This Will Be The Last Time

 Many people have destination weddings these days. Fifty-five years ago these were never thought of and anyways we were both university students struggling to survive in a competitive academic world in London, Ontario.  Now we have more money and especially more time so why not celebrate your anniversary in Italy. We looked at places around us we have never been to and decided to drive there.  Our host told us Livorno not only is on the coast, but also has a cute Nuova Venezia. (New Venice) Nouva Venezia is a couple of canals with bridges just like old Venice. It reminded me more of the San Antonio Riverwalk, except on a smaller scale. We decided to go to a canal restaurant that had an open air barge next to it on the canal for lunch . It was a little difficult for Lynda to maneuver the step ups and downs but like the trooper she is we got a seat in the shade on the barge. The wine was good, the seafood carbonara was excellent and the salad was huge. We should have only o...

  There are many Good aspects to staying on a Farm. First,  you are in the countryside where there is beauty everywhere.  This place is very old and our apartment is in a converted barn with high ceilings and big beams. Quite rustic, as are the furnishings.  This farm makes their own wine, olive oil and is a truffle hunting paradise. You can taste all three. It also has a very good restaurant on the property which serves the wine and olive oils of the farm. The food was, as they say here, delicioso. The old of the farm. A walk around the farmhouse grounds gives you views of a time gone by. I imagine this huge villa with its grounds being used by families of aristocrats for afternoon and evening outings. The tiny church was a place of worship and the statues are a work of art. Add to that the stately trees and plants, one gets a feeling for its antiquity.  At night and in the morning,  the views from our bedroom windows are very different. The lights on the ...

 If you drive in Italy, especially on the Autostrada, you must experience the thrill of the AutoGrille. It is much like a Buckees in Texas.  We pulled into one on Wednesday, needing to pee and also to get some traveling food. The freeway was crowded as everyone was returning from their August vacations.  The AutoGrille was no exception as we were able to get the last available parking spot.  Outside people were standing by their cars, eating homemade food and washing it down with who knows what. Italian hands were flying everywhere as they communicated with each other. A group of older Karate folks piled out of a van near us and began to eat at the picnic tables nearby. We went in. First stop, the toilette. Relief taking over, we went to do our shopping.  The Ristorante part was full so we picked up some panini, chocolate, fantas and Pringles. I bought a cable for the car and phone connection. You can buy beer and wine, stop at the coffee bar, peruse and buy b...

  Since many of my viewing audience are of the geriatric persuasion, I thought you might be interested in what happens in three different countries when you order a wheelchair for your flights. Since Lynda has her 'walking' condition, I felt it would be easier for her to be wheeled around instead of walking with a cane all of the time. In the Austin airport one has to wait in your carrier's area for someone to come and get you. That took about twenty minutes. However that time was made up by your airport attendant being able to scoot you through the lines at Pre-check. Even the wheelchair and Lynda’s cane had to go through. They then moved us quickly to our gate, #2, at the far end of the airport. All the time I was rushing behind this speedster as I brought my suitcase and my backpack.  The Austin experience was good. The Montreal one was even better as the nice gentleman, Khalil, who spoke four languages, took us some back way through customs while about a thousand or so ...

      After 55 years of marriage and over thirty trips to Italy, this will be our last time to cross the pond. Since 1971 we have traveled to Europe. In 1971we were just kids, in our early 20s. We hadn't even started full time jobs but took a leap of faith and boarded a plane, me for the first time, carrying our backpacks complete with sleeping bags. We hitch-hiked the British Isles, found long lost relatives, walked countless miles, slept in places our mothers would have been aghast to find out about and made new friends. Next, we Hover Crafted across the channel for another two months where we explored a dozen countries on a student rail pass. After a few weeks we bought a tent and decided to camp the last six weeks. Lynda had never camped before. It was a whole different experience where we would meet the 'real' people of Europe.     Now we are older, 77 and 76 respectively. Last Fall, Lynda had a serious fall which stopped her from walking for some strange r...