If there was a downside to the experience, except for the first day, it rained most of the time, so instead of doing more walking, although, there was a lot of walking between and on the 16 ships present from different cruise lines, it was Ubering around, if that is a word, and the temps hovered around freezing, but is never snowed, but it was, in defense of the time of year, still winter, and as I write this back home in Rome, still winter for a few more days, but it is the 1st month of the 2nd year of our marriage and we are good. I did, however, the second day back come down with a massive migraine, the likes of which I had not experienced before, and it knocked me out all Monday, and lingered even into Tuesday, so I stayed home from teaching, but back at it later today. ​

What can I say about this past week. Well, this time last week, I was getting ready to go teach English at one of Rome’s Middle Schools and in the evening heading the Wall Street English. Nothing out of the ordinary and last Thursday with my private English lessons. Really, normal life for me in Rome and I further become part of the fabric of the Eternal City. We did get some final touches done in the condo, including some cabinetry done, both in the kitchen and bathroom on Friday, so we continue to move forward in our life. ​

The weekend, however started my birthday weekend, although, it was part in Rome and out of Rome. Since I was leaving Italy for the first time, since for arrival on July 4th of last year, Rosa and I celebrated my 63rd by taking the afternoon and evening out into the Italian countryside. We went to a medieval town called Calcata, a commune and town in the Province of Viterbo in the Italian region Lazio, located 47 kilometers (29 miles) north of Rome by car, and is an artist’s colony. Enjoyed the drive and the stroll in the town and bought a few little pieces at a couple of the shops. It was a very nice day out and the first time Rosa and I got out of the city in many months. It was nice day out and we both needed it as our lives have become so crazy busy, and time to explore something new together. Apparently, she had been to this town before, but many years ago. ​

On Sunday, well, she drove me to the train station to start my first journey abroad from home, since I arrived in Italy. It is so strange to say, but it felt so strange leaving. Rosa said, once on the train, I would feel different, like I used to feel when I hot the road, sometimes for 4 to 6 weeks at a time and think nothing of it, living out of suitcases and hotel breakfasts. But the feeling did not materialize. On the first leg of the trek to Bolzano, about 5 hours by train, it was simply that, a train ride. Rosa and I had actually done this train ride back in November when we went to Bolzano to see Bryan Adams, so I knew what to expect and it was still in Italy. No border crossing yet. When I arrived, I found out my connecting train was cancelled, so I had to wait an extra hour and take a regional train to Brennaro (Brenner) and sat with the masses in the same position. ​

Monday, I was off again, a relatively short 2 ½ hour train ride to Munich. Again, a place I had been to on several occasions, the first, being way back in 1985 where I did all the usual suspects, including the Hofbräuhaus, Dachau, Marienplatz and other neighborhoods on the Bavarian capital. I was also there during the Oktoberfest those many years ago, which to my recollection, was simply getting drunk, but I was young at the time. I have many clients who want to experience this. Not getting drunk, but the festival that is Oktoberfest. 😊. In any case, Munich, too has a Hard Rock Café, and having never been to it, even with the many times I have to been to Munich, of course, I had to go and collect #97. It also goes full circle somewhat, as its location, is literally across the street from the world famous Hofbräuhaus. It turns out that the Hard Rock Café was at one time, in the same building, a Planet Hollywood, so it does have a history. Really a stopover and both HR experiences were nice, but not being with Rosa, made it a bit less so. ​

Yesterday, I traveled here to Vienna. I had been here, more recently, actually 2 years ago, in advance of the event I am attending starting today. That event and this, the ASTA Cruise Expo took place in Budapest that year, and this year here in Vienna. I had been to both of their Hard Rocks so no need to return. Yesterday, I did have the classic meal wiener schnitzel, apfelstrudel, and of course, a beer to wash it down. It did include potatoes and a salad, at a local Gasthaus. It was a good experience. The rest of the evening, mostly relaxing, but getting a little work done to assure that clients traveling to New Zealand and Australia in the very near future, had their e-portfolio, ready to go. I like to mention this simply for those who may not know, I handle more than Europe, as I have amazing business partnerships around the world, so there is not an area of the world, I don’t feel uncomfortable doing for my valued clientele. ​

