Dad's first email back from the trip of a lifetime:
Pronto,
We're slowly catching up, bags are all unpacked and as you can see we're looking at emails.
Got home about 8 p.m. last night/ 9/22. Grandma and Jerry stopped for a moment only to drop off
chicken soup, pastina, bread and of course a banana cream pie. uumm
We're still in jetlag time, so I'll write more when I find my head again.
Our flight back went well. We only had one hitch. We had to claim our luggage in Rome because we couldn't
let it go through from LaMetzia and check it in again. Over weight bag = 70 euros, 3rd bag, Alitalia - Lamet to Rome = 110 euros.
total to Alitalia at Lametzia....= $180 euros.
Then from Rome to detroit, 3rd bag = 55 euros.
I'll let you do the math, but they screwed us good on the baggage this time.
Hope your doing as well as you can.
Caio,
Papa
23 September 2010
20 September 2010
No internet in Cosenza means no blogging:( But here are some pics now that I've found a connection!!!
View from the farm
  Cookies before the wedding- don't forget the shot of Anisette! The bride with her proud papa and ring bearer before the ceremony   Dad and Natale, cracking themselves up Picnicing at La Sila Pictured: Francesca, Maria Assunta, Assunta, Daniella, Agata, Erica, Emilia Kathy & me More to come later! We're off to shop at Lieberstrom |
13 September 2010
Rome Today, Cosenza Tomorrow
So, there's not a lot of time to sit down and write everything I'd like on this vacation. We are go-go-go, pretty much. But we've had some good adventures, so here are some blog posts that could have been over the last 36 hours:
1. How my dad can have a 5 hour conversation with just about anybody
2. So, the Swiss Guard can be real assholes
3. What are the clean air standards in Rome? (or, the Pecora coughing epidemic of Vacation 2010)
4. The five main food groups - wine, cheese, bread/pasta/rice, more wine, and prosciutto
5. When bad karma strikes on vacation (or, how many people can lose how many different things in 2 days??)6. Fighting to the death (or the last sarcastic quip) for Trastavere
7. What happens when you don't buy the voltage charger to go with the international power adapter
8. How to take 1000 pictures in 36 hours - and then what to do with them
9. My feet are covered in centuries-old dirt, but my heart is light
10. How NOT to ask for the bill in pidgeon Italian (or, The Diplomatic Waiter with a Mighty Sense of Humor)
So, needless to say, its been a crazy, busy time so far!We have plenty of stories to share;) On to Cosenza and meeting the family tomorrow. Dad tried to edimicate us all on family tree stuff and names over pasta and wine tonight, but it was hopeless - we'll just have to fit names to stories and incestuous histories when we get there tomorrow!!!
Ciao!
12 September 2010
Ah, Roma!
Well, we're here - Two days in Rome havebeen busy, beautiful, and very full of sightseeing, cheese, bread, wine, and laughs:)
(Kristina loves her some ruins!)
Night shots from Piazza Navona and St Peter's
Finally, here are some pictures!
Dad, Sandi & Mom greeting me as I walked into our apartment's court yard - Borgo Pio
Don't ever change, Jimmy!!!
:)
From the Foro Romano
(Kristina loves her some ruins!)A nice shot of everyone - walking along a streetscape in Roma:) 
The Wedding Cake - monument to Victor Emmanuel, the first king who unified the states (um, and really liked himself, apparently, as this this is HUGE!!!)
Anything like father like son??? I think so:)
Night shots from Piazza Navona and St Peter's 
So, our diet has consisted of the five main Italian food groups - wine, cheese, bread, pasta/rice, and more wine (i.e., Lambrusco...if you haven't tried it, we highly recommend it). We have been walking so much that everyone is tired but not really noticing it. And no one has really attempted to separate from the group or kill anyone else yet, so we're doing quite well! :)
We have to head to a lovely pasta/pizza (and, yes, more wine) dinner right now, but we'll write again soon! One more full day in Rome, then on to Cosenza!
10 September 2010
At the airport...so many Italians!
And asians, but that goes without saying...
So I finally make it to the airport after 7a coffee with a good friend, 8a commute, 9a client, 1015 personal therapy, and the longest, most grueling CTA bus-transfer-to-L ride I've ever been on! Don't know if its just because I am so excited to be in the air or what, but I swear the bus driver was going 10mph....
But I'm here, and I board in a little over 30 minutes. And my passport has a new sticker, altho for some reason its on the back cover...oh, Alitalia! :)
In other news...more correspondence from Rome (see below). Not sure what I'm arriving to, but I may have to put my magical relaxation training powers to work when I get there!
Photos MUST accompany the next post, I know, or else we will lose our readership:) I promise something really awesome!!!
Kathy's latest:
Nice to hear you say you love me honey, 'cause I'm sure I'm gonna hear about this one for a long time...
We just got our luggage about 3:30 this afternoon (we all had to go down to the airport to get it) and got it back here to the apartment to find that someone had broken into mine and stole my wedding ring and my mother's ring. No, I'm not joking. I'm writing this as I'm wiping away the tears, so bear with me.,.I'm just beside myself upset, knowing that they'll never be found and we won't catch the bastard who took them. And I have no idea how to go about getting them replaced - if I ever can. I know they're probably covered under our homeowner's policy, (I hope!) but still!!
