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Published: December 17th 2011
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This was only the second time I had flown - last time to the USA but this time the much shorter trip from Birmingham to Rome 2 and a half hours in the company of BMI Baby. We had booked our seats earlier paying extra for extra leg room and for a window set. It is so much easier travelling in the car than having to put up with all the hassle of an early drive to the airport, car parking and then waiting round for the flight. It's hard to find things to do for two hours, a bit of breakfast, a cup of coffee and customs and that's it. We can always guarentee tht we will be stopped and this was no exception to the rule as they confiscated my brand new shampoo and conditioner. Perhaps next time I will get it right. I wonder what makes the two of us look guilty so that they stop us.
Eventually we set off - seated and belted in and heading for the sun. We had booked the top apartment in an Umbrian stone farmhouse and looked forward to the break. It looked fabulous on the internet with views across
the valley. We hoped that we would be on our own. The house was owned by an English couple who had moved to the area a few years before. The place sounded idyllic especially if we were lucky enough to get it to ourselves.
Over England and the Isle of Wight. Then France with its patchwork fields. It is hard to work out where you are as there is no seatback screen giving height and speed so it's all guesswork. A lake here or a mountain there to try to pinpoint your location. Things look different from 30,000 feet. The flight was uneventful and after a cup of extremely hot coffee and a panini - the first of many we landed in Rome airport .
The air was hot when we arrived and the sun blazed down on us as we waited for the bus to take us to the main airport terminal. The ground crew looked immaculate in their designer uniforms braided, belted and gold buttoned.
It seemed like an age to retrieve our suitcases and we vowed that next time we would only take hand luggage. The hire car had been booked but the airport
Santa Chiara
A lonely woman on a grey road was so big it was hard to find the area where you picked it up. A lift here to the next floor, a sign which suggested the way but then more stairs. By now all we wanted to do was get out of the place and on our way. Finally we picked up our Fiat Punto. We were not sure it was the right size of car and swear blind they gave us a smaller one than we had paid for. But when you don't speak the language you cannot argue overmuch/
Santa Chiara was as delightful as its photo suggested. Up a grey road the car was covered in limestone dust by the time we arrived. An immaculate property - lovely hosts and we were the only guests. A swimming pool to myself - heaven.
We love the Italian way of life with the emphasis on family, friends, the church and the much slower pace of life. This looked like a lovely base for the week and we walked a little along the grey road watching the lizards, the butterflies and the early spring flowers. As the sun set we sat on our roof terrace watching the sun setting over the mountains behind the house.
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