Ms. Packratty actually slept well last night mainly because she stayed up long enough to finish packing and really do everything but setting things up for Delilah, which has now been done. What remains is showing, dressing, packing up the car, checking the list for the 100th time, taking Charlie to Mar's and then heading for the train.
Got the boarding pass and other final documents printed last night, loaded up the money belt with all the cash and ID I am taking.
Nervous? Why, yes, I am nervous - why wouldn't I be? I'm stepping off the edge of my normal world and onto a new one for a short time. I don't anticipate anything but good but there are so very many variables that only a sane person would be a bit nervous.
It's going to be good.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Three days and counting
Today is packing day and emptying out the fridge day and so many other little fiddly things day. It's very clear and cold and while Ms. Packratty had a very busy day Saturday, there is laundry and a mite more shopping to do before her last day at work pre-trip. It's daunting - after 2 years of saving, after 9 months of planning and paying for things bit by bit, the day is nearly here. Tuesday, Ms. Packratty will drop off Charlie to hang out with the pack at Mar's house, make sure Delilah Fuzzybutt has food, water and plentiful litter boxes, lock the doors behind her, hoist the baggage into the car and head for the airport on the train. The next morning, she will be in Rome.
For the moment, Ms. Packratty needs to decide what to wear on the plane - comfort and warmth are paramount because the temperature should be around freezing when the plane lands and she will have a longish walk dragging her baggage, although with cash in hand, it may prove brighter to cab to the bank and then walk to the apartment. And remembering to pack at least one full days clothing change in her carryon, just to be safe. Travel insurance card arrived Saturday, so I need to move all the documents I am taking in a small billfold so that most of my junk remains home - guessing I am not going to need my Petsmart card or my library card or my Starbucks card in Rome. It's really sinking in now. It's going to happen.
For the moment, Ms. Packratty needs to decide what to wear on the plane - comfort and warmth are paramount because the temperature should be around freezing when the plane lands and she will have a longish walk dragging her baggage, although with cash in hand, it may prove brighter to cab to the bank and then walk to the apartment. And remembering to pack at least one full days clothing change in her carryon, just to be safe. Travel insurance card arrived Saturday, so I need to move all the documents I am taking in a small billfold so that most of my junk remains home - guessing I am not going to need my Petsmart card or my library card or my Starbucks card in Rome. It's really sinking in now. It's going to happen.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Best Laid Plans and all that
Ms. Packrat should remember that bit, even if mice are just cousins. Last weekend was an unmitigated disaster. Nothing in particular, just a lot of things not working out as planned. Almost no errands got run, little or nothing got done on Chez Packrat or shopping/preparing and the workweek has been really rather icky, with the 8 o'clock shift for 3 nights. However - the AAA TipPack is purchased, Ms. Packrat talked to some people from MegaBank and had them note in her account that she will be using her ATM card in Italy; she purchased travel insurance; paid a bunch of bills and made out her packing spreadsheet. She has many many more chores to do this weekend to be ready, but it looks doable from here and, frankly, if something doesn't get done (except for safeguarding the house and the four-footers) well, I'll pay the library fine or cope with it later.
And all of this as really cold weather descends here and the weather reports that it could possibly *snow* the day of Ms. Packratty's arrival in the Eternal City.
Excited and nervous, but reminded that I do have a first cousin right "up the road" in Florence. Going someplace where I don't know anyone at all and doing it solo? A little more nervous-making than when I was a youngster, but I am going to trust that this will all work out and I will have the adventure I am hoping for.
I need an adventure - I've been grinding along in a rut for too long and I need to be shaken up with some possibilities. I want to do more and see more before I die - and at 57, that's no longer something too distant to glimpse - it's something that's definitely at least a smudge on the horizon. I don't want to spend the rest of my life living a small little life and hiding in my house and being safe.
And all of this as really cold weather descends here and the weather reports that it could possibly *snow* the day of Ms. Packratty's arrival in the Eternal City.
Excited and nervous, but reminded that I do have a first cousin right "up the road" in Florence. Going someplace where I don't know anyone at all and doing it solo? A little more nervous-making than when I was a youngster, but I am going to trust that this will all work out and I will have the adventure I am hoping for.
