Day 10: Homeward bound

Never in all my years of traveling have I counted down when it's time to go home. 

Sherrie and I both were just done. We were ready to leave it all behind us. 

Saturday we got up and had a late disembarkation time (9:15) so we just lounged around coughing and hacking and sneezing and blowing our drippy noses. 

We weren't headed to the airport to leave, but rather to the airport to get to a hotel to stay for a night before heading home. I couldn't get a flight out of Rome in time for us to get there so we had to stay an extra night. Not something we really wanted to do at this point, but so be it. We had a hotel and by God we'd survive this nightmare of a cold.

We took the Norwegian shuttle to the airport and promptly found a taxi to take us to our hotel Fuimincino that was supposed to be "close" to the airport. A 15 minute taxi ride around winding streets that made no sense and at least a dozen round-a-bouts. 

Side note: Rome drivers are scary. I thought we were going to die at least a dozen times in that 15 minute trip. 

The taxi driver eventually found Suite Fuimincino hotel and dropped us off. The hotel was a B&B and was locked up tight by a gate. We had no idea how to get in. I ultimately had to call the woman I was chatting with in WhatsApp to find out how we get in. She buzzed us in a gate just down from where we were dropped off. 

After all the paper work, she walked us to our room and showed us how to use the fancy key. She opened the door to what I can only describe as the most basic room I've ever seen. 

Have you ever seen a nunnery in a movie and it shows their rooms? There's a bed and maybe a side table and maybe a lamp on that side table. That. That's what this room was like.

Frankly, I didn't care. I just needed a clean bed to sleep in. 

We dropped our bags and went out in search of lunch. Neither of us overly hungry, but we knew we had to eat. 

We found the beach and a little seafood restaurant that appeared to be opened. Sherrie got her salad and I got gnocci that was absolutely disgusting. But the best part...we got our Fantas.

On our way back from lunch we both agreed we weren't going out for dinner, but we'd need something. We found a small grocery store and bought some items for dinner. I bought a premade sandwich, what looked like BBQ chips and some cough drops. I had a feeling it was going to be a terrible dinner, but I'd survive. 

I was right. I wish I had taken a photo of the sandwich because it really was pathetic. 

The next morning we were up bright and early to get to the airport by 6am. We got our bags checked and headed through security. 

We found the duty free and bought some more chocolate to bring home with us and then found some breakfast and coffee. 

I'd say the flight home was uneventful, but I was having some tummy problems and TWICE almost didn't make the bathroom. 

Alas, we made it home. I walked in the door about 8pm. Hugged the cat. Drug my suitcase upstairs and then took a shower to get all the travel gunk off me. I fell into bed by 9am and woke bright and early at 3:30 am. 

It feels good to be home. Linus is happy and clearly missed all the attention he's used to. He hasn't left my side.