​Weathering the Storm with the WP#211

On this last Wednesday of the month of March, and the first week of spring, I had found myself on the road again, this time in London. Yes, London, the place I had left when I came to Italy to live back last July and while a week ago, I was on the road (or on the train(s)) to Vienna, this was the first time traveling out of Italy via a flight. Admittedly, I was a little nervous, which, for me, and all the travels I have done in my life, you would not think so, and even last summer, had flown to Catania with Rosa for a wedding, but I was a bit nervous, for someone, who has been flying since age 6. In any case, the legal process from security to border control out of Italy, and arriving in the UK was fairly straightforward, with a very small blip on the meter for when I tried to use the UKETA automated London City Airport Border Control Machines, they said seek assistance, which, while it meant the system was not totally up to snuff, once I went over to the border control officer, within a minute, I was through. ​

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I have to put in that my passport is more than 9 years old, well worn, and yes, I have to go to get it renewed at the US Embassy in Rome, so, it may have been my passport and not machine. I have to time this just right, so that there are no travels planned outside of Italy for the time I won’t have it, and since my Permesso di Sigiorno has that same information, it is possible that getting a new card will potentially be another delay scenario for both to once again be matched up and then, once I have the new passport, get a new UKETA, as it to, is matched up to the valid new passport, so the reality is that this process will happen sometime later this year, so as to minimize the gaps of all three bureaucratic entities. For now, I am, as I write this post, getting packed to fly home to Rome. What happens upon entry back to my adopted home country, well we will see, but I have the proof that I am allowed to re-enter. Wish me luck for later today. ​

Why was I here in London. Well, why I want to be in the UK. Besides the US, Italy and, okay, I will throw in Iceland, these are countries over the years in which I have spent the most time. I was here for a reason, of course, and that was to attend a trade show called New Deal Europe and its focus was on the Balkans and SE Europe, places that are more up and coming for travel. Of course, places like Croatia and Slovenia have been on the map and more known for at least the quarter century and other places like Serbia, Bulgaria, Hungary and the like, even Romania, because they are on the Danube River, also are much more known quantities when it comes to travel, but most Americans, especially first timers to Europe, unless they are doing a river cruise don’t come to these countries unless there is a specific reason. For me, it was very important to attend, so I could share, even more in depth, not only these places, but others in the Balkans, that are lesser known. ​

I have been and continue to sell these destinations with several sets of clients travelling this year to Croatia, Slovenia, and others, but like I said, there are lesser-known hidden gems like Montenegro, Albania, and Kosovo for starters. Even Greece which, yes, is in the Balkans was presented at this conference, especially in the north, and yes, I have clients coming to the north to places like Thessaloniki, and beyond. I met with past partners and potential future partners in this region of Europe, which does not get a much play as other regions on this continent, as unfortunately, and due to misinformation or perhaps a lack information, Americans, the base of my clientele, are just not familiar, but that is my goal to make them more familiar. These are also generally speaking places that are less costly than the western European counterparts. ​

Did you know that the origins of the Zinfandel varietal come from two grape varietals. One I had shared in the past from Croatia, but just yesterday, I found out the other parent came from Montenegro. As before, I apologize to Italy, but Primitivo is the family, but the family started across the Adriatic. I do have adventurous clients whose first trip to Europe was actually Slovenia last year and have had many clients come to Croatia over the years. Rosa and I a couple years ago went to Albania for the first time and in the end, we have sailed the Danube, so those Balkan and southeast European countries were experienced, this two years ago when we sailed the AmaVerde, for her, her first rodeo, for me, I had been before, but as I had mentioned from that time, it was wonderful to see things through her eyes. We will do these trips again together moving forward and some trips for later this year and next year in the pipeline. In any case, the full day conference and workshop for me, were a success and am excited to share ideas with clients moving forward. The real issue in the region and it too, can be overcome is connectivity, but with flexibility and the willingness to experience new cultures, this is an area worth exploring. ​

The other thing that I did the afternoon I arrived here in London, after I checked into my conference hotel was make my way to the British Museum and also check out a hotel, I have booked for a long-time client of some 25 years. He had been to the UK before and had stayed at this particular hotel, many years before, so he wanted to return and it turns out, it is just blocks from the British Museum, so I killed two birds with one stone. In any case, I hope he will enjoy his return in May, and he will see changes, for sure. Also, my couple of hours at the museum were very nice, but if I want to see the offerings of King Tut’s Tomb, I must go to Cairo, but I am sure many of you knew that, but the exhibits they have in the short time there were very nice, and the place was quite busy. With those two afternoon pieces out of the way, I had one more thing to do before getting back to my hotel and that would be having fish n chips, which I did in a pub called A Good Friend which also happened to be in the neighborhood, so I killed three birds with one stone. ​

As I finish up here, and get ready to check out and get a ride to the airport, which is about 10 minutes away, across the river from my hotel, I also had to make sure I picked up some scones, or my wife, (sorry my taxi driver), her words, not mine, would pick me up from Roma Nomentana station later tonight when I return home, so with that, I end this time here in London and this post and return to normalcy. I will say that it was very nice to catch up with some people I had not seen in years and while, when I had been in Vienna less than two weeks ago, it was nice to be going home after a week on the road, given this was a short 3 day, 2 night, trip to London, and a lot easier on the mind, body and spirit, I felt that little inkling of why I loved being on the road, but in the end, I am ready to head home and very happy to do so, and present scones to Rosa 😊, and a couple of other little trinkets. Thank you as always for your support and reading of my weekly meanderings. Stay healthy, safe and most importantly, happy in this crazy world in which we find ourselves.