I need an adventure - I've been grinding along in a rut for too long and I need to be shaken up with some possibilities. I want to do more and see more before I die - and at 57, that's no longer something too distant to glimpse - it's something that's definitely at least a smudge on the horizon. I don't want to spend the rest of my life living a small little life and hiding in my house and being safe.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Falling into Place
My voice is recovering. I have scavi tickets. I received this: Dear Ms. Palmer:
We are happy to assist you with 1 ticket for the Pope's General Audience on February XX; I have tickets for the Vatican Museums and the Colosseum/Forum. I have ordered the European cell phone from Mobal (very cool - a simple one time purchase and then pay for use - no monthly or annual fees) and it has shipped and I have a tracking number.
The only remaining things to do are talk to the bank about using ATMs in Italy and getting a Tip Pak from AAA so I have some € when I arrive. And moving some more $ to AmEx and trip insurance and ordering tickets on the airport shuttle and packing and getting Her Royal Grumpiness Delilah Fuzzybutt all set up to survive in my absence.
I need to hit the ground running this weekend if I am going to get things squared away and be 90% ready a week from Sunday. Granted, I will have Monday am, Monday night and Tuesday am for last minute, but I would really rather not be rushed.
And this time, two weeks from now, I will be in Rome, probably on my way from the shuttle to my pied a terre for the trip. I'm beginning to believe in this - this is the sort of adventure I should have been figuring out how to have all along.
We are happy to assist you with 1 ticket for the Pope's General Audience on February XX; I have tickets for the Vatican Museums and the Colosseum/Forum. I have ordered the European cell phone from Mobal (very cool - a simple one time purchase and then pay for use - no monthly or annual fees) and it has shipped and I have a tracking number.
The only remaining things to do are talk to the bank about using ATMs in Italy and getting a Tip Pak from AAA so I have some € when I arrive. And moving some more $ to AmEx and trip insurance and ordering tickets on the airport shuttle and packing and getting Her Royal Grumpiness Delilah Fuzzybutt all set up to survive in my absence.
I need to hit the ground running this weekend if I am going to get things squared away and be 90% ready a week from Sunday. Granted, I will have Monday am, Monday night and Tuesday am for last minute, but I would really rather not be rushed.
And this time, two weeks from now, I will be in Rome, probably on my way from the shuttle to my pied a terre for the trip. I'm beginning to believe in this - this is the sort of adventure I should have been figuring out how to have all along.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Thank you discount store
With the tours I have booked for my first full day in Rome, I realized that I needed really really good shoes for a day that will start out with a hike from the apartment to Termini and then from the metro station across the Tiber to the Vatican for the scavi tour, then a bit of roaming and so forth between scavi and the afternoon Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museum tours and then back home again.
Not one of the pairs of leather shoes I have bought have enough padding for me to feel encouraged about a day on my feet in them and the scavi tour warns not to carry anything but a small purse, so I nipped up to one of the local shoe outlets at lunch and looked.
Nothing I was willing to buy - $75 is far more than I am willing to spend on "sneakers" and the ones on the markdown rack were hideous color combinations - purple and green anyone? So I whipped into the TJMaxx next door and found some black New Balances with only a bit of red flashing for $39.95 in my size and was able to try them on and determine that my right foot liked them just fine and had plenty of room for a sock. If the right foot is happy, the left foot will be, I've learned.
I have an older pair of New Balances that were too small for Dad and are fine on me with heavy socks, but they're mostly white and quite beat up so I'll leave those home and go with the black ones. I think I'll plan on wearing them on the plane too for maximum comfort. On other days, I anticipate that I will stuff the sneakers in a small tote bag and wear nicer shoes with the option of putting on the sneakers if my feet start to kill me. I do not plan to let my feet ruin this trip.
I have just a couple more small purchases - some new underwear and a change purse, plus making arrangements for the Italian cell phone, plus doing the final figuring out of money and exactly what forms I am going to carry it in and then it's a matter of making sure everything is clean, the house is ready and the packing comes in under weight limits.
Not one of the pairs of leather shoes I have bought have enough padding for me to feel encouraged about a day on my feet in them and the scavi tour warns not to carry anything but a small purse, so I nipped up to one of the local shoe outlets at lunch and looked.
