First driving experience of the trip. Could be our last. Note to self: remember that slow lane travels 65 MPH; fast lane goes 110 MPH. A rainy day. Gray & cold. Lucca was beautiful but we wanted most of all to stroll the 50 foot wide wall that surrounds the town. We will have to go back later--by train.

It was all going well until we arrived at the ticket counter in Boston. Our flight had been delayed 3 hours. Good news: no layover in Madrid; bad news, would we make our connection to Bologna? Our Boston-Madrid flight landed with 20 minutes to spare to catch our connection at gate K94. About 15 minutes into our race through the maze, we reached airport security. After completing the can-you-take-off-your-shoes-and-belt-without-losing-your-pants? event, we we...

We have been thinking about this Trip for so long--now it's just a few days away. So many last minute things to take care of. Will I be able to speak a word of Italian? Will it matter?