Though we were in a hurry to get across Italy to our next meeting in Bari, we took time to explore such an incredible place in Paestum.   Here we found three Greek temples, the most that you will find in Western Europe.  They are about 2500 years old and were preserved even after the Roman takeover because those thoughtful Romans respect religion of all kinds.  These temples (and the surrounding Roman town) were abandoned and left alone for over a thousand years, but now is here for us to enjoy.

We had to speedwalk but we saw what there was to see, took a few photos and hurried back to our car.  As we left the coast we saw large mountain ranges and thought of the twisting mountain we had traversed the day before… but were relieved to learn that the Italians had built many tunnels to help us along our way.

After all of the parking difficulties in Salerno we were relieved to find a parking spot as we drove in that was only 600 feet from the music conservatory.  We weren’t sure our map had guided us correctly as those 600 feet presented a rather rough neighborhood, but at the end there was a beautiful rock wall with a gate.  We spent a couple hours with this musical team – first there is the meeting wherein they talk with Stacey about what they would like to accomplish together. In this case there will be master classes taught and some shared stage time.  We toured the concert facilities and found rooms that would be appropriate for dressing, etc.  They have an incredible organ – the largest in southern Italy.

Our primary contact in Bari is Francesca and she is a treasure.  She spent a good deal of time after the meetings coaching us on the local cuisine and where to go to find it.  Bari has their old town, Bari Vechhia and it is the best!  We wandered through the narrow streets and found the pastry shop Francesca recommended as well as a restaurant to sample the local pasta.  It was all so cute we couldn’t wait to explore the next morning (in the light) – but there was a problem…

Stacey’s travel connection had not reserved a hotel for us in Bari.  We had looked briefly that morning but hadn’t found anything.  There was a room in a town up the coast but it was a “holy day” weekend and no cars were allowed in town??  As we ate pasta we both had our phones out trying to find lodging.  The entire town was booked.

We were relieved that the woman in the restaurant who had tried to find us a room had been unsuccessful. Kind as she was… when she discovered we were without a room she assured us the room over the restaurant was available.  When that room was already taken she began making phone calls for us and fortunately they were all taken as well.  These narrow streets were loud – music and groups of men speaking so loudly over one another in Italian… were they fighting or just very passionate about every word they speak? We really didn’t want to stay right there, though we would have if something were available.

We made our way back to the car to sit and continue looking for hotel rooms.  There was a homeless man hoping to receive tips from drivers who would happily take our parking place.  We had no intention of leaving until we had a room secured.  He hovered outside our window, once even knocking when he brought a driver over to talk to us.  It didn’t work – we held our ground and eventually we were successful. It was 10:00 pm when we finally found a room an hour down the coast.  We were relieved to find it but saddened that we would not have time the next morning in Bari.

Our late night drive had only a couple wrong/missed turns and we gratefully accepted the help of the man behind the desk to take our bags for us.

Speaking of bags….

As I was preparing to pack last week, Stacey told me we should keep our bag below 40 lbs because of our hopper flights in Europe.  It was tricky but the night before I had my bag weighing in at 38 lbs with just a few more items to add.  Just as I lay down to read before sleeping Stacey began to text… she found out that her status allowed both of us to take an extra bag free of charge over the ocean and we could just pay a nominal fee on the smaller flights.   I jumped up and began to think of all the extra little things I could take to make life more comfortable while abroad.

More comfortable?  Hahaha.  Was I new to this??  What was I thinking?  Last time I was gone for three weeks with just one bag.  The time before that – three weeks and one bag.  It didn’t matter how long I stayed… I had always taken one bag.  Now I had the opportunity to take a second bag and I grabbed it.  I ask again… what was I thinking?

No sooner had we entered the airport in SLC that I began to question my decision.  I was navigating the escalator with two bags and my heart dropped.  Together Mark and I would have had two bags and guess what?  Mark would manage both of them through airports.  Once the bags were checked he would take my computer bag for me… now here I was with two unwieldy bags and a purse and a backpack… thankfully I had chosen to bring a backpack rather than that computer bag.  There are many reasons to miss Mark and the lack of boy-muscles and gentlemanly attention is one of them!

And so – as I tell of my adventures – know that in the background there are two American women steering TWO suitcases with them and wondering what they had thought would be more important than the convenience of packing light?!

Fortunately that morning in Salerno we had made sure we would be needing only one bag to carry into our hotel because this particular hotel had a parking lot made of pea gravel.   We had to carry the suitcases (ugh, we thought it was tricky just pushing/pulling them) – and so thank you to that kind desk-man for seeing us safely and comfortably to our room late that night.