He's back. You know Tom the blogger. We have just arrived in our beautiful apartment in Rome.
Before I get to the topics of the day I thought I would provide links to my blogs I wrote in our 4 week trip to Italy last year.
Pompeii City of sin:
https://www.thomasschmukiphotography.com/blog/2022/7/29/pompeii-the-city-of-sin
Italy city by city, my favorites:
https://www.thomasschmukiphotography.com/blog/2022/6/28/italy-city-by-city-my-favorites
photographer gear for Italy trip:
https://www.thomasschmukiphotography.com/blog/2022/6/21/photography-gear-for-italy-trip
The food of Florence:
https://www.thomasschmukiphotography.com/blog/2022/6/5/the-food-of-florence
Long walk in Florence:
https://www.thomasschmukiphotography.com/blog/2022/6/3/a-long-walk-in-florence
Verona, the city of Love:
https://www.thomasschmukiphotography.com/blog/2022/6/1/verona-the-city-of-love
Venice day two:
https://www.thomasschmukiphotography.com/blog/2022/5/28/venice-day-2
Venice day one:
https://www.thomasschmukiphotography.com/blog/2022/5/26/venice-day-1
flight to Italy, via Paris:
https://www.thomasschmukiphotography.com/blog/2022/5/23/flight-to-italy-via-paris
Hectic last minute preparations
If you want to meet a planner, let me introduce you to Alice. This year was not the Alice Alice. With her heart surgery, her work and my photo shoots. we had little or no time to prepare. We decided not to commit to the vacation until we were confident with Alice's surgery result. When the Dr came into the recovery room to speak with Alice and I, he prescribed a vacation to Italy.
This year we decided to "live like the locals" on our vacation to Italy. The only thing we locked down was the airplane and the the apartment in Rome.
Alice's preparation was mainly what shoes to buy and bring.
My preparation was what camera equipment to bring. My biggest dilemma was which camera to bring and should I bring a backup. Our focus was different but the result will be amazing.
My chosen camera get for our Italy trip.
Train ride from Delray Beach to Miami Airport
We love to take the train from Delray Beach to Miami airport. The Tri-Rail train does not compete with Brightline. However, it drops us right off in the middle of the airport. We love that. You would be amazed how many people actually take the Tri-Rail to the Miami airport.
Alice on the plane with the Italian Stallion
Due to our last-minute scheduling of our flight to Rome, we were unable to book a pair of contiguous seats on the airplane. Our confirmed seats were with someone else between us. We had hoped we could talk the middle person out of their seat so we could sit together and hold hands. So here we are in the middle aisle with three seats, and both of us, taking the aisle seat and the middle seat, waiting for the unknown traveler. I was worried we may get a 400 pound Covid infected traveler laden with twins who she was nursing mid flight and refused to change the seat. While we are boarding the plane, I teased Alice telling her that some lady may take the middle seat, and I may mistakenly hold her hand. as the travelers boarded the plane, I looked anxiously at each person coming in one by one. Oh no this can't be the guy. This is the guy. Yup the Italian stallion with the look of a cross between Dr Mcdreamy and George Clooney. His looks, his aura, his clothing .... I knew I was in trouble. Sure enough it was him. He has the middle seat. I looked at Alice and she smiled. After asking the young Sylvester Stallone if he could exchange seats, she looked at me and smiled, "I get to sit by the two best looking men on the plane". I wasn't alarmed I knew he didn't have the entire Schmuki package.
Alice with the second best looking guy on the plane. What a lucky girl!
Our first walking tour and night out
We had a great first day in Rome. After resting a bit and unpacking we went out and took a look at our neighborhood. We love it here.
We had a great dinner at an Italian resteraunt just next to our apartment. We enjoyed the best pasta with pesto we have ever had.
We met 2 great fun couples from Long Island at the resteraunt who promised to read my Pompeii city of sin blog. They asked me to take their picture because they saw my fancy Nikon on the table.
Our new friends from Long Island New York
Day one is over and we still like each other a lot. Looking forward to days 2-40. Please let me know you are reading and enjoying my blog. This is a lot of work, but mostly a labor of love and a documentation of our wonderful life together.