Day 1 and 2 - Our Arrivals

Wow!  I made it.  And so begins the journey of a “Year of Firsts”.  I’m happy to say I made it here with very little drama. All flights basically on time, all luggage arrived with me (that’s a big blessing) and no wait at the rental car counter.  However it was probably time for a little excitement.  I found the rental car in the lot - a nice new Volvo - rather large - but an automatic as I had requested so I was a happy camper.  

However when I began to use the navigation it was set for Russian.  Any other language I may have been able to figure out how to change the language but RUSSIAN?  The alphabet looks nothing like ours so I was lost.  I went back to the office in the lot and requested help.  Their comment “we don’t usually have many Volvo’s but we can try and help”.  Blind leading the blind at this point.  Eventually we both figured it out (thank goodness he spoke English or we would have added another element of confusion to this equation).  So now with the navigation set to English I was on my way. I made it to Marina di Casal Velino and the house of my cousin Angela in close to 4 hours.  I will be renting a home owned by Angela and Luigi in the village and I needed to pick up the keys.  Our meeting was very joyful but not without tears.  You see, she too has been waiting for this moment as long as I have.  We are cousins but more like sisters and best friends.  We agreed I would go to my house to begin unpacking but meet up for dinner at her house around 8:30.   So to my new house I drove.  And now a little more drama.  I walked in the house and unloaded the car.  As I began to unpack and put things away I realized the bathroom floor was flooded.  Oh my - but don’t panic - I called Angela and a plumber was soon on his way.  But not only did the plumber arrive within 30 minutes but Angela and Luigi came too.  Now that is an attentive landlord!!!  The bidet had a leaky valve.   It would be fixed in the morning.  In addition I found out that the antenna for the TV and internet service would be installed soon as well.  I may get service quicker than I thought.    Also an electrician would be coming to fix some of the outdoor lights.  Lots of activity to get the house just right!

Around 6 pm cousin Giuseppe and his wife Caterina stopped by to welcome me and brought me a beautiful red rose bush to plant in my garden.  It will look great along side the other rose bushes already planted.  See them in the attached photo - if you can tear your eyes off the view of the beautiful sea!!

Dinner was pizza from the local rostacieria near Angela.  Yummy! But after dinner I went back home - exhausted from the long travel day.

Yesterday morning (Wednesday) I needed to travel to the local DHL office in Ascea (another small town nearby).  I needed to courier some documents to the Import company in Naples.  They tell me my shipment is to arrive on Friday.  (Yet I thought it was delayed until the 20th). Will be interesting to see what date it actually does arrive.  I would go to the DHL office by myself and assume I could manage the language.  Angela offered to go but I figured I have to learn sometime - sink or swim.  I almost sank!  HAHA!!  He spoke NO English but together we muddled through it.  I even helped him a bit as he didn’t know the keyboard of his computer that well - scarey thought  - but I had faith!  My credit card wouldn’t work and he could not take cash so what to do????  Only in southern Italy - he used his credit card and I gave him the cash.  Where there is a will there is a way!! So mission accomplished but not without some challenges.  Still a guessing game on when the container will arrive in Naples and an even bigger guess on when my things will arrive in Acquavella.   

Once back home the workers were starting to arrive. More progress - plumbing fixed, electrical work completed. I learned how to use the washing machine and I now understand how to separate my trash and where it goes for pickup.  In Italy they separate a bit different.  Paper, plastic and metal in one container, food waste in another (it’s call umido - meaning wet) and a third for everything else.  There are three containers at the end of the road where I must take my trash - each one is picked up on a different schedule and some picked up multiple times a week.  Now you have learned all you want to know about trash in Italy except maybe for the occasional strike.  Let’s hope I don’t experience that for awhile.

We also tried to install a screen on the kitchen  door/window.  Angela and Luigi had purchased one - they attach with velcro and have magnetic closers - unfortunately the one they bought didn’t work that well so another project for another day.  We will install more on other doors and windows.  Once installed I will send along photos.  The screens will also allow me to keep the doors open and not let Oscar get outside.  Although I also learned today that the entire property has a fence and wall around it so If Oscar does get out he can’t run away.  In addition I have told many of you that I had 1 fig tree and 1 olive tree - I stand corrected.  I have multiple - on the property behind the house which I didn’t realize was my cousins.  I’m a land baroness and didn’t know it.  Haha!!  I did discuss the olive harvest with Angela and she promised I could help. They have many areas of family land and I will absolutely help them harvest this year.  That will take place in October so she tells me.  So a sneak peek of what is to come.  

The best part of yesterday though was the arrival of Oscar.  I was a wreck all day waiting for him.  By early afternoon I knew his plane had landed in Roma but unsure how long it would take for him to clear customs and then be on his way to me.  As it turned out he arrived before 8 p.m.   It was a joyful reuniting.  After some time of introduction to the house and the land around it it was time for bed.  And just in case you are wondering, YES Dogs get jet lagged - YAWN!!

Fino al prossimo tempo,

Baci e abbracci!