NINE DAYS UNTIL ITALY

It is unbelievable that I booked my trip to Italy over five months ago and now I leave in less than  ten days.  Where did the time go?

The first two months after booking the flight and the apartment (Villa  - ha) in Monticchiello, I was obsessed.  I spent most of my waking hours planning one portion or another of the trip.  It took me that long to locate a hotel in Verona for one night and to commit to a hotel in Rome for our three nights there.

There was also negotiations with my travel companion, Joanne, on where we would spend our time.  This part was quite simple.  From the beginning, her main focus has been on our time in Tuscany. 

She has been to Rome and has already informed me she will not be tagging along to the Vatican, and I suspect she will not be going with me to the Coliseum, ruins, or ancient city.  She hasn't mentioned the Trevi Fountain. 

One thing I had hoped to accomplish prior to leaving for Milan was to be conquer the Italian language.  Well, maybe not conquer as much as familiarize myself - and I did start out admirably.  I listened to my Italian language lessons while driving to and from work and whenever I was in the car.  I took a few quizzes on the computer and did quite well.

That was three months ago now and I fear I have lost most of what I learned, - which actually wasn't much.

I know the words for today, hot and cold. 

I have downloaded some language apps to my iPhone and I suspect they will be my saving grace.

Tonight I repacked the items I have already packed into my suitcase and I would say I am about 50% done.  Tomorrow I will pack more and hopefully write more.

Night