Today’s musings and activities were inspired by a text from my daughter this morning:
In less than two months, my daughter Elissa, grandson Dayan and I will be flying out of a NW Arkansas airport, with Rome, Italy as our destination. This trip has been in the dream stage for five years. Very soon now, it will become a reality.
This trip is for my grandson, who will graduate from high school AND turn 18 years old a few days before we fly out. When he was 13 he expressed a desire to travel, and chose Italy as the country he most wanted to see. This young man has always had a world mindset. He thinks big, and dreams even bigger. He loves geography and can name every country in the world and talk knowledgeably about them. Travel and world cultures are embedded in his DNA, I think.
It has been my great pleasure to share this dream with him, dubbed Italy 2017, and gift him with this trip. I am delighted that my daughter, Dayan’s mom, is going as well. She has dreamed and planned with us. We will be three generations, sharing a grand adventure, before Dayan leaves for college this fall.
Dayan and I made Italy dream boards in 2012. Never underestimate the power of casting a vision.
Dayan’s new passport photo.
Elissa’s text this morning, and her question about luggage, inspired me to look over our travel itinerary, read through saved Pinterest pins, and look up info about our upcoming trip. I have been saving posts and ideas for five years. How exciting to be moving into the implementation stage.
On Pinterest I read about packing a carry on like a pro. When I traveled to Scotland in 2014, I hauled around a huge suitcase filled with too many clothes. I seriously could have packed one of my grandchildren in that monstrous piece of luggage and still had room for clothes! I won’t make that mistake again. I have a carry on that I intend to use, along with an oversized bag that will double as a purse.
I learned that tightly rolling clothing takes up far less room than folding them. I will be practicing this technique. Another idea was to pack the rolled clothes in mesh bags, that keep like items together. The bags then go into the suitcase.
Thinking of packing led me to wonder what the weather will be like in Italy, late May and early June. That is important, as the weather determines what clothes to take. My research revealed that temps are moderate in late spring, ranging from lows in the 50s to highs in the upper 70s. Some long sleeved shirts and a light jacket seem like wise items to include.
I read helpful info about doing well on long flights, such as drinking water every hour while in the air and getting enough light if you are flying west, using ear plugs and a sleep mask to get some rest, and only taking a short nap during the day, after arrival. We want to acclimate quickly so we don’t miss a moment of fun.
Finally, I spent time reading again through our itinerary. We have eleven days, once we arrive, to explore this beautiful country. We are traveling with a tour group, arranged by the amazing Ken Mayer, with GalaxSea Cruises & Tours in Neosho. I am immensely grateful for his help and his suggestions.
Our journey will begin in Rome and continue through Cinque Terre, Pisa, Siena, Florence, Verona, Venice, Ravenna, Assisi and Orvieto before returning again to Rome. We will have many opportunities to visit historical sites, meander through museums and shops, and sample local cuisines.
The one saved Pinterest pin that I did not read today was 45 Reasons Why You Must Visit Italy. I only need one reason…because my grandson wants to visit Italy. This is Dayan’s trip. His mother and I are his happy traveling companions, sharing in his joy.
Italy 2017…it is here. The dream is becoming reality. What memories we will bring home.