So far this trip sucks!
xo, K
So I finally make it to the airport after 7a coffee with a good friend, 8a commute, 9a client, 1015 personal therapy, and the longest, most grueling CTA bus-transfer-to-L ride I've ever been on! Don't know if its just because I am so excited to be in the air or what, but I swear the bus driver was going 10mph....
But I'm here, and I board in a little over 30 minutes. And my passport has a new sticker, altho for some reason its on the back cover...oh, Alitalia! :)
In other news...more correspondence from Rome (see below). Not sure what I'm arriving to, but I may have to put my magical relaxation training powers to work when I get there!
Photos MUST accompany the next post, I know, or else we will lose our readership:) I promise something really awesome!!!
Kathy's latest:
Nice to hear you say you love me honey, 'cause I'm sure I'm gonna hear about this one for a long time...
We just got our luggage about 3:30 this afternoon (we all had to go down to the airport to get it) and got it back here to the apartment to find that someone had broken into mine and stole my wedding ring and my mother's ring. No, I'm not joking. I'm writing this as I'm wiping away the tears, so bear with me.,.I'm just beside myself upset, knowing that they'll never be found and we won't catch the bastard who took them. And I have no idea how to go about getting them replaced - if I ever can. I know they're probably covered under our homeowner's policy, (I hope!) but still!!
So far this trip sucks!
xo, K
Communications from Rome to Home
Well, this trip has certainly started well! Read the emails from a) Mom just after arriving (before the effects of "trauma" hit, apparently!, b) Jimmy in Toronto, pre-board, and c) Kathy from the apartment in Rome - never a dull moment!
PS. I'm not bringing washcloths....;)
xoxo
From: James Pecora <james@bigworldstudios.com>
Date: Thursday, September 9, 2010
Subject: Fw: OH MY GOD!!
To: Kathleen Ellis <kce1966@yahoo.com>
We're sitting I'n Toronto waiting 4 our flt.... I'M laughing my ass
off...we board in about an hour...c u soon....lol
On Thursday, September 9, 2010, Kathleen Ellis <kce1966@yahoo.com> wrote:
> fyi...also, if the driver isn't there right away, just wait for him; he'll be waiting for you outside the baggage area. And don't worry about getting a phone at the airport - you can get one just a few blocks from here.
>
> --- On Thu, 9/9/10, Kathleen Ellis <kce1966@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> From: Kathleen Ellis <kce1966@yahoo.com>
> Subject: OH MY GOD!!
> To: "James Ellis" <jellis@maford.com>, james@bigworld.com, "Kristina Pecora Kelly" <kristinapecora@gmail.com>, "Sandi Pecora" <sandipecora@comcast.net>
> Date: Thursday, September 9, 2010, 4:06 PM
>
> I can't begin to tell you what
> sort of day we've had!!
>
> T - We'll need washcloths - please bring a few!!!
>
> It's almost 10:00 pm and we still don't have our luggage!!! We were a half hour late in taking off from Detroit, which put us behind when we hit Amsterdam. We made the flight but our baggage didn't!! They assured us it would catch up with us at some point but you can only imagine how that went over. We spent over an hour in the Rome airport trying to communicate with people about what happened, where our luggage was, and where to send it to. WHat a fiasco!!! I'm surprised Dad didn't have another heart attack right there in the airport!
>
> Then we were told the luggage wouldn't be delivered until midnight tonite at the SOONEST!
> We didn't get ANY sleep on the planes, so you can only imagine
> what sort of shape we were in by the time we hit Rome!! We went out right away to get a few groceries and buy a phone (I'm told it will be rather pricey to call home, honey, so I'll only do it once from Rome this Saturday. I can call from Cosenza on Sunday the 19th.). We've been able to purchase, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo and
> hair gel but that's been it. But we left it all in the restaurant we
> just ate at, so Mom & Dad are going back out to get it.
>
> That pretty much sums up our day. The only saving grace has been the WiFi in the apartment that we've been able to hook up to (Thank God I brought my Mini!)so that we can communicate all this with you!!! Hopefully we'll have a better day tomorrow! I'll leave my Yahoo up in case ya'll want to respond. :) I'm headed to bed in a little bit though.
>
> xoxo, Kath
PS. I'm not bringing washcloths....;)
| hide details 7:37 AM (12 hours ago) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
The first Wave of Pecora clan have arrived - of course not without trauma that we will tell you when you get here!!
Are now in the process of purchasing a phone to use here...Weather is beautiful - crowds are crazy and we are totally exhausted - no real sleep on the plan.
Can't wait to see you!
<love from us all here
Are now in the process of purchasing a phone to use here...Weather is beautiful - crowds are crazy and we are totally exhausted - no real sleep on the plan.
Can't wait to see you!
<love from us all here
From: James Pecora <james@bigworldstudios.com>
Date: Thursday, September 9, 2010
Subject: Fw: OH MY GOD!!
