Our Trip – 10th Sept 2008, Travel Day…

So we left for Tuscany OMG!Early on Wednesday 10th September 2008.  Our taxi picked us up at 6:30am!

We met up with Simon’s Parents at Belfast International Airport and all flew to London Gatwick.  We then had about 5 hours at Gatwick, which is a good thing because Simon’s mum has mobility issues and we didn’t need to rush, but also a bad thing as Easy Jet does not: –

A.) check bags through to your final destination, you have to collect them and re-check in; and

B.) Allow you to check in earlier than about 2 hours before your flight time.

So there we were in Gatwick, no chairs anywhere, all of our luggage with us (including my Mother in Law’s hat and her special ‘wedding’ stick!), for about 1.5 hours.  We did manage to find seats in the ‘Special Access’ area (its helpful at times to have a Mother In Law who needs a stick!).

We eventually were able to check in for the flight from Tuscany, and Simon and I left the ‘rents to find their own way and took off to find some lunch!

Gatwick actually has a fairly nice waiting area.  We had lunch in a little restaurant, a real sit down, waiter bring you food lunch!  It was rather good.  I had a club sandwich and Simon had a burger.

We then wandered a bit and did some shopping, including mosquito spray as Simon had received a text message from his sister when we got off the Belfast – London flight telling us we’d need it!  So we purchased some mosquito spray!

I have been in many airports over the years, both pre and post 911, and I must say, as I predicted 7 years ago, the security measures they have enacted since both that and the liquid bombs incident have worked themselves out fine.  At Belfast you could buy little plastic bags for liquids from vending machines for about £1, I think.  At Gatwick they give them away for free all through the airport.

Anyway, we eventually got on the flight to Pisa airport.  And then we were in Tuscany!

I am always a little nervous going through immigration any where other than the US.  My visa situation is a little complicated and requires my old and my new passport and blah blah blah.  So I was amazed when we went through immigration at Pisa.  First of all, all passengers together, no EU/non EU split.  Second of all, the woman took it, barely glanced at it and sent me on my way.  No questions.  Nothing.  I am, however, *very* disappointed that her stamp was running out of ink and you can barely read the damn thing! My first non-English visa and I can’t read it!!!

Anna met us at the Airport, which was very handy as the Villa was a bit hard to find.  We all piled into the car and off we went!

We stayed at Agriturismo La Borriana, along with all of the family, the wedding party and a few additional guests.  We took over the whole place for the 5 days we were there!

Simon and I were in the Gheppio room, which is Kestral in Italian.  All of the rooms, as you can see on the website, are named for birds or animals!

If you look here, our window was the very last one on the upper floor on the right.  We were on the corner and our view was right over the vineyards.

That first afternoon we spent sitting around the pool, drinking wine and getting caught up and meeting the people who were already there.  I am terrible at remembering who arrived when, but there were about 8 of us the first night for dinner!

I am not going to detail every meal we had, suffice it to say they were *all* excellent.  Many courses with much wine and talk and laughter.  And I will state here, for the record, I didn’t gain an ounce.  Must be the mountain air!!

After a very long dinner (we finished eating at about 11:30 or midnight!) we headed off to bed.

Tomorrow – 11th Sept 2008, A day in the lap of luxury…