and my folks weren't to keen on walking around looking for the place.

Around a half hour after he should of been there I heard the shout of my last name above the din of the airport noise. I looked around and this little older man, (where was my hunky driver?)was walking very fast holding a hard to read sign with my name on it. I yelled to my parents to follow me as I followed the driver towards the airport exit. I was practically running to keep up with him which was hard to do with my luggage and my parents in tow.

We made it outside the airport and here we had our first taste of Italy traffic. The limo rep (turned out to not even be the actual driver,) was zigging and zagging through the traffic to the area across from the entrance to the airport. I was a bit distressed that we had to do this, I couldn't understand why he was not leading us to our car parked in the que with the other limos, taxis, buses, etc.

He had us sit on a bench and tried to explain the delay with the statement &quot;Sorry, the highway is broken.&quot; This statement became a running joke for the remainder of our Italy trip. There was something also about a bad accident earlier in the morning. At the time these sounded like plausible excuses, but the more I think about it the more I wonder how all the other drivers managed to pick-up their people, I'm pretty certain they were not all late because so many were there waiting for their passengers before the passengers got through passport and luggage claim.

My folks were starting to get antsy sitting there waiting for the van, I had reserved a van. The limo rep kept going off to do other things and I had to go find him a few times to get updates. My folks had set a time limit on how much longer they would wait before attempting to hire another way to get to the hotel. I kept saying the van should arrive soon and I had already reserved it. I did not look forward to attempting to get another vehicle with my parents in tow.

Finally, a van showed up that the limo rep put us into. The driver took off and apologized for the difficulties. It wasn't very clear what he was saying because it was in Italian of course. He did touch on the fact that he couldn't take the highway due to it being broken. We were on little back roads that kept going and going. There was lots of traffic and traffic signals. The view out the windows not the most scenic. Factories, jails, construction. I tried to make it interesting with running comments like &quot;look mom, that is great scaffolding on that new building over there.&quot; (Appropriate because my mother is an architect and builder with an interest in scaffolding.)

At one point the driver went around in a circle. Then he kept looking towards the highway which could be seen at a distance. Traffic looked to be moving pretty good on it to me. Eventually the driver did make it on to a little bit of highway. All in all the trip to the hotel took over an hour. Does anyone know if that is about the time it would usually take to get from FCO to a hotel near the Trevi Fountain?