Day 4/5 - driving

We made it to Roma and were at Fabio's by 6am after dropping Marcello off at his own car. There were five of us in a VW Torreg (the pic below is Marcello with the car).

The middle seat in back is not really made to sit on, there's no seatbelt. The AC did not work. But even after 400 euros for gas and 100 euros for tunnel tolls we were lucky to be able to move around Europe. So many people are stuck that all of the major airports have set up cots in the airport because all hotels are full so we are really grateful to Marcello for being in the car for 30 hours straight to get us and take us back and to Fabio & Adrian for having a bed for us. The picture below is our first gas bill!

Enough of the depressing stuff.

Once Marcello arrived we had a quick lunch of crepes (i had a goat cheese crepe with walnut salad). Then we took Marcello on a whirlwind tour with him and Adrian jumping out to take photos at Notre Dame, the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower. By 3pm we were enroute to Roma.

The drive wasn't bad at all. There was a lot to see, we talked and joked for the first 10 hours and slept through the last four. Granted, I didn't take a turn driving, but it seemed to go quickly.

We saw many castles (the tan spot in the picture above is a castle) and as we neared the alps some castles were on the edge of a cliff which was crazy looking. The country side was lush and green and the moutain air around the alps was so fresh and pure, it smelled if earth, nature and health. You can see the sun setting on the alps below.

We had to pass through many, many, many tunnels. I am claustrophobic and I was already squeezed into the back middle nonseat of this hot car so when we entered a tunnel it was not a good situation for me. Luckily watching the sun set on the alps (4th pic) provided a great distraction. However, there was one tunnel, through Mount Blanc, that is nearly 7 miles long. For this I had to meditate and find my happy place :)

Switzerland is not EU so we tried very hard to avoid it since customs with two Americans, an Italian and two Argentinian Italians in a car that isn't properly registered (Fabio just bought it and it still has the US equivelant of paper tags) would be a nightmare in Switzerland. We passed right next to Geneva though and could see houses that were Swiss while we were driving through France.

We stopped for dinner as soon as we entered into Italy around 9pm. We were in a tiny town of Aosta and were very lucky to find a Trattoria (diner) open so late on a Sunday night. I ordered pizza expecting enough for one person, you how big it was. It was yummy though.

After dinner Adrian and I practiced English, Italian and Spanish before falling asleep. The speeds made it hard to sleep for long, Fabio averaged 220 km/hr which is about 140mph!

It was cramped and crazy. We sped by things that I wanted to stop and see but it was fun considering the circumstances and, as always, I'm glad to be back in Roma.

Now it is 7am and we're a going to bed.

Life is crazy.

Sara
7:10a - Roma

Day 4 - the great escape

Marcello, Adrian's brother will arrive at 1pm. He's never been to Paris so we'll have some lunch, give him a quick tour through the car windows and then head back to Rome. By the time we hit the alps it will probably be dark :( but at least we have a way out!

The boys are VERY eager to get home, they're aren't impressed with French hospitality. It will be nice for us all to get to their condo in Rome where we all feel at home, with a kitchen and news in a language we can understand. With the boys so eager to leave and SO many people stranded it feels like we are escaping.

I have actually been impressed by the French and their attitude toward us Americans. People have been helpful and pleasant. Granted we worked hard to learn enough French to be polite back.

I'm still impressed by how big everything is here. The city us just spralling, everything is a 15 minute walk, at least. The Eiffel Tower was larger than expected and nothing could have prepared me for the size if the Louvre.

This morning we had time before Marcello's arrival so Chris & I went in search of souveniers (they're very hard to find in this city, sorry family, I have very little to bring home from here). We passed by Muse d'Orsay and a pretty Spring Garden and the Louvre (in the photo there
are two building tops, one is in the distance, both are the Louvre).

Now we're waiting for the escape car to arrive :)

Muse d'Orsay

A pretty church garden

The Louvre. Both the tower that is closest as well as the one in the distance, to the left are the part of the Louvre.

Sara

1:30pm - Paris

Day 3 - transportation plans

We wanted to give a quick update on what's going on. We couldn't find any tickets to anywhere at the train station so Adrian's brother is coming all the way from Rome to Paris to get us. He started driving Saturday night and should arrive late Sunday morning. We will drive back to Rome Sunday morning and it will take about 15-16 hours but we will get to drive through France, the Alps and down the west coast of Italy! The delays here are crazy. We're already assuming we wont be able to nonrev home on Wedn as planned. We are excited and trying to enjoy the adventure the boys... not so much. Adrian hates the French language and they both just want to go home.

Tonight, after two hours at the train station without finding any tickets we went to Tracadero for dinner. Adrian & Fabio got fondu which was awesome! The restaurant was interesting and cute.

From dinner, back to the hotel until we hear froml the brother. I'm falling asleep as I write. I'll you in as we go if I can.

Day 3 - site seeing

Today our mood was a bit blue. We're all a bit preoccupied by the fact that we're trapped. Since we couldn't seem to find a solution this morning we toured the sites.

We saw the Arc de Triumph and the Eiffel Tower as you can see. Then we went to Mouffetard Market and had a surprisingly yummy lunch.

Now we're fighting with the hotel WiFi and competing with thousands of other stranded travelers to surf the internet and find a way out of here. The current favored option is a train to Rome. But we'll update as to how it all works out.

Sara
5:45p - Paris

Plot Twist!

We just learned that Paris and surrounding airspace is closed due to volcanic ash in the air (which we can't see). All flights are cancelled until Monday. Plot twist!

Now we are trying to figure out how to get to Rome, but tons if other people are doing the same thing so there are no rental cars in Paris. With CDG closed we can't even go home on Delta. Italy has also restricted their airspace so we can't take a bus south and then grab a
flught to Rome. Seems we're good and stuck. There went our plans and likely our buget.

Sounds like we'll get up tomorrow and see what happens.

I figure worst case we'll be here extra days and I can return to Notre Dame. :)

There's always a twist, and always an adventure! :)

Sara
1:22am - Paris