Summer in Italy

Got to Natalie's finally at 3am (we should have arrived around 8 or 9pm at the latest). Delayed out of SFO. Missed connection at Heathrow -- crazy mob scene there. I guess they were understaffed?? People were shoving to get to the front of the crowd, pushing past Max and Ella. Stayed calm. EVERYONE missed their connections. Caught a later flight that was also delayed. Finally got into Rome at 10:30pm, but had to file a claim on Max's missing luggage. FINALLY got thru customs, met up with natalie and took that last train from the airport at 11:27pm -- but once we got to the main Rome train station (45 minutes later) there were no trains leaving for anywhere until the next day. Standing on the street with 2 exhausted children at 12:30pm in a seedy part of town with luggage -- NOT pretty. Cabbie tells us he'll charge us 300 Euros to drive us to Foligno - Natalie says they're all in cahoots - Mafia run. We finally get a cab to take us part way to Foligno for 100 euro and natalie's friend comes at 2am to pick us up in the middle of nowhere (again, sitting in a parking lot with 2 sleepy children and luggage)- At least the prostitutes aren't flaunting their lack of underwear in this little town. We feel safe. Another hour drive and we get to Natalie's late, late, late.

Max and Ella were absolute troopers and handled all the travel like pros.

Here they are exhausted, sleeping until noon.


		Thursday, June 21
	Got to Natalie's finally at 3am (we should have arrived around 8 or 9pm at the latest). Delayed out of SFO. Missed connection at Heathrow -- crazy mob scene there. I guess they were understaffed?? People were shoving to get to the front of the crowd, pushing past Max and Ella. Stayed calm. EVERYONE missed their connections. Caught a later flight that was also delayed. Finally got into Rome at 10:30pm, but had to file a claim on Max's missing luggage. FINALLY got thru customs, met up with natalie and took that last train from the airport at 11:27pm -- but once we got to the main Rome train station (45 minutes later) there were no trains leaving for anywhere until the next day. Standing on the street with 2 exhausted children at 12:30pm in a seedy part of town with luggage -- NOT pretty. Cabbie tells us he'll charge us 300 Euros to drive us to Foligno - Natalie says they're all in cahoots - Mafia run. We finally get a cab to take us part way to Foligno for 100 euro and natalie's friend comes at 2am to pick us up in the middle of nowhere (again, sitting in a parking lot with 2 sleepy children and luggage)- At least the prostitutes aren't flaunting their lack of underwear in this little town. We feel safe. Another hour drive and we get to Natalie's late, late, late. Max and Ella were absolute troopers and handled all the travel like pros. Here they are exhausted, sleeping until noon.