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Report 330: Trip Report Summer 2003 Part 3- Back to the Opera

By Dean from Maryland, Summer 2003

Page 7 of 7: Back Home

In reflection, we were very glad to have taken Kay’s mom. It was her first trip to Europe and seeing her struggle with another culture provided us with renewed opportunity to appreciate that culture. But taking someone along who needed a lot of attention made for a different trip. When Kay and I travel together, we can make a decision and change direction “on a dime”. Although we don’t travel light, we have a nimbleness in our travels. With Kay’s mom, there were her constant questions of “Why are we going here?” and “What are we going to see?” Our answer was always the same, “Because we want to go here today” and “That’s why we are here- to find out what there is to see!” This points out the old distinction of the difference between a tourist (always having something to do) and a traveler (just doing).

While we love taking someone along for their first trip. Of our last three trips, one was with our two nephews, aged 12 and 13 and now this one with Kay’s mom. We have had enough of that for now. While we would consider meeting up with friends and even sharing a place to stay, we would only travel with self sufficient folk. Traveling with people who are dependent on you takes the trip from first person to third. Our experience of the trip was thru the point of view of Jane. This is not a good thing or a bad thing, just different.

Now that Jane has been home and has had time to process the trip a little, she is finally able to express her appreciation of having gone, and her appreciation for so much of what she saw. What at the time was seen as reticence turned out to be a little bit of overwhelm. In fact, she now wants to rent “Under the Tuscan Sun” so she can see the Italian countryside again. We want to get her “Tea with Mussolini” instead.

As I write this, 10 days prior to a new trip, I am so glad that Kay and I are basically going alone, with little to no pre planning. We are going to familiar places but with new agendas. We will be in Venezia during Carnevale which we have been looking forward to since our first visit to Venezia. We are going back to Montalcino for our second stay at Costanti but this time it will just be the two of us and that will make it easier. We are going to go to Roma, but not repeat anything we have done before (except for a meal at Checco and maybe La Rosetta). But the big difference here is that aside from one GTG we have nothing on our agenda. We will be spending more time sitting and enjoying and watching the world go by. Of course, we will let you know how it turns out.

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Tuesday July 29- the last day and Carl Tanner.

Wednesday July 30-

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