Canadians Do It Well

Being away makes me think about what Canada and Canadians do well. Beer. We do good beer. Potatoes, clean washrooms with toilet paper. Clean generally. Botanical gardens - that we get from the British heritage I'm sure. Disabled access we do well. I'll never forget the train stations in Sicily that had 'disabled access' which meant a stairwell with a lift. The lift being locked with a rusty chain and padlock.

Rome to Whitehorse

I've done it! Made it back to work and completed a whole day a mere $#@$# hours after leaving Rome. I think I'm going to go lie down now.

What do Canadians do well? Clean. We do clean.

First Class Pods

This last flight we were accomodated in the newest first class innovation; the pod. Lord only knows what ungainly moniker the airline has attached to these types of seats. If you watched Quantum of Solace (latest James Bond adventure) you would have seen them, they fold out flat and look like little personalized space capsules. photos later.

The cutest part was that we couldn't be seated next to each other due to the seating design, so I visited Chris regularly. One of the other passengers thought we were on our honeymoon! :-)

Toronto Maple Leaf Lounge

I must say that first class travel agrees with me. We remain confused by the whole customs process which seemed designed to wear us down rather than clear us for acceptance on Canadian soil. Some how the airport authorities haven't grasped the fact that folks arriving on international flights are unlikely to have a twoonie handy to PAY FOR the luggage carts. An enterprising couple who did have a cart created a sort of train with her pushing his wheel chair and him pushing the luggage cart (obviously either very forward thinking or domestic travellers with the requisite twoonie).

The vast white halls of this airport still disoritent me, if not for teh enormous herd of people I would likely have missed the exit and wandered aimlessly in the white featureless expanse until subdued by taser...

Packing

The only nice thing about packing is the pleasant surprise if finding enough Euros for a nice last meal in Rome. Send us prayers for sanity and luck (to get it all in the bags).

Tomorrow the airport.... at 5am... Luciano the taxi driver has been contacted...

Rome

The night train was a bit of a schmozzle. I hadn't realized a few things when I booked, like the fact that the train didn't terminate in Rome Termini and that the 2 person compartment would be 2 coffins stacked and there'd be no baggage slot, let alone car.

I have begun to realize that as the folks here say; 'not possible' is rather a state of being at times. Little sleep was had, but despite this we arrived safely in Rome, found Termini, found our hostel, ran into a fellow tourist we'd seen in Sicily a few times, saw Ostia Antica, ate lunch, drank coffee and watched people.

Tomorrow, who knows?

Internet issues

We are still alive, just can't find internet. Things are fine, I'll try and post again before we leave Italy.

Events: Syracusa, lovely. Met up with Maria and Elleo had a lovely time.
Modica also lovely enjoyed walking the town that is set into a steep valley. Many stairs.

Tomorrow back on the train headed for Rome. We will be staying at the Funny Palace in Rome for 2 nights then flying back to Canada.