18 March 2008

Post #44:  Off to Italy!

Because, last night, our flight was cancelled, due to technical difficulties, we departed for Italy today, one day behind schedule.  We flew into Milan on the 5:30 flight out of Malta.  Note, all flights out of Malta are international flights!  You’d think this would mean long lines for departures through customs, but they’re rather lax there, and sifted through the crowds rather quickly.  Perhaps it just went quickly, because they are so experienced.

We arrived in Milan, and collected our luggage, then headed for the Eurocar desk, to pick up our rental.  We drove off in a sporty, little Fiat four-door, complete with that new-car smell.  It’s a tiny little thing, and I was surprised I could get our carry-on size bags to lay flat in the trunk.  The compartment is just deep enough to do so.  (Almost like they planned it that way!) 

I went out to the lot to find the car while Dave went back into the airport to hunt down a nice, detailed Italy map.  The Eurocar folks said their Italy maps were “finished,” which is what we’ve learned means, they’re all out. 

The walk to the car lot was a little scary.  There I am, pushing a luggage cart with our two small rolling bags, two backpacks, Dave’s laptop bag, a cooler/picnic bag which we’re using as a diaper bag, and the Kelty front-pack for carrying Bobby.  I took him out of it, while in the car rental office, so I was holding him, while he rested his bum on the handle of the cart, and I squeezed the lever to release the brake, while holding him, and shoving the heavy cart along. 

I got outside, and was confused about where exactly to go, so I turned around and went back in to ask , when I saw a couple pulling suitcases and holding a Hertz pamphlet, I swung a U-ee and followed after them.  This made me feel much more comfortable, since the lot was clearly a long way off, across the road, and when I had walked outside the first time, alone, there was a sketchy-looking dude watching me. 

We got to the lot and I thought Dave had said A-27 was the spot where I’d find the car, so I followed the numerals, and found myself wandering in the cool night air by spaces marked between 500 and 800!  Finally, I decided to check the paperwork, and it was 827, not A-27.  O-kay!  My plan was to save time by heading out ahead of him, because we have a car-seat for Bobby along, and I knew it would take a few minutes to get it snapped in.  We had stuffed our little down pillows under its cover, so I knew I’d have to snap the cover off, slip them out, snap it together, and then figure out how to strap the seat in.  Dave was at the car before I could do much of that, since I’d spent too much time wandering the lot.  Got a workout in for the day, anyway.

We drove to Como, and after paying a toll, we went through a couple tunnels, having skipped the first Como South exit, and we found the views breathtaking!  This is one amazing place, and that’s in the dark!  Can’t wait to see it in the daylight!  Going to have to get some sleep now, so we can make the most of our day here! 

Arrivederci!

 Send us an email about this post!  dgibbs at uwsp dot edu  or  dedegibbs at gmail dot com