At least there’s no vomit in it.

When we arrived in Italy, I was very sick.  I couldn’t wait to get to our hotel so that I could shower and feel better.  The first time I washed my hair, I realized I had no hair dryer so my hair was a wreck.  I couldn’t do anything with it.  Strangely, Hannah’s favorite quote for the trip so far is my comment to her, “My hair is a disaster from hell.  But at least there’s no vomit in it.”

This is a handy way to stay positive when any negative event hits us:

“The hotel coffee tastes like it was made with road gravel. But at least there’s no vomit in it.”

“The bed feels like plywood on springs, but at least there’s no vomit in it.”

“My luggage got here so late but at least there’s no vomit in it.”

Yesterday was a very good first day, in all.  We visited the popular Basilicas here in Assisi – di San Francesco, di Santa Chiara – which are very beautiful, old meccas for Catholic pilgrims and even people from other religions who revere St. Francis and St. Claire. 

Shopping is an ever-present activity.  Hannah found a bag and shoes that she really really liked in this very cute ITALIAN shop… that were made in INDIA.  When she realized this, they weren’t nearly as cute.

As I mentioned, I didn’t have a hair dryer and we didn’t expect Hannah’s luggage for another day.  So I bought a 30 Euro ($50) hair dryer.  We found out later that Hannah could probably blow on my head with more force and heat than that dryer produced.

GREAT NEWS:  Hannah’s luggage arrived today!  We got a bit of a scare before that, though.  While I was in the shower, someone knocked on the door and Hannah talked with them.  It was the bellman with a suitcase!  A suitcase that we had never seen before and resembled NOT Hannah’s suitcase.  What the heck!!  Needless to say, that freaked us out a LOT.  But soon, after some very confusing discussion with the front desk, we found that it was a very simple mix-up on the part of the delivery driver.  He did indeed have Hannah’s luggage, and it was indeed in-tact.  All was well.

This meant that we could both get fancy for dinner!  We both put on our finest new threads and headed to my favorite restaurant, Di Cecco.  Every time I’m in Assisi, I go there and bring my traveling companions. 

When we walked in, the place was hopping – totally full.  But when the usual waitress saw us, she stopped in the middle of taking an order, got a puzzled look on her face and said, sort of accusingly, “I remember you…”  Slightly awkward moment!  She later asked me how my children were and if I was feeling well.  Then she called me “mother”.  ????  Another awkward moment!  The other waitress came over to ask how I was but her English came out, “Who are you!”

Awkward moments aside, we had Ravioli con gorgonzola, pears and walnuts that were life-changing.  We also sat next to a Panamanian couple that had just come from Positano.  We talked with them until the restaurant closed and they started turning off lights.

After that, unfortunately, our jet-lag caught up with us.  Neither of us slept well at all.  Hannah didn’t sleep a wink.  She watched a movie on her laptop, listened to music, contemplated the meaning of life and then at 6AM went for a run.

Today we’re both pretty worn out.  Jet-lag happens, people.  Sometimes it hits hard, sometimes it’s no problem.  Today was hard, but tomorrow will be brilliant!

Love to you all!