MOM'S HERE!!!!

11/5/2009

Today I met my mom in Rome! After my day yesterday, I was starting to think that it was necessary for me to start traveling with someone again to help keep me focused! Last night was one of those times where spending the extra energy and money was totally worth it. If I had not gotten fed up with being soaking wet and standing in the pouring waiting for a stupid bus to come, I probably would not have reached a point where I thought paying for a taxi was worth it. If I had not gotten a taxi, I probably would not have realized that I had lost my credit card soon enough and would not have even been able to walk back to the lunch restaurant because it would have been too late. If I had not convinced myself to walk all the way back to the lunch restaurant just to make sure I covered all of my bases, even though I didn’t think my credit card was there, I would have never have found it. Talk about a lot of “ifs” that thank goodness worked out in my favor.

Last night and dinner I had a revelation. I think that Italians drink espresso after dinner because the intense rush of caffeine helps off set the major food coma that eating the heavy Italian food can bring on. The little shot of espresso allows them to be able to finish their drinks and dessert at the table without falling asleep right there. Its almost brilliant.

This morning was another example of how I am starting to lose it. When I woke up, I didn’t set an alarm, and looked at my watch and thought it said 8:40. I had to put a move on it because I still needed to fold my laundry, repack my pack, and take a shower (all of which would take a while) before 10, which was the time I had to check out. So I get it all done on time and I am sitting at the hostel bar having breakfast and look at my watch again and it says 9:40. I think to myself that there is no way that can be right, I made check out right on time, maybe my watch is starting to slow down. Nope my watch was showing the right time, but all morning I was misreading it. Yep, its time to have someone help keep me in check.

Mom’s flight was due in at 12:05 so I spent the morning sitting in the bar, checking my email, having breakfast, and reading until it was time to go to the train station and catch the direct train to the airport. Unfortunately and extremely lamely, my Eurail pass didn’t cover the train ride to the airport and I had to buy a 12 Euro ticket. Good thing that I didn’t chance not buying one because the ticket man did come through checking tickets. I got to the airport and to the arrivals section no problem. As I was looking for the place where I thought she would come out, I heard a familiar voice ask me if I was looking for someone. It was Mom! Her flight landed early at 11:15 and she sped through customs and the baggage claim.

We got on the next train back to Rome’s main station and from there made a pit stop to exchange some money and then went to check out my hostel. Mom wanted to see what a hostel looked like in person, but the Yellow was being very difficult with us and would not let her take a peak into a room or even store her luggage in the luggage room. So instead of walking to a place that “Lets Go” recommended for lunch, we just had lunch at a ristorante next to the hostel, which ended up being very good. We sat outside because it was nice out and the inside was jammed backed with locals (always a good sign). We split a salami, proscuitto, and cheese platter, a huge bowl of minestrone soup, a green salad, and a liter of red wine (this was good for mom especially because it was a good way for her to unwind after her flight and helped put her right to sleep when we got on the train to Florence). Everything was delicious and the restaurant also gave us some free bruscetta and some sort of coffee liquor for after our meal. We also ordered an unbelievable profiterole dessert (which was pretty much two types of creams on philodough covered with chocolate). It was so fresh and pretty much to die for.

After lunch, I grabbed my pack from the luggage room and we went to the train station to catch the next train to Florence. There was one leaving soon, so we hopped on it and both of us pretty much slept the entire way. Unfortunately I didn’t look at what station in Florence the train was going to. It was a train to Bergamo and as a result it stopped at the Refirdi station, which is a little bit further out of town, instead of the Santa Maria Novella stations, so that it would pass through Florence. We were planning on taxing a taxi to the hotel anyways, so we caught one and our ride was a little longer than if we were to go to SMN. Not really a big deal, but I wish I had planned it better. Yet another example of how I am starting to lose it. That was my last train ride of my European backpacking adventure!

Our hotel in Florence is so nice and it is in the middle of everything, so it is super easy and pretty short to walk everywhere. We got a great deal on the room on hotels.com. We got an addition 25% off the room rate because we booked it for two nights. Mom says that she is never using a travel agent again because it is so easy to go online and find even better deals herself. The room is a lot bigger than I expected it to be. Typically European hotel rooms are teeny tiny, as I learned in Paris, but I think we really lucked out with this one.

The front desk recommended an restaurant off the beaten path to us for dinner. It ended up being unbelievable. Mom and I split a very nice tasty bottle of wine. The only thing I would have changed about this restaurant is that I wished it served cheap, delicious, house/table wine. Then for dinner we split homemade ravioli that was filled with gorgonzola cheese and smothered in a pumpkin sauce (it was a gigantic ravioli), a pork steak that was served over arugula and topped with a black truffles and a sauce made from them, and then a side of spinach that was sautéed in garlic and EVOO. Everything was delicious and cooked to perfection, a truly enjoyable fine dining dinner. After our also very good lunch, we skipped on dessert.

We got back to the hotel and promptly fell asleep. It is so nice to have my mom over here in Italy, finishing up my unbelievable trip with her. It is also very nice to fall asleep in a comfy hotel room and not hostel. I am so excited for this next week that I can hardly stand it.