In our short visit to Italy what could go wrong went wrong, plus more!
The morning started off with my phone having not charged during the night. Then as we rushed out of the house I realised I'd forgotten it. Fortunately just a minor inconvenience as I’d only gone a few metres before patting my pockets and discovering I didn’t have it.
But now the battery was low and we needed the phone for our journey. Rail tickets, buying metro tickets, plane boarding passes and Uber on arrival.
This trip was just a short 6 day visit to Italy - 3 days in Rome and 3 days in Florence. The occasion, celebrating the 80th birthday of Roger, our long time round the world travelling companion, who was coming from South Africa to Italy to celebrate his birthday with his family in Venice.
As my phone charge was low I used the time on the train from Aveiro to Porto to charge it. But as we arrived in Porto and I gathered my extra jacket and luggage I did not notice that the phone had fallen on the floor.
My phone on the way to Spain!
I wasn't aware I didn’t have it until I needed it to pay for the metro tickets. Frantic patting and searching was in vain. It was on the train on the way to Spain!
After explaining my predicament to Sara at the Campanha station ticket office, she immediately phoned the train manager. Within minutes he confirmed he had my phone and would return it to Campanha station. Where I could collect it on our return the following week.
There was an immediate sense of relief. However, travelling without my phone would be a challenge as my life is on my phone. I would now have to become Android competent as we lived with Carol’s phone for the six days.
We arrived at Porto airport hot and bothered and much later than planned and rushed into the departures area.
Here we had our next mind-blowing moment!
As we peered up at the arrivals and departures board we were confused. There were no flights to Rome at the scheduled time? As I looked at Carol’s boarding pass my heart dropped as I read LIS-FUM - Lisbon to Fuimicino!
I’d cocked up.
We shouldn’t be in Porto, we should be in Lisbon!!
Being at the wrong airport
We rushed to the TAP office and I gasped our predicament to an expressionless agent. There were no flights from Porto but with a rush (and hefty charge!) we could fly to Lisbon and then to Rome. The cheapest option would arrive in Rome after midnight. So, in for a penny in for a pound we decided to pay the extra €50 to arrive in the early evening.
Side note: Over the years I’ve seldom bought flexible tickets saving many hundreds dollars and euros - this time I paid as the first tickets were forfeited!!
Rushing through security we arrived at the gate just as the boarding started.
Surely after a start like this the rest of the trip would be plain sailing!
Little we know!
Rideshare into Rome City
After our arrival in Rome we decided to take a ride share option with My Safe Place Transfers direct to our BnB apartment. The waiting area was hectic with the large group being divided into groups and sent off in different vehicles. We sat and waited for ours.
After a short wait we were summoned to follow an agent to a waiting minibus. The ride had just started when Carol asked “Have you got my backpack?” as she vainly scrambled on the floor and peered into the luggage compartment.
I didn’t have it and neither did she!
She’d left it on the seat in the waiting area.
Carol’s backpack
We immediately asked the driver to contact the office to see if it was still there. Thankfully it was.
By now it was about 9pm and there was no chance of getting it that night so we made a tentative plan to collect it in the morning.
Rome airport is a fair distance from the city. Roger had booked a sightseeing group tour for the next day and going to the airport would have taken a large chunk out of the day. So via WhatApp I arranged for it to be delivered.
The delivery was seamless and met the driver at the entrance.
Relief!
Another successful outcome from a potentially horrible event.
Side note: How do you judge an experience? By the event or the outcome? By now we were having stressful events but good outcomes so we weren't feeling too bad!
Guided Tour to the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill
Roger had booked a guided audio walking tour of the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill with Crown Tours.
As we registered we were confronted with an unexpected bureaucratic barrier. To visit these sites you have to have a photo identity. But Carol’s passport and identity cards were in her backpack at the airport.
However looking through her apps I was able to find an acceptable photo identity (a Dubai visa!) which they reluctantly accepted.
The tour was excellent. But the security checks certainly felt over the top. The one dubious positive advantage is that they employ a lot of people!
