Italy at Last: A Bumpy Start to a Beautiful Beginning
The hardest part about going to Europe is simply getting there. Our journey started with a 5:00 PM flight out of Chicago’s O’Hare Airport, scheduled to arrive in Rome about 10 hours later. Unfortunately, due to mechanical issues—believe it or not, something to do with a coffee machine—we were delayed four hours. That turned our travel day into a 14-hour trek.
But as we began our descent into Rome and the beauty of Italy unfolded beneath us, it all became worth it.
✨ It finally hits—we’re in Italy!
Rome Arrival: Walk, Customs & Staying in Shape
Let me say this: staying in shape as you age really pays off. After landing, we had a bit of a hike to reach customs. We were herded through an image detection machine, then had our passports stamped. Next mission: find our luggage—and meet our driver.
Meeting Danilo from Joe Bananas
We were greeted by our wonderful driver, Danilo, from Joe Bananas. While his English wasn’t perfect, he made up for it with comic flair and great effort to connect—a perfect match for our friend Jack (we traveled with another couple, Jack & Barb), who also has quite a sense of humor.
🏛️ First Stop: Herculaneum
Our first stop: Herculaneum, an ancient Roman city in Campania, Italy. Located about five miles southeast of Naples, this city of 4,000 residents sat at the western base of Mount Vesuvius—yes, the same volcano that destroyed Pompeii. In 79 CE, the eruption buried the city in volcanic ash. The tragic twist? The winds shifted, pushing ash and fumes back over Herculaneum, sealing the fate of its people. The silver lining: the ash preserved much of the city beautifully. We walked cobbled streets, saw homes with intricate mosaics, and admired frescoes in rich, vibrant colors.
- 🎟️ Cost: 16 euros
- 🕒 Time: Just over an hour
- 💡 Tip: Totally worth the stop if you’re heading toward Sorrento!
Next Stop: Hotel Grand Ambasciatori, Sorrento
This was our splurge hotel—and the moment we arrived, we knew why. The Hotel Grand Ambasciatori is a 5-star gem in Sorrento, and it lives up to every star. The staff personally escorted us to our room and gave us a quick tour. Our room was spacious with a king-sized bed and a breathtaking sea view. The hand-painted tile floors and colorful bathrooms added so much charm.
Final Thoughts (for Now)
From the long flight to the warm Italian welcome, the journey may have started with a delay—but it was absolutely worth it. This is why I decided to take Social Security at 62 – traveling is amazing!
☀️ Up Next:
In our next few posts: Exploring the heart of Sorrento, A private Italian Chef dinner, and Path of the Gods hike!