To: Kathleen Ellis <kce1966@yahoo.com>
We're sitting I'n Toronto waiting 4 our flt.... I'M laughing my ass
off...we board in about an hour...c u soon....lol
On Thursday, September 9, 2010, Kathleen Ellis <kce1966@yahoo.com> wrote:
> fyi...also, if the driver isn't there right away, just wait for him; he'll be waiting for you outside the baggage area. And don't worry about getting a phone at the airport - you can get one just a few blocks from here.
>
> --- On Thu, 9/9/10, Kathleen Ellis <kce1966@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> From: Kathleen Ellis <kce1966@yahoo.com>
> Subject: OH MY GOD!!
> To: "James Ellis" <jellis@maford.com>, james@bigworld.com, "Kristina Pecora Kelly" <kristinapecora@gmail.com>, "Sandi Pecora" <sandipecora@comcast.net>
> Date: Thursday, September 9, 2010, 4:06 PM
>
> I can't begin to tell you what
> sort of day we've had!!
>
> T - We'll need washcloths - please bring a few!!!
>
> It's almost 10:00 pm and we still don't have our luggage!!! We were a half hour late in taking off from Detroit, which put us behind when we hit Amsterdam. We made the flight but our baggage didn't!! They assured us it would catch up with us at some point but you can only imagine how that went over. We spent over an hour in the Rome airport trying to communicate with people about what happened, where our luggage was, and where to send it to. WHat a fiasco!!! I'm surprised Dad didn't have another heart attack right there in the airport!
>
> Then we were told the luggage wouldn't be delivered until midnight tonite at the SOONEST!
> We didn't get ANY sleep on the planes, so you can only imagine
> what sort of shape we were in by the time we hit Rome!! We went out right away to get a few groceries and buy a phone (I'm told it will be rather pricey to call home, honey, so I'll only do it once from Rome this Saturday. I can call from Cosenza on Sunday the 19th.). We've been able to purchase, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo and
> hair gel but that's been it. But we left it all in the restaurant we
> just ate at, so Mom & Dad are going back out to get it.
>
> That pretty much sums up our day. The only saving grace has been the WiFi in the apartment that we've been able to hook up to (Thank God I brought my Mini!)so that we can communicate all this with you!!! Hopefully we'll have a better day tomorrow! I'll leave my Yahoo up in case ya'll want to respond. :) I'm headed to bed in a little bit though.
>
> xoxo, Kath
07 September 2010
The Trip of a Lifetime
I still can hardly believe that this trip is happening - that the whole family (minus 1) will be experiencing Italy with all it's splendor and it's warts, together. It is truly the trip we have long dreamed and talked about, without imagining it would ever really happen - but LOOK - its happening! and I am soooo looking forward to sharing and hording precious memories with my family.
I know for certain we will soon forget the anxious moments - the nerves and trepidation of deciding what to wear to a wedding in Cosenza, and what to wear while perusing the glorious sites of Rome, and if we can still wear white in September in Italy, and oh, how to close this overstuffed suitcase!
Why is packing such a chore!
I guess we'll forget all the trauma over a nice glass of vino!
Mom P
I know for certain we will soon forget the anxious moments - the nerves and trepidation of deciding what to wear to a wedding in Cosenza, and what to wear while perusing the glorious sites of Rome, and if we can still wear white in September in Italy, and oh, how to close this overstuffed suitcase!
Why is packing such a chore!
I guess we'll forget all the trauma over a nice glass of vino!
Mom P
05 September 2010
All Roads lead to Rome
Trying to remember all that needs to be packed and those items that need to be left out and put in the carry-on is a greater challenge than most people would think.
The invasion of the Eternal City by the Pecora army will begin on the Morning of September 9th, the second wave will begin its search and praise mission on the tenth and the little general will arrive on the 11th.
A historical date in many ways but on this year the entire contingent of the clan will survey the many opportunites in Rome, then move southward like the Genghis Khan of old and see how we can capture the hearts and minds of our closest living relatives in the vibrant city of Cosenza.
It should be a real whopper for those of you in the U.P.
The invasion of the Eternal City by the Pecora army will begin on the Morning of September 9th, the second wave will begin its search and praise mission on the tenth and the little general will arrive on the 11th.
A historical date in many ways but on this year the entire contingent of the clan will survey the many opportunites in Rome, then move southward like the Genghis Khan of old and see how we can capture the hearts and minds of our closest living relatives in the vibrant city of Cosenza.
It should be a real whopper for those of you in the U.P.
Pack it up, Pack it in...
Hi friends and loved ones! Welcome to the Pecora Dolce Vita - our travelogue through Rome to Cosenza and all the great and small places in between.
We'll post pictures, tell stories, and introduce you to the family along the way. Let us know if we're missing good stuff on our trip! And, especially for Pecoras out there reading this, let us know if you have questions for the fam while we're there and we'll pass them along.
I hope you have as much reading as we will writing!
Ciao for now,
Kristina
We'll post pictures, tell stories, and introduce you to the family along the way. Let us know if we're missing good stuff on our trip! And, especially for Pecoras out there reading this, let us know if you have questions for the fam while we're there and we'll pass them along.
I hope you have as much reading as we will writing!
Ciao for now,
Kristina
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