The following day’s plan was to visit the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel.
In our visit to Italy - Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel
The walk from our apartment to the Vatican City was an easy 50 minute scroll along the river..
On the way, as we stopped at a pedestrian crossing, our water bottle spilled out of Carol’s backpack in front of a wave of oncoming cars and motorcycles. We watched with amusement as car after car and motorcycle after motorcycle narrowly missed the bottle.
As the last car passed, a bus pulled out from the bus stop. It was one vehicle too many. The bottle was no match for the bus’ front tyre and with a loud explosion it took its last breath.
Roger had booked a “tour” with GetYourGuide and we had expectations of having a guided tour.
But we were wrong! Despite the name, there was no GetYourGuide guide.
All we had was a fast track entrance to the museum. As Roger vainly searched for the non-existent guide he got more and more agitated as he raged around. After an hour we accepted that there was no guide and our tickets didn’t even include an audio guide.
So, we bought our own.
On reflection this was probably a better option than having a personal tour guide. You could spend as long, or as short, a time at the various exhibits.
The sculptures and wall and ceiling paintings in the museum are overwhelming. Passage after passage, wall after wall and room after room of elaborate paintings and statues. All with their own story!
By the time I arrived in the Sistine Chapel the only thing that really impressed me about Michelangelo's ceiling art was his punishing working conditions and what he managed to do in only four years.
Being somewhat of an art philistine I couldn’t see the difference between his art and the other artists like Raphael!
The following day we took the train to Florence. The train was comfortable but, compared to Portugal, ridiculously expensive!
Florence - an enchanting city unfortunately plagued by pickpockets!
After a coffee and snack at the station cafe we trundled along the cobbled, uneven streets to our apartment. Perfectly located less than 100 metres from Ponte Vecchio.
It was a cool, sunny winter afternoon so we decided to take a walk along the banks of the Arno River to soak in some of the sights and sounds.
The city has a charming feel.
However, this initial impression was soon shattered. We had just turned at Ponte Santa Trinita when Carol ran up to us gasping out that her wallet had been stolen..
As usual she was lagging some way behind us and as we turned had been approached by a young girl who said “Your bag is unzipped, let me help you”. This “help” ruse was all the time she needed to unzip and reach into the bag and remove the wallet.
Her debit and credit cards were rapidly cancelled. But Carol also lost her Portuguese residence card. Which she’ll fortunately not require again soon.
On reflection, Italy is expensive with most churches and attractions charging an entrance fee. Although I suppose that this is justified based on the importance of tourism to the economy?
Original Florence Free Walking Tour
We decided to do a free walking tour in Florence. It is a small city and it is a great way to get an idea of the highlights as well as the guide’s personal preferences about restaurants and shopping.
Our guide Allesandro was excellent and highly recommended.
On our way back to our apartment we joined the long line outside All’antico Vinaio to buy one of their famous “schiacciata” sandwiches. They are humongous and delicious.
The early part of the following day was rainy and miserable but as it cleared we decided to eat lunch at the food hall at il Mercato Centrale. There are food choices for everyone and it was a fun experience. We chose for pasta and some delicious fruit and cream desserts.
Heading Home
The six days passed in a flash and it was now time to go our separate ways. We set off early to take the train to the Rome airport and Roger headed to Venice. Our trip home was relatively easy apart from collecting my phone in Porto where there was some confusion but soon sorted out.
Visit to Italy In Closing
As I reflect on this trip, here are my thoughts about travelling.
Train travel wins hands down compared to flying. The ridiculous steps needed to get onto a plane - arriving hours before then the petty security is another story. Then there’s the cramped seating and low value (crappy quality and high priced) food and drinks on so-called budget flights. And just crappy quality meals on international flights.
With the train travel, just arrive at the scheduled departure time, climb on and go.
I’ve realised I’m travelled out! I have no desire to see another church or temple or old building. As I page through our round the world photos I often can’t even recognise the city.
So from now I’m only planning to take essential long flights to visit family!