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Back in US

After leaving home in California in May 2018 to live in Italy a year or two, we safely returned to the US three weeks ago. While 2020 travel plans didn’t pan out as we expected, we were still able to get some great trips in between June and October. Post lockdown, we visited Turin, Alba, Cinque Terre, Chiavari, and Modena. Then several weeks later we travelled to Venice, Perugia, Montepulciano and Ravenna. In September we visited the Dolomites for the third time. Then weeks before returning home we attended the Truffle festival in Alba. Was very special to visit these places with so few tourists, but sad to see so many business struggling without tourists.

With all cruises cancelled, the only way to get Barley (our 90 pound Labrador) back to the US was as air cargo. We used a pet relocation company to arrange and manage the logistics. With so few international flights and a live animal embargo for flights out of Italy, it was an emotional rollercoaster up to the day Barley’s flight departed. After a canceled flight out of Milan, we ended up having him transported in a van to Zurich, where he was boarded on a direct flight to SFO the next day. With all the crazy possible Covid related hiccups, Tom and I flew two days later, after we knew Barley had safely arrived in the US.

Over the 28 months living in Italy, we traveled on average 1 week a month. And saw more of Europe and Italy than we could have imagined. 100s of train and bus rides, gondolas, ferries, a few car rentals, and funiculars. Miles and miles of walking on cobblestones. I just replaced my fifth pair of Keen hiking shoes today. Many hotel, apartment and B&B stays, and even 8 nights in an Italian hospital after an emergency appendectomy in early March. Not to mention living through the 2020 Pandemic in Italy. We had so many great adventures, had lots of people visit us or crossed paths with, met other Americans living in Italy, and made new friends through Barley’s blog and Facebook group.

It’s good to be back home and are taking Barley to the beach almost daily.

Stay safe, and have a happy holiday!

Posted by
32173 posts

Karen,

Welcome back to this side of the pond! It sounds like you had a wonderful time in Italy, and it's great that you were able to visit so many places.

Best wishes for Christmas and New Year!

Posted by
554 posts

I'm glad you are back, safe and sound. I held my breath for Barley's safe return. I loved your stories, especially the ones regarding Italian bureaucracy.
I'm sorry we never got to meet up in Amsterdam. Covid wrecked a lot of people's plans. You are nothing if not resilient. :-).
Happy Holidays to the 3 of you.

Posted by
32523 posts

are you back in the same place (I see your profile hasn't left Italy....)

Posted by
6265 posts

Karen, welcome home! And Merry Christmas, happy holidays to you.

Posted by
1626 posts

Sadly, updated my Profile. Seems like months ago since we left Verbania- it’s only 4 weeks.

As we stay at home, I think I’ll review my TripIt app history and come up with a list of statistics which everyone will find impressive, especially with our well travelled Barley dog.

Posted by
3777 posts

Welcome home? I followed your blog and enjoyed every postimg. I can’t believe it was over 2 years ago you left. Did the time fly as quickly for you as it did for us, your readers. Look forward to more reports on your adventures.

Posted by
1626 posts

Yes time flew by. Such a great adventure! I took over 10,000 pictures. Need to work on editing the trip albums so some day when we have people over I don’t bore our guests.

A little Italy like as we re-enter life in US- setting up internet, cellular, buying a car, Covid shopping rules (scolded for attempting to purchase 2 packs of toilet paper), doctor and dentist appointments, etc. unfortunately with all family in Colorado or further east, won’t see them until sometime later in 2021, after vaccines are widely available.

Posted by
7280 posts

Glad you got home safely, and I hope travel within the USA will be feasible for you before too long!

Barley’s quite the well-traveled pup! Happy and Better New Year!

Posted by
2281 posts

hey hey karen, tom and barley
welcome back home. i'm sure the stress was high getting barley home with all the hiccups you and tom went through. he's a trooper and fabulous, well mannered dog and was well taken care of on those flights. he's happy on the beach now even with the chill in the air. woof woof
hope is is set up with moving back home. enjoy and aloha
mele kalikimaka

Posted by
11037 posts

Barley has gotten used to dog food without the hint of pesto in it?

Posted by
1626 posts

Not yet, but he thinks anyone holding something in their hand has food for him. Italians loved to give him treats, especially the regulars at the bar in the ground level of our building.