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
That is so exciting.
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Happy travels!
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I do wanna go!! Please post lots of pictures so we can live vicariously through you! 😉
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You’re there by now walking among history!
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