Nothing I was willing to buy - $75 is far more than I am willing to spend on "sneakers" and the ones on the markdown rack were hideous color combinations - purple and green anyone? So I whipped into the TJMaxx next door and found some black New Balances with only a bit of red flashing for $39.95 in my size and was able to try them on and determine that my right foot liked them just fine and had plenty of room for a sock. If the right foot is happy, the left foot will be, I've learned.
I have an older pair of New Balances that were too small for Dad and are fine on me with heavy socks, but they're mostly white and quite beat up so I'll leave those home and go with the black ones. I think I'll plan on wearing them on the plane too for maximum comfort. On other days, I anticipate that I will stuff the sneakers in a small tote bag and wear nicer shoes with the option of putting on the sneakers if my feet start to kill me. I do not plan to let my feet ruin this trip.
I have just a couple more small purchases - some new underwear and a change purse, plus making arrangements for the Italian cell phone, plus doing the final figuring out of money and exactly what forms I am going to carry it in and then it's a matter of making sure everything is clean, the house is ready and the packing comes in under weight limits.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Trip Specific Purchases
There have not been many. I already had a moneybelt and luggage. I've bought a couple of extra books although I plan to take only one with me, the most recently published. I also bought a new Streetwise Rome map - I love the laminated Streetwise maps - the one I have for Manhattan was terrific.
However, Saturday, Mar took me over to REI and I picked up one of the Pacsafe bags. I don't plan to carry money in it (see moneybelt) but I do want something to carry my wee Nikon and spare batteries, that aforementioned map, my little notebook full of addresses and notes and museum opening hours and so forth and the mobile phone I'm getting to use in Italy. I haven't been able to get any sort of clear answer from the T-Mobile folks about "roaming" charges in Europe and the more I think about it the more I like the idea getting a phone from Mobal that doesn't require prepaid minutes or reloading, but just charges a set amount per minute/text and debits one's account.
I'm normally a little notorious for large bags with enough junk in them to set off on a trek through the Andes, so I got the little Metrosafe 100 - it is all of 9" by 6" by a max of 3 inches deep and the map will just barely slide in. But it should curtail my impulse to carry 34 pounds of impedimentia with me. And a girl does need - even if she's old and lacking in vanity - something to carry lipstick and some tissues in - and it converts from a shoulder bag to one that can be worn at the waist, although I don't like that look and I think I'll just stick to the cross body strap.
I have bought clothing, but almost all of it is things I would likely have purchased anyway to fill out my work clothes. I did buy a plain skirt in wool and one dressy top so that if I go out to a nice restaurant in the evening I can dress up a bit. However, after reading and talking to some folks, I've kind of concluded that what I mostly want is lunch every day and then something small in the evening, what's particularly been recommended in stopping in at an enoteca for a glass or two of wine. Most of these enoteca have a variety of wines by the glass and offer a short menu of small plates and salume and cheeses for very reasonable amounts and that strikes me as a really nice immersion activity in the evenings.
It's almost time to make a countdown list of final tasks ...
However, Saturday, Mar took me over to REI and I picked up one of the Pacsafe bags. I don't plan to carry money in it (see moneybelt) but I do want something to carry my wee Nikon and spare batteries, that aforementioned map, my little notebook full of addresses and notes and museum opening hours and so forth and the mobile phone I'm getting to use in Italy. I haven't been able to get any sort of clear answer from the T-Mobile folks about "roaming" charges in Europe and the more I think about it the more I like the idea getting a phone from Mobal that doesn't require prepaid minutes or reloading, but just charges a set amount per minute/text and debits one's account.
I'm normally a little notorious for large bags with enough junk in them to set off on a trek through the Andes, so I got the little Metrosafe 100 - it is all of 9" by 6" by a max of 3 inches deep and the map will just barely slide in. But it should curtail my impulse to carry 34 pounds of impedimentia with me. And a girl does need - even if she's old and lacking in vanity - something to carry lipstick and some tissues in - and it converts from a shoulder bag to one that can be worn at the waist, although I don't like that look and I think I'll just stick to the cross body strap.
I have bought clothing, but almost all of it is things I would likely have purchased anyway to fill out my work clothes. I did buy a plain skirt in wool and one dressy top so that if I go out to a nice restaurant in the evening I can dress up a bit. However, after reading and talking to some folks, I've kind of concluded that what I mostly want is lunch every day and then something small in the evening, what's particularly been recommended in stopping in at an enoteca for a glass or two of wine. Most of these enoteca have a variety of wines by the glass and offer a short menu of small plates and salume and cheeses for very reasonable amounts and that strikes me as a really nice immersion activity in the evenings.
