Home Away from Home

I have finally arrived at my home away from home.  The whole trip went off without a hitch!  It has been one of the most relaxed trips I have taken that dealt with flying.  In order to get to my home away from home, I had some serious packing to do.  Generally when I come, I bring a big suitcase because I am away for a long period of time.  Well, last week I got a text message from Michela saying, "your lagguage not to big!! (We have to go in boat)"  That told me that the only thing I could really bring is a carry-on bag.  As all of my friends will tell you, I have a problem with packing.  I could leave for a day and take a large suitcase with me.  As for the boat, you will have to tune into next week to find out what it means.

Well, after 3 years of extensive traveling, I will never bring a large suitcase ever again!  Somehow I managed to fit my life into a carry-on.

Packed enough shoes (including sneakers), bathing suits, dresses, shorts, shirts, and workout clothes to leave and never return

Carry-on at the airport!

Whoever would have thought I would have been able to pull that off.  I sure didn't and after spending almost 4 hours packing, it was definitely worth it.

I took a flight from Dulles International to Munich, Germany.  I arrived with plenty of time to get through security.  From entering Dulles International at 7 pm on a Wednesday, it took me only 15 minutes to check my bag, grab my boarding pass, go through security, and get to my gate.  With time to kill, I bought a book and headed to a chic wine bar, Vino Volo.

Italian Pinot Grigio, cheese plate, "Beautiful Ruins" by Jess Walter

Within hours I was on the plane headed to Munich.  Sleeping on the plane was unsuccessful with people snoring around me.  However, somehow I managed to fall asleep in the waiting area for my last flight.  I had a three hour layover in Munich, so I just waited around for the flight to Ancona.  I fell asleep sitting in the upright position, and I woke up just in time to board the flight.  After boarding the tiny plane to Ancona, I fell asleep before takeoff.  I woke to the sight of darkness.  The clouds were heavy, and you couldn't see anything.  I was a little nervous, but I arrived to find the weather to be dark, rainy and cool.

Hopefully this forecast is wrong! I need sun!

I made it safe and sound to the Boccaccini's home in Potenza Picena.  It was a bitter sweet reunion with the family as we gave each other great big hugs, and we shared stories with each other.  I even showed them some of my Italian speaking skills, which are a major work in progress.  As the evening came to an end, so did the cloudy skies.

Sunset at Home Away from Home!