Alexa, skip to Tuesday, please.
As per the usual trip for the past 23 years, I was up all night packing while Mike decided sleep had more value. In Mike’s defense, he packed his 2 shorts, 2 shirts, 2 underwears and bathing suit…. What more is needed lol. We headed out at 6:45 am to drop Perdy off at her kennel for the week. That was quite emotional for both Ashtyn & I. She’s a little stinker, but God do we miss her sweet face. From the kennel, Ashtyn dropped us off at the airport. I’ll tell you having paid the $100.00 for Global Entry & TSA Precheck is well worth it! We waited probably 10 minutes at Orlando International, which is unheard of. You keep your shoes on, belts on, jacket on, liquids in, laptop in…. Perfect! We both check a free bag on Delta with our main cabin tickets. Again, Perfect! Kerri could bring more to Italy and bring back more too!! I always over pack! I pack the same for a weekend as I do for a 2 week trip, too much! You know when you’re so organized and prepared you drive yourself crazy? That’s me. I’ve planned this trip for months now. The excitement is building!
MCO to Boston with a 3-hour layover. Nothing to report, just anxious to get to Rome. Our flight boarded to Rome on time and we departed on time! This is crazy! No delay, wow! While in Boston, you arrive from Domestic at Terminal A and take a bus to Terminal E (International). It was just Mike and I and a Delta Captain, our Delta Captain. How funny. A really nice guy headed to Rome on his day off for double time 1/2! It’s not common to get a chance to chat with your pilot. He explained about all the delays in Boston. Delta rents the gates so they are shared with other airlines, American, Air Canada, Lufthansa etc. If those airlines are delayed it causes delays within Delta. He said it’s not a great situation.
Our 7.5-hour flight was great. Flying POST COVID restrictions is simply amazing. No testing, no anxiety about results, no redundant paperwork and timeframes and NO masks!! I repeat, no masks. Sure there were plenty wearing masks, and to each their own. As it should be. But, I am beyond grateful to be allowed to breathe again. A simple pleasure and freedom we all deserve.
Upon arrival in Rome, there was not a gate available, so we taxied out and departed on the runway. From there we crammed into a bus (clearly no worry about covid anymore) and were dropped off at the immigration checkpoint. This was absolutely packed. We waited probably 30 minutes, the longest I have waited on any trip upon arriving into Rome. Next stop baggage, what could go wrong….
Mike’s huge duffle bag came right out. My little carry-on size suitcase was nowhere to be found. What the hell. Literally, after an hour waiting, we went to lost and found. We waited there for 30 minutes in line. So many other passengers with the same issue. I was told my bag was lost. They needed our address to deliver the bag, if and when it is located. Are you freaking kidding me Delta? I tried explaining this trip we are all over the Italian map. We are going today from Rome, driving 6-7 hours south to Calabria for 2 days. Next we go back to Poggio Nativo for 1 night at our home. And then north for 7 hours to the Dolomites for 3 nights. As I am standing there exhausted, jet lagged and now the emotional aggregation tears start. I think all my bathing suits are packed in my bag, the lost bag. Don’t come unglued here Kerri. In through the nose…. and out through the mouth…. Repeat. My mind is going in all directions, what is actually in the lost luggage? I was so organized & prepared. Omg, my medication & toiletries. Damn it Delta.
This was going to be a special little getaway for Mike and I on the beach. We were scheduled to check into our Airbnb at 3:00 pm. Here in Italy, it is much different than in the USA with check-in. Some hosts charge you a late fee if you do not arrive at the designated time. Most hosts are present upon arrival. They show you your place and and explain things such as trash collection etc. Our extended time at baggage claim led us to the car rental late. It’s a snowball effect. The frustration doesn’t take long to kick in when you are exhausted, hungry, and ready to just get to where you need to go. We message our host Phillip, who is so accommodating and tells us to just arrive safely.
The shuttle to the car rental was a bit tricky to find. We of course were the only ones not getting picked up. Finally, after asking the same Italian man twice, he pointed to a different location we should be standing at and within 15 more minutes, here it comes. Off to “Ok rent a car” here we go! No issues except the agent tried to upgrade us (at our expense) for an additional $300.00 and insurance we already declined. Guys, (FYI) if you have a major credit card such as Chase, you do not need to carry the additional car insurance. Even in Italy. You are covered through your credit card. Just double check of course. But, don’t spend the extra $$ because they instill fear into you. It is all about making $$ for them, remember that.
