Day Two: All Roads Lead To Rome

 

Twenty-five kids and twenty-five hours...that's who traveled from Saugus to Rome and that's roughly how long it took them.  To say we are tired is an understatement.  Today's blog is basically a recap of our travel with the real cool stuff starting tomorrow, but as for now, it is about 8pm local time and the kids are either sleeping or goofing around in the hotel lobby (there are various games and such there).

Of course, we started a day ago at Boston's Logan Airport.  I must say, I was thrilled at the punctuality of this group.  We were able to check in quickly, and on time, and cross into the secure area in record time. Thank you to those who drove folks in...it makes it a lot easier if we are able to stay on schedule.  

Terminal E

Some Eurotrippers at Gate E10

We hung out by the gate until our numbers were called and then we boarded the plane. It was a pretty new plane too.  We walked by the business class seats and were all jealous at the spacious accommodations.  I kept on thinking that a flight attendant was going to give me an upgrade, but alas, they did not.  The kids did a fairly good job of reorganizing themselves into pockets of Sachems throughout the flight, but I found out, in Munich, that a few were sitting solo.  I would have switched with them. :(

As I worked on last night's blog, many of the kids switched between trying to sleep and watching a movie.  I had an aisle seat and got up quite a few times to stretch my legs and say hi to those still awake.  I think it was about two hours into the flight when they started the meal service.  We had two choices....beef stew or pasta.  I chose the pasta.

Last night's dinner surprised!

Over the years, I've tried to remember to savor the flavor of every Eurotrip meal. The pasta from last night was actually pretty good, but to start there was a couscous (I think) salad.  It had a slice of cucumber and a roasted red pepper to accompany the grainy focal point of the dish and was seasoned appropriately.  Prior to my salad, I cut the bread open, placed in the butter, and covered it on top of the hot pasta...it is a pro-tip that not only warms the bread, but melts the butter too.  My salad devoured, it was time for the main course...a medley of veggies mixed with a slightly cheesy pasta.  It was at this point that I moved onto dessert...an airy pudding topped with "fresh" pineapple chunks.  It was silky smooth and refreshing.  To complete the meal, I made a small sandwich using the crackers and cheddar cheese.  I prefer that as my final course because of how refined my pallet is.

The bathrooms were in a cabin on the lower floor. It was a great way to stretch the legs and the kids thought it cool too.

After 7.5 hours, we landed in Munich.  We passed through customs and got our passports stamped. German efficiency was definitely at work as we meandered our way from Terminal L to K.  The airport was clean, modern, and fairly empty.  We went to our Roman gate and found a group of seats nearby for our wait.  Most of us bought some small snacks and sandwiches to help pass the time.  I even made a viral TikTok that has over 900 views!!! 

The four hours passed much quicker than I thought they would and we soon boarded our flight to Rome. It was a quick flight, but because I was so tired...it felt like forever.  While I dozed off for part off the flight, I'd say my cumulative sleep count was still under one hour for the entire trip.  Ashleigh snapped an amazing photo of the Coliseum on our descent and I am hoping to add it to the blog at some point.  It was a sign that our rigorous travel day was coming to a conclusion.

The flight ended without fanfare and we made our way to the baggage claim to retrieve our bags. Once we were all set, we made our way out to meet Kent. As expected, he was awaiting us right outside.  Kent is our tour director for this trip.  He is originally from England, but has lived in Italy for over 20 years. He has been running tours for quite a bit and his experience shows.  I think it will be a good team for the next ten days.

We made our way to Vladimir and the bus...Vlad will be with us for a few days.

The hotel wasn't that far away and we avoided most of Rome's notorious rush hour traffic. The Ibis chain is a pretty well established brand, but this one is a Styles brand.  It is pretty funky and the kids (and chaperons) really enjoy it so far. 

Before I knew it, it was 6:30pm and the dinner bell was ringing.  It was roasted chicken with salad and potatoes.  It doesn't sound like typical Italian fare, but the kids seemed happy enough...perhaps it was the buffet style set up.

Tonight's dinner

Dessert was Mascarpone with cocoa powder

After dinner, Kent gave a rundown to tomorrow. We have a super busy day planned. We will be seeing a ton of sites and hopefully the weather will hold out.  I am happy with this because we never know when we will be back to a place and I want to ensure that we see as much as possible...even if it tires us out all over again...heck, we can sleep during our bus rides and our plane trip home, right!

As I sat down to compose tonight's entry, I realized that my chicken was not enough, so I decided to be Roman...when in Rome, you know...and I ordered a pizza.  It was a spicy salami pizza and it has really hit the spot. I promised myself I would not have two or three dinners a night on this trip and I've already lost the bet, oh no.  

Well, the pizza is almost gone and the hour is getting near. I expect a packed day tomorrow and a much later post than tonight, but regardless, I hope you've enjoyed reading and that you feel as though you've been on the road for a whole day too! Actually, I don't hope you feel that way. I hope you are rested and refreshed! Thanks for reading.

Mr. Lavoie, currently finishing the last slice of pizza in the hotel lounge and debating one more Coca-Cola.