April 4, 2015


All my bags are packed.  I’m ready to go.  Don’t remember the rest, but yo ho ho.

Today was very cold.  Overcast day with a wind coming off the Mediterranean.  So we didn’t walk very far.  Went to some new parts of the city.  Found some restorations that have been incorporated into new buildings.  Went back to the outdoor market.  Found a couple of small grocery stores to visit if we get to come back.  And I am ashamed to admit it, please forgive me, don’t think too badly of us, we had lunch at McDonald’s.  Our excuse was it was too cold to walk to the Istanbul Café (probably a mile round trip).  It was more expensive than in Augusta, and no better tasting.  But Bonnie wanted French Fries, and that, at least, can be counted on.

We went to Pizzaria del Costa for the last time for this trip, and maybe for the last time should we get to come back.  Salvatori, the proprietor, said he was going to do business for one more year and then close.  He said, “There’s no money in Italy.”  He and Lalla, his waitress wished us “Bon Voyagio.”  We really enjoyed them and their kindness to two traveling Americans.

Giovani is picking us up at 6:50 to take us to the airport in Rome.  We will get up at 5:30 to finish what little packing is left.  I will shower.  Bonnie is doing hers tonight.  Eat breakfast and say, “Arrivederci,” which I think is Italian for “Toodle-oo.”

Pray for continued safe travel (and no rain in the morning – it is getting it on tonight – first rain we’ve had on this trip – and we will be standing outside waiting for our ride, so pray it doesn’t rain in that interval).

TTFN