We have a 9:30am train reservation from Civitavecchia to Rome Termini and then a transfer to Verona so we opted for the self-walk off at 6:30am. We got up and ate early then headed to the theater to get in line to get off. The port in Civitavecchia has a shuttle bus to get you from the ship to the port terminal. So, we got off the ship, got on the shuttle and headed to the port terminal. Once there, we got a taxi to take us and our heavy luggage to the train station. Some people were walking and dragging their bags and if ours weren’t so big and heavy we would have done that too. I think my bag now weighs about a hundred pounds!!! We go to the station and got out, our bags had to be dragged down stairs and then up to get to our track. We got there about two hours early. All of the trains that came through and were headed to Rome Termini were regional trains. Ours was going to be a high-speed train. But ours was running late. I kept checking on it because we had a 45 min layover in Rome Termini and by the time our train got there, it was running 35 minutes late. Well we had First Class seats and were in train car 1, so we moved as far down the platform as we could so that we would be right in front of our car when it arrived. So, the train arrives and we man handle the luggage on the train only to find out that the number 1 car is at the other end of the train. There was no way were lugging these big heavy bags down the isle of six train cars, so we sat in empty seats in Second class. Nobody ever came and checked our tickets. We arrived at Rome Termini and we only have seven tracks down to go to our connection. So, we get to the track and again we have tickets for First Class seats in car number 1 and it as far away as possible. But we hauled it all down to the car and hoisted the luggage on to the train and found a place to stow it. So, score!! Now all we had to do was sit down and watch the scenery go by for three hours.
I had gotten on line and arranged for a car to pick us up at the train station in Verona and drive us to Malcesine so we would have to be lugging the luggage on and off buses. Our guy was there, holding up a “Elwood” sign and we were loaded into a Mercedes van and headed off to Malcesine. Our driver didn’t speak English so I got to use my Italian on him. It seemed to work pretty well. He was siting interesting places along the way and I was trying to translate for Bill. The trick when we get to Malcesine is that it is an ancient city too and where we are staying, no cars can get to it. So, he has to let us out by the municipal building and we walk dragging our bags to the apartment. We walked down to the old port, our apartment is overlooking it. It was too early to check in so we sat down with all our stuff at the Restaurante Centrale right below our apartment. I checked on my cousin, Debbie and her husband Bobby. They are arriving sometime this evening. They flew into Milan today and took the train to Verona and have a driver bring them to Malcesine. So, we haven’t eaten since 5:30am so we order a pizza and some wine from the restaurant. Total $11. At 4pm I go get the key and the guy carries our luggage for me. We get in the apartment, and I can see Bill at our table in the restaurant from our balcony. The apartment has an elevator – almost unheard of here so that is a big plus for when I can’t make it up the one flight of stairs. Deb texts me and says they are half way here. I text Eleonora and she says she is heading over around 7pm. We finish eating and go up and unpack. Turns out Elenora and Debbie and Bobby arrive at the same time. We were up at the car park meeting up with Eleonora when Debbie texted and said they were at the bus station. So, we walked up and met up with them and we all walked back to the apartment. So, we had gone shopping and gotten wine, cheese, salami and bread (of course) and I put out some munchies for all of us and we sat and talked for hours. Then Eleonora got back on her scooter and headed back to Riva and the rest of us went to bed. Oh, by the way, the apartment sleeps four, it has one bedroom, a pull-out couch and a small kitchen/dining combo.
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