Which leaves me to today, here, finishing off this post for the week and looking forward to sharing next Wednesday after the ASTA Cruise Expo is over and I am back home, which, while it officially starts today and I am excited to see friends and colleagues in the business, I have truly become more of a home buddy and look forward to Sunday, when I take the long, three train trip back to Rome to be home with my beautiful bride. I have to admit that yes, I have a bit of excitement, being on the road again, but it is not as it used to be. I am here on business and as soon as it is done, I am heading home. Rosa had said if I want to extend the trip, perhaps get to a place here in Austria or elsewhere, perhaps I had not been, that I should. Maybe that was a hidden message, but absence makes the heart grow fonder, and yes, sometimes time apart is a good thing, but this being the first time, I miss not being with her, but I know I will be back Sunday, and we speak via WhatsApp, so we are connected. 
Thank you as always for your support of our crazy little world. We truly appreciate that you read these weekly posts and share your comments. Remember to be happy, healthy, and safe in your everyday lives.

What do you write about when there is really nothing to write about, but then, there is always something new to consider. This past week has been one of routine, and also a wonderful day out in Rome with my wife and simply enjoying an afternoon and evening together, this past Sunday, going to a gallery quite close to the Colosseum and then having dinner at a Korean restaurant of all things, navigating the busses and metro when they operate infrequently, or more so. It was a very nice day to do so, and the crowds were out, this first part of March, when I met her near Piazza Venezia. At the top, there is a rooftop bar, and while we did not imbibe, the views were beautiful. ​

It is funny how I have settled into life here and my worldly possessions, as of yesterday, were at the port ready to cross the pond. When they arrive, we believe middle of April, we will have more to deal with in terms of the bureaucracy, but at least, that chapter will finally be closed. My items, except the vehicle, will be free and clear to be delivered here to our home and that unpacking and moving piece will take some time. The vehicle, well, that will be a different story, but one we will get through. The vehicle as with the other items won’t cost us any duties or taxes due to my resident status, which is good, but the standards on each side of the pond are different and different in each country. Since this will be in April and we can’t do anything until then, we will continue to move forward in our crazy life and that is just fine. ​

Where did February go? It is almost gone and it feels like it had just started. Over there, over there, send the word, send the word, over there, that my worldly possessions, my worldly possessions, are still over there, over there. Thank you, George M. Cohan. Actually, they are finally going to be dispatched across the pond, very soon, in fact, their departure, I heard the other day, March 7, and best of all, duty free. Yes, I could have had them sent late last year, and even could have saved some rent on the storage, but now, I can have my last worldly possessions, including my vehicle, sent, over here. Months of paperwork, confirmation of my residency here, proof of my domicile in America, for as long as I lived there, let’s see, my whole life as a US citizen. Oh, there was the year I lived in France, but that was 50 years ago. In the end, this Year of the Jubilee is finally having doors open up much more quickly than last year when I arrived in Italy, so one more hurdle has been cleared. ​

As with the system here in Italy, and with any system, it seems, once one door is opened, there is another one to go through. That is the case here. It is like the old show, of decades ago, Get Smart, in the beginning where Maxwell Smart has to go through door after door after door to get to Control. Lots of bumps along the way, but each one will get tackled. In the meantime, life continues forward. Rosa enjoyed a very nice dinner at Bull Steak for our anniversary last Wednesday, and after the clock struck midnight, we were home and back to our normal routines. Again, nothing wrong with our “boring” lifestyle right now. We need to get through these things, so we can enjoy the fruits of our labor, and we will. ​

Wow, what can I say, after last week’s long-winded post, and the bureaucratic progress that has been made, and more has been accomplished. Now, my residency is official, so we can ship the stuff across the pond, and not have to pay customs duties and today, we added more to the list and more accomplished on the list. All this is very good news, but all is small compared to what today is. Today, appropriate enough is our 1st wedding anniversary. Can you believe it has been one year, today, since we were married in Las Vegas, at the Graceland Wedding Chapel? We have been through so much since then and everything leading to that day one year ago. ​