Italy: Here We Come! Here We ARE!

[See ITALY: HERE WE COME! HERE WE ARE! link for pictures.]

Tues., 2 September - Wed., 3 September
Mon. Dalac kindly called us a taxi for our 1:17 train to Angers. Saying a fond goodby to the town and to the Dalac family who made us feel so at home, I at least wanted to stay just a bit longer. We felt we made such good friends there.

Wiser about how to maneuver the luggage, we quite easily made the connections from Saumur to Angers, from Angers to Paris (on the TGV), and with the help of TWO taxis, from Montparnasse station to Bercy for the overnight Trenitalia to Venice.

The small Bercy station was busy, but we waited only about an hour until we could board the 6:55 (18:55) train. Of course our car was the last, and of course I hit the only “pot hole” in the concourse spilling the luggage on the push cart! C’est la vie, n’est-ce pas?

Our couchette provided lots of luggage space and cute bunks for slipping. The attendant for our car was very pleasant; it was an Italian staff. He didn’t seem to know much French but did speak limited English. We left on time, and the attendant collected both tickets and passports. Tim and I shared some wine as the girls lounged on the top bunks, all of us enjoying the scenery for the few hours before dark.

I’m not quite sure of the route, but it was different from the one I took 20 years ago when we could see the Alps at 5:30 in the morning. This time we must have gone through Dijon, for we had a middle of the night (actually about 3:00 am) stop in Brig, Switzerland, from which one could normally see the Matterhorn, at least in daylight!

We cleaned up a bit and began looking at some familiar names along the Milan-Venice line: Verona, Padua, Vicenza. We stopped briefly at each one, which made me wonder if we could also stop at Mestre, where Renato, our CIMBA taxi driver would pick us up, rather than follow our tickets which had us go into Venice Santa Lucia station and take another train back to Mestre (5 minutes). We asked when the attendant gave us back our tickets and passports; he said yes. Mestre at 9:29!

So with very little aggravation, we unloaded the bags and waited by the Mestre station entrance/exit for Renato who was to pick us up between 10 and 10:30. Just outside was . . . . . . a McDonald’s! The menu a bit different, but Emma had some nuggets and curly fries and Tim had a Big Mac. He gave me a bit – much better than most of the typical McDonald’s fare. And the curly fries were great – not the least bit greasy. How do they do that?

While waiting, an incredible thunderstorm blew in. We were just outside the station under a 20-foot overhang, but we had to move back in a little because the wind took the rain sideways. Some incredible cracks and lightening bolts. It passed after about 15 minutes, and Renato shortly appeared. We loaded everything into the car (like a small SUV) and headed off to Paderno where Renato said the sun was shining. Sure enough, a few minutes outside of Mestre — sun!

Paderno del Grappa is about an hour car ride from Mestre/Venice. As we drove, we noticed a lot of construction – felt like Delaware!!! However, most of it involved building. Many roundabouts and few traffic lights, so we moved along quickly. Renato is a “normal” driver; that is, he does not fit the stereotypical Italian driver, at least with the taxi filled with Americans and their luggage!!

We got to campus around 11:00. Renato showed Tim the office while we stretched our legs. Then Renato came back and said he’d take us to the apartment. We figured Tim was coming too, but no. Okay, so perhaps he was doing some paperwork. The Orchidea (Ork-a-day-a) Apartments are about an 8-minute walk to the campus. Set in a lovely garden with unbelievable view of the Dolomites (pictures are coming, don’t worry!), we waited by the gate. Soon Tim comes, driving a Fiat Punto, our car! Marta (Italian) and Tommy (American) , both of whom are on the CIMBA staff, were with him; we commended them on their bravery for riding with him.

Marta takes us to our 2nd floor apartment – lovely. Though only 2 bedrooms (good size) much to Abbey’s dismay, it has a spacious living area with dining set that includes a small kitchen. The main bath separates the two bedrooms and the girls have a “powder room” off their room. Huge casement windows with functional shutters, a balcony off the living area, and another one that we and the other American family share off our second floor landing. Italian tile, naturally, and hardwood floors.

We unpack and begin to move things around a bit to make it fit our living style and to make it our home for the next 8 months. Lists begin of what we need. Constant “ahhh’s” each time we pass the windows as we view the Dolomites.

Feeling daring but feeling more hungry than anything, we set off to find a grocery store. Adam, another staff member and American, notes that most stores are closed on Wed. afternoon, although he thought that Crespano, a near by town had one open. So we braved driving (not as bad as I thought), only to find all closed. Off to Fonte, a little farther off, to a supermarket called Famila, where we stocked up with basics, some fresh fruit and veggies, and wine! It is so cheap here – I mean decent wine. $5.00 a bottle for a great Valpolicella!

Back at the apartment, we meet our neighbors: Scott and Judy with their 2 daughters Madeleine (12 going on 18) and Johanna, better known as Jo-Jo, who’s 10. Well, Jo-Jo and Emma promptly hit if off. They’re inseparable. About 7 every morning, Jo-Jo hops over the balcony railing and comes over. Emma is so funny; she informed us that Jo-Jo not only loves to dance and play cards like she does, but she also is “addicted” to chapstick. Never would have dreamed another kid would. Anyway, they are from Eugene, Oregon; Judy is an ESL teacher, and Scott is here for the journalism courses. We are so happy to have them as neighbors – and have already enjoyed a Prosecco with them.

Another storm rolled in, so we canceled plans to walk to the Pizzeria Ristorante just up the road and instead had spaghetti in olive oil, garlic, and fresh basil. Yummm! Tim was tired and went to bed early; so did Abbey. Emma and I stayed up to midnight and watched Under the Tuscan Sun on the computer!