Today is Tuesday in Rome.  We have arrived!  The airplane trip was better than feared.  We were not sure how Doug would do and he did fine, even enjoyed the trip.  I had some frustrations with dealing with the airlines and the electric wheelchair.  Even though I had notified them and had approval for the battery, at each stop they made me take the battery off of the chair, taking that part of the chair apart and carry it with me on the plane.  In trying to be helpful, they would try to take it apart and open and close the collapsing chair, while not knowing how to do it.  Me, always concerned they were going to break it and then what would we do?

We had the most gracious help in London and in Rome upon arrival at each airport.  They helped us to get to our next gate and when landing in Rome stayed with us through baggage and even helped us find our driver and load into the car. Our driver delivered us to our apartment directly across from St. Peter's Basilica.  Andrea, the owner and his father were waiting for us. They greeted us in true Italian style with great enthusiasm!

Andrea and I had been communicating for the past weeks through email.  He told me that there were a few steps into the apartment, but that he could overcome this.  I imagined he would put in some kind of ramp.  But oh no....He and his father, with great excitement thought they could lift Doug and the 50 pound wheelchair up the stairs. Thy proceeded to do that...half-way, grunting and groaning and with much loud Italian talking. Oh, I wish I had a picture.  Finally they decided they should start again and went back to the bottom, 3 steps. I told them that is was okay,  Doug can walk with my help.  So slowly we made it up the steps and back into the chair.  Fifteen more feet and we are at the elevator.

Oh my, the door to the elevator cannot be more than 20 inches wide and it can only hold 2 maybe 3 people and we have a wheelchair and 4 large suitcases.  And here I thought I had prepared for every important detail.  Andrea and his father try to push Doug and the chair in.  Nope, it is not fitting.  I am trying to intervene and say wait, he can walk, I will collapse the chair. It is hard to get a word in edgewise though with all the excitement and enthusiasm.  Finally, Doug steps into the elevator, I collapse the chair and get in and we go up the elevator.  I am still scratching my head trying to figure out how they thought we were going to get Doug in and our each day.

See, it is a pilgrimage.  There has to be struggle.

The apartment is perfect.  We have 2 bedrooms, a sitting room with table and chairs and a small kitchen with a terrace to hang the laundry.  Each room has a view of St. Peter's Basilica and loud traffic noise from the street below. Ahhh....we are in Roma!

We take to the streets, to have find pizza and toast our arrival with a class of vino!