Italy. I know. ITALY!!! How cool is that?

Back in December, there was some talk in Terry’s office about “Italferr is inviting the California high speed rail engineers to go check out the trains in Rome.” All individuals had to 1) take official vacation time; 2) pay their own way so that there is no way the trip could be viewed as a gift or bribe. Once those two items were factored in, only seven employees wanted to go, so three of us wives are joining the group. Terry and I requested to delay our return home in order to fly to Madrid for six days. Our itinerary is as follows:

Sunday 19 April          Depart from San Francisco to Italy

Monday 20 April         Arrival in Rome at Fiumicino airport. Welcome and transfer to UNA Hotel in Rome; free day to explore on our own. Definitely many places we want to see!

Tuesday 21 April         Start HSR Visit, Transfer to Italferr headquarters in Rome; Welcome by Top Management and company presentation; Buffet lunch; Visit the Tiburtina station. Departure by High Speed train to Bologna (visit to cockpit). Upon arrival in Bologna visit Command and Control Center. Transfer by bus to Milano and stay overnight in Hotel Dei Cavalieri.

Wednesday 22 April   Travel by bus; Visit the worksite of Treviglio-Brescia High Speed Rail line; In the afternoon, transfer to Rome on High Speed train.

Thursday 23 April       Travel by High Speed train to the High Speed Rolling Stock Maintenance plant of Naples: Dynamic Multifunction Facility; At the end of the visit, return by High Speed train back to Rome.

Friday 24 April            Meeting in the morning with Italfer; Departure of the delegation back to the hotel. Afternoon free.

Saturday 25 April        Sightseeing on our own. Visit Vatican City.

Sunday 26 April          On to Madrid!

We hoped to have a Global Greeter show us around this first evening, and have requested such, but have not been contacted yet, so we are not holding our breath. We will stay in an Airbnb in Plaza Mayor and I believe be in walking distance to most of the things we want to see and do in Madrid. We need to navigate public transportation in order to get to our room. Here’s hoping some of my high school Espanol comes back to me!

Monday 27 April          Madrid – Sightsee, Flamenco show perhaps?, Tapas

Tuesday 28 April          Day trip to Segovia

Wednesday 29 April          Madrid – 3:00 p.m. lunch at Botin

Thursday 30 April          Flight to Rome

Friday 1 May          Sightsee on our own

Saturday 2 May          Flight to San Francisco through Paris