We are now good to go…..Tropea, here we come!! We were only 3 hours late. This seaside place is stunning. The ride from Rome was not bad at all until we were in the middle of a complete Florida summer thunder/lightning storm. Everyone around us was pulling off the side, it was wicked windy. The lightning was terrifying! But, thank God it cleared up just in time for our arrival at the beach. I found this Airbnb when I was searching for places for Michael and Mary Sloan to go for their honeymoon. It’s a beautiful little villa with direct access to a private beach. A beach that requires a journey of 400 steps DOWN……
All this beauty and serenity around me and I’m so upset and crying. For all the post-pregnancy mom’s out there & post-menopausal ladies…you’ll understand. Of all bags freaking Delta could have lost, they lost my damn bag with my bathing suits (and beach gear/attire). What it took for me to find a bathing suit that I felt comfortable to wear out in public, to a beach, to swim in, to relax in…..and now it is lost in baggage world. What the actual F. Mike would swim in his under squares if needed, men are just so different. Smartie being so understanding and upset for me being so upset, he takes me up the street to the local beachy store. When I say the suits there would only fit my Brett, I mean they are fitted for size 0. They’re certainly not going to fit a mom who has had 4 children, twins, a c-section AND is menopausal. I’ve killed myself trying to lose 10 pounds and now trying these damn suits on I feel like a fat hungry hungry hippo that escaped from the local zoo. Here come the angry tears. Damn it Delta. I grab 3 random suits off the rack, the nice Italian guy offers me a fitting room. The tears are now flowing even more in this fitting room which is literally a shower curtain outside an open door area. I can hear the guy ask Mike if I want to use the mirror… Is he kidding me. No, no thank you. No, no I don’t want to look at myself in this skimpy European triangle top and thong arse bottom. No. No mirror please. I hand Mike the 3 suits in tears and walk out. We try 2 more places and out of desperation I buy a suit. I buy it knowing it will not fit, knowing it will not even hold up one boob, never mind 2. I buy it knowing I will kick my own arse because I just wasted $65 euros on nothing. Damn it Delta.
I cried on the way back to our villa, feeling deflated. I was just so annoyed. Of all things to lose, why my bathing suits and sarongs. And we realized poor Mike only had his underwear he wore and all of his clothing were in the lost suitcase too. Oh well, suck it up buttercup!
We decide to come back to the villa and just put on shorts and walk down to the beach. After all, this is why we’re here. Forget what I can wear and just focus on being here. My feet were so swollen from flying and the rest of me is like a bloated baboon. Cheer up Kerri, you’re in paradise! I text Kailee & Ashtyn and they made me feel better. God I miss my OHANA.
This gorgeous property consists of multiple little villas. They each have their own patio and a tremendous view of the Tyrrhenian Sea. A short walk down a path takes you to a stairway of 400 steps. Leading down these steps gives you direct access to a private beach. The beach is only accessible via these steps or by boat. Each step I felt my happiness returning. I can hear the sound of the ocean smashing against the rocks… I am in my happy place. The ocean is my first love. We grew up spending summers on our boats traveling from Boston to Maine and everywhere in between. We make our way down and are absolutely blown away. There are 4 other people on the beach. It’s absolutely perfection. There are no words to describe how magnificent this place is. It is just beautiful. Truly God’s masterpiece.
~ HE reached down from on high and took hold of me, HE drew me out of deep waters ~ Psalm 18:16
We spent about an hour there, sitting on the rocks and watching the sun about to set. We were preparing for our climb back up to the villa. Getting down was absolutely nothing, getting back up the 400 steps…..Omg. The good thing is every few sets there was a flat landing. We commented the entire time walking, how on earth did someone build this walkway? God bless whoever had that task of creating this stairway to heaven!
We made it back! No 911 was needed lol, not that that would even work here in Italy. It was the most perfect night. We ended it by sitting outside on the terrace watching the lightning show off over the sea. I am such a neat freak and this Airbnb is rated 5+. The host, Phillip could not be kinder. He is from Wisconsin and married to an Italian woman. They lived on the keys for 25 years, he owed multiple restaurants and now runs this complex. Night one…..came to a perfect end. A glass of wine for Mike (ok, 2 or 3) and some limoncello for me…..It is a digestive and suppose to help the belly! So for me, it is a win-win! Buona Notte. With love from Faro Capo Vaticano.
We told Philip we would be getting up early to make up for lost time today. He was bringing down snorkeling gear for us. Off to bed, we go. Happy hearts. We’re so grateful to be here in this beautiful location, together. Just damn it Delta, find my bags, please!
“Tomorrow is a direct result of what you choose today. Choose wisely, choose carefully, and choose something that your tomorrow self will thank you for.”
I will choose to be happy. I will choose to let go of my complete meltdown over my lost luggage and not allow Delta Airlines to ruin my trip! I choose to let it go, I can’t control it anyway. And I guess I’ll choose to squish my fat arse in the skimpy bathing suit I just wasted $65 euros on. It’s all a choice friends lol.
Buona Notte.