Okay, now I’m ready …. At least, ready to hand over the keys to our house-sitter. Laundry’s caught up, bathrooms clean, floors scrubbed… And thanks to the storm, our garden’s been well watered. Autumn will settle in over the next few weeks, but heading off to southern France and Italy makes it easier to say good-bye to our island summer. Now just to head to the city to say good-bye to the little ones.
I’ve finished packing after making a few changes. Took out the jean jacket and added my black Smythe blazer back in. Tucked in a worn pair of Bedhead pyjamas for lounging modesty and comfort (I’ll leave them behind over there–they’ll be place-holders for a purchase or two). Decided to bring along the brilliant little Jawbone Jambox for music on the way– it Bluetooths to my iPhone, and I’m crossing my fingers I can access my Apple music in Europe. Resisted adding a taupe linen sweater I’ve enjoyed wearing lately. Decided my lightweight black raincoat is more practical than my trench coat, however Classic the latter might be…7 weeks, one carry-on Rimowa and a small backpack. Should be interesting…
Besides the laundry and the packing and the cleaning and figuring out what dinner we can make from what’s left in the fridge, we also filled the last gaps in the itinerary. I always find The Man in Seat Sixty-one helpful when planning train travel, so we followed his advice for buying tickets from Rome back to Paris, with a couple of nights in Turin along the way. I love traveling on a train through the night, but this time we’ve opted for daytime travel through what promises to be some pretty cool landscapes.
Also booked tickets to the Galleria Borghese. It’s astonishing, really, the reach we have in planning our trips from our computers now. But oh, the accounts to set up and the passwords to remember. Or, more likely, not to remember but to answer some skill-testing question and then wait for the email that sends you a link to set a new password which will surely be forgotten next time you come to the site (unless you write it down, which we’re all told solemnly not to do). And I’m probably not the only one who has negotiated all these moves and finally, triumphantly, entered the magic Sesame! Only to find that the “session has timed out” and the entire booking has to be attempted again, from scratch. Still, it’s astonishing that it can be done at all, so quickly and at such a remove. And I’m grateful and excited and I have every step written out in my Moleskine notebook and a file of paper printouts just in case….
So now, although we don’t fly for a few more days, we’re ready to leave the island tomorrow morning. And I feel my retirement really begins now, as I prepare for my first September, in decades, of not going back to school….I think it’s going to be okay!
Next time you hear from me, I’ll be in Paris. A bientôt!
It will be more than okay. It will be wonderful. Enjoy.
The TripIt app is a good one for managing many confirmations. Your itinerary is also accessible offline through the app, and it will populate your itinerary to the calendar on your iPhone. Might be useful?
Hell yes it's gonna be ok! Lord, I'm so envious I can scarcely stand it. 7 weeks of vacation. I'm giddy just thinking about it and it's not my holiday!
Happy first September! Bon voyage.
I'm so excited for you! The Gallery Borghese visit was one of our favorite activities in Rome.
It is a wonderful way how to really begin your retirement! Everything will be great,enjoy! We will wait for all the beautiful posts afterwards
Dottoressa
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What I meant to post was.. Hurray for Galleria Borghese!This might help with your visit- we used it as a fantastic resource for how to get to the Galleria.
roninrome.com/%20transportation/galleria-borghese
Have a wonderful trip.
It will be fabulous! Have a wonderful time. I love the Galleria Borghese! And yes, TripIt is also very useful and has made traveling much easier, although I haven't yet used it in Europe.
Have a nice trip. Look forward to reading about it.
Have a fabulous time. Great idea to take those place-holding pyjamas. Must remember that for our next trip. Your house sitter will likely have a lovely island fall, as well.
Happy travels. What a lovely way to spend your first free September. Mary
Have an absolutely brilliant, wonderful, enlightening time!
Bon Voyage!! Have a splendid trip..all will be well both in retirement and on your trip:) Coco
Bon voyage…so glad you are choosing to spend September in Europe. You will have a great time. Clever move to book the Borghese as its so wonderful and so busy!
Hard to know where to look as everything is top notch and amazing. I too love to travel in September and not have that back to school feeling. Jeni
What a wonderful September/October you'll have! You'll look fantastic and I hope you have a superb time.
Safe travels! You'll have an amazing time. Can't wait to see:)
Always such a busy time – that final countdown. So much to remember but what a wonderful trip you have planned and the perfect antidote to retirement blues. Enjoy!
I'm really excited for you! Have the best time!!
First step is the hardest. It will be great. On to new adventures.
50bedsgapyear.blogspot.com
We loved the Borghese Gallery also — so many Caravaggios in one place!! Enjoy your trip thoroughly.