The Dog Days of Summer, a Broken Computer, and Everything Else Going On

​The Dog Days of Summer
Ah, the dog days of summer. And something that this summer has certainly been felt.
It was only last month, in July, that I was in Iceland, having a respite away from the hellish heat and humidity of Rome. It started in the middle of May, with temperatures reaching 90°F to 100°F (32°C to 38°C), along with the commensurate humidity, and it has continued right into the middle of August as I write this.                                                                                                                                                              
I hear the temperature will finally break in a few days, with highs returning to the 80°F (27°C) range. That will certainly be fortunate for my clients and friends coming to Italy in short order. Hopefully, they will not have to deal with quite as much heat and humidity.
So, how are you dealing with the heat this summer? Are you embracing it, escaping it, or, like me, simply trying to survive it?
I started with the dog days of summer, but do you know where that expression came from?
It isn't about lazy dogs lying around trying to stay cool in the heat and humidity, although I am sure most dogs are doing everything they can to stay out of the heat. And their poor paws on the sidewalks of Rome, where you may be able to fry an egg this time of year, certainly don't make things any easier.
Most people don't have air conditioning here, either. Thank goodness I do, and I still feel the heat.
The phrase "dog days of summer" goes all the way back to ancient Greece and Rome, so I guess I am right where it all started.
The term comes from Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky, which is part of the constellation Canis Major, or "Greater Dog." Sirius is often called the Dog Star. Ancient observers noticed that Sirius rose in the sky around the same time as the hottest part of summer and believed the star added its heat to that of the sun.
The Romans called this period dies caniculares, or the "days of the dog star," which eventually became "dog days."
Today, when we talk about the dog days of summer, we simply mean the hottest and most sultry stretch of the season, usually July and August. Although, in this case, and as I mentioned earlier, I think the dog days arrived a little early this year, starting back in May.
Did you know where the expression "dog days of summer" came from, or did you always assume it had something to do with dogs trying to stay cool?
It is a wonderful example of how ancient astronomical observation became an everyday expression that we still use thousands of years later. If only modern people could sometimes go back to simpler times and see clearly what is happening around us.
But I digress.

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Travel Doesn't Stop
I recently had a couple leave Italy after 10 days here, and it was very nice having them. I know they had a wonderful time, but I also know the heat got to them, both here in Rome and during their time in Florence and Venice. Thankfully, they are safely back in the States.
And in just a few days, others will be arriving.
I do appreciate having this nice flow of people traveling. And they are not just coming to Italy.
I recently had clients return from Alaskan adventures, while others are heading to Portugal, the United Kingdom and France later this month and next. Others are looking ahead to South America and Costa Rica.
And then there is Africa. I have clients preparing for some truly amazing adventures in South Africa and Botswana, including what I am sure will be an incredible safari experience.
I am also working on a trip to Vietnam for next year, another destination I am looking forward to helping put together.
Sometimes I have to stop and think about just how many places I have been fortunate enough to arrange travel to over the years. In one capacity or another, I have been involved in travel to all seven continents.
So, yes, while Italy and Europe are certainly a big part of what I do, I am certainly not limited to Europe.
With all of these destinations on my clients' travel calendars, I have to ask: if you could choose anywhere in the world to travel to right now, where would you go?
That is one of the things I have always enjoyed about being in the travel business. Every client is different, every trip is different, and there is always something new to learn. After nearly 30 years in the travel industry, I still find that pretty exciting.
For me and for Rosa, we will soon be doing what the Romans do and getting out of Rome for a bit.
Most people who can leave already have. Many of the smaller shops shut down for pretty much the whole month, but especially during the last two to two-and-a-half weeks of August. It is simply part of the rhythm of life here.
I am not sure if the temperatures will have gone down by then, but we will be heading toward the seaside, away from the concrete jungle that is Rome — or any other city, for that matter.
And that adventure will be something to share with you, including a destination that you might want to consider when looking beyond the usual suspects of Italy.
Have you ever traveled somewhere completely new to you, even after years of traveling?

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Even My Computer Got Overheated
But there has been another little adventure going on here as well.
My old technology got overheated.
Yes, my old HP laptop, about a week ago, decided that the video display had had enough and went kaput.
I know I bought it before I left for Italy some years ago, perhaps three or four years ago, so it certainly wasn't brand new. I thought my local tech person could assist, but he told me he couldn't get a new display for it because it had originally been purchased in America.
He suggested a stopgap solution, so I bought a video monitor, connected it to the computer, and, yes, I was back in business.
But I was not about to drag the monitor and the old laptop with me on holiday.
Yes, I need to stay connected.
So, I started looking and found a new computer, also HP, with all the bells and whistles I needed. It arrived the next day.
And then it sat there.
For days.
I was hoping my local techie could help me get everything set up, but he is Italian, and he was gone for the month of August after selling me the video monitor.
What to do?
Well, unfortunately, my techie person and admin help in the States couldn't really assist with everything either at this time. The time difference and his own obligations made that difficult.
So, I figured it out.
Piece by piece.
And I have to say, I am pretty proud of myself.
I am not completely finished, but I can now take the new computer confidently on holiday and get work done if needed. Is it perfect? No. But it is functional, and I am writing this blog post on the new computer, so that is a pretty good start.
A little help from Copilot and some other AI certainly didn't hurt. And I remembered a few things I had seen Matt, my trusted friend and admin do in years past, which helped me figure out some of the rest.
I am sure I am still missing things, but little by little, over the next few weeks, everything I need will be on the new computer, and the things I don't need will hopefully disappear.
I had to get a new mouse, some cables to move data from one computer to the other, and, of course, figure out how to get all of my email into the same place, especially the business emails.
That was probably the hardest part.
Technology is wonderful when it works, isn't it?
But at least I am now back in business, and that is what matters.

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What's Coming Next
As far as the near future, well, September is the near future.
I will be back on the road again, first heading north in Italy to the mountains, specifically the Dolomites, for a few days. Then I will return to Rome in time to fly to Ibiza.
Both trips are business-focused, but there is always a personal element to my travels as well. And, perhaps most importantly, these are places I have never been before.
That means more firsthand experience, more to share with clients and colleagues, and, of course, more to share with all of you in future blog posts.
There are other plans in the works for the rest of the year, and yes, there will be others to greet here in Rome. But that is for another time.
Business will not stop just because of the heat, technology, or even a weeklong holiday away from the Eternal City.
And it is a nice feeling to know that I am still enjoying what I do as I approach the end of my 18th year in business and my 29th year in the travel industry.
With everything going on in the world, clients and referrals continue to come my way. People are still reaching out to me for travel assistance, and I am still fortunate enough to be helping them see and experience the world.
That is a good feeling.
A very good feeling.
Even when the temperatures outside make it almost unbearable to be in the city.
Rome is amazing.
The heat is not.
So, wherever you are traveling, make sure you take good care of yourself. Be prepared for the conditions, pay attention to the weather, and don't assume that because it is summer, everything will be exactly as you expect.
Travel is supposed to be enjoyable.
And sometimes, knowing when to get out of the heat is part of the journey, too.
And, as always, if something I've written about here gets you to thinking about a destination, a trip you've been putting off, or perhaps somewhere completely new, feel free to reach out. I am always happy to talk travel, share ideas, and see where the conversation takes us. You never know where the next adventure might lead.
Until next time, stay cool and keep traveling.