It's almost time to make a countdown list of final tasks ...
Saturday, January 21, 2012
In which a piece falls into place
We wrote off to scavi.org - the Vatican excavation offices - some time ago - to try to get tickets to the necropolis tour. It had registered the other day that there had been no reply, so we had started to conclude that we were not going to be a ticket when - bang - THIS - landed in the mailbox:
Vatican City, January 21, 2012
Reference N. 1XXXXXXX
Palmer Valeria,???
This message is in regards to your request to visit the necropolis under the Papal Basilica of St. Peter.
The visit which you requested has been authorized.
This tour takes place near the tomb of the Apostle St. Peter, below the basilica.
For this reason, more than a cultural tour, this is a pilgrimage to one of the most holy places in the christian world.
The following rules (NOTICES) must be respectedalthough different from other places in the Vatican.
If you find later that you are unable to attend, even after confirmation and payment, we ask kindly that you inform our office.
Information to be confirmed.
Before confirming the reservations according to the procedure below in the section CONFIRMATION PROCESS, please keep in mind the guidelines at the end of this message.
The visit is registered under the name Palmer Valeria
>tour. T8***** Feb **, 2012 time *****m participants 1 Language English
Cost of each ticket [including the presence our guide]: Euro 12,00 (about 16.3036USD)
Total cost for N. 1 tickets : Euro 12,00
Firing up AmEx.
Color me thrilled. This gives me a start to planning the rest of my week. I have been told that the lines for St. Peters and the Vatican museums are bad in the morning, less so in the afternoon, so I think I will use some of those reward points from MegaMegaBank's now defunct debit card program to book the Vatican that afternoon and spend the time in between on an excursion to the shop that sells bottle openers in the shape of a Pope and the Andrea Doria public market on the far side of the Vatican City walls. Wonder if there's a back gate?
Need to go to AAA and buy some € - very cleverly they make a packet in a small amount called a Tip Pack designed to tip a porter or catch a bus before one must deal with changing $ into €.
New skirt and new sweater came, just one or two bits more to procure and then figure out the packing - probably made easier by the fact that most of my wardrobe is black, black and black with the occasional bit of gray or white. The yellow lining on my good coat should look very snappy though.
Vatican City, January 21, 2012
Reference N. 1XXXXXXX
Palmer Valeria,???
This message is in regards to your request to visit the necropolis under the Papal Basilica of St. Peter.
The visit which you requested has been authorized.
This tour takes place near the tomb of the Apostle St. Peter, below the basilica.
For this reason, more than a cultural tour, this is a pilgrimage to one of the most holy places in the christian world.
The following rules (NOTICES) must be respectedalthough different from other places in the Vatican.
If you find later that you are unable to attend, even after confirmation and payment, we ask kindly that you inform our office.
Information to be confirmed.
Before confirming the reservations according to the procedure below in the section CONFIRMATION PROCESS, please keep in mind the guidelines at the end of this message.
The visit is registered under the name Palmer Valeria
>tour. T8***** Feb **, 2012 time *****m participants 1 Language English
Cost of each ticket [including the presence our guide]: Euro 12,00 (about 16.3036USD)
Total cost for N. 1 tickets : Euro 12,00
Firing up AmEx.
Color me thrilled. This gives me a start to planning the rest of my week. I have been told that the lines for St. Peters and the Vatican museums are bad in the morning, less so in the afternoon, so I think I will use some of those reward points from MegaMegaBank's now defunct debit card program to book the Vatican that afternoon and spend the time in between on an excursion to the shop that sells bottle openers in the shape of a Pope and the Andrea Doria public market on the far side of the Vatican City walls. Wonder if there's a back gate?
Need to go to AAA and buy some € - very cleverly they make a packet in a small amount called a Tip Pack designed to tip a porter or catch a bus before one must deal with changing $ into €.
New skirt and new sweater came, just one or two bits more to procure and then figure out the packing - probably made easier by the fact that most of my wardrobe is black, black and black with the occasional bit of gray or white. The yellow lining on my good coat should look very snappy though.
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