Bergamo our last city together

We drove into Bergamo about noon and went straight to the airport.  After finding a parking place and paying the meter we went inside and tracked down the rental car stand.  Our rental car was paid through Sunday but we weren't sure whether or not we could drop the car off really early Sunday morning.  After talking with a lovely Italian woman she told us we could keep the car until the next morning and return the car to the rental car return lot and put the keys and rental car agreement copy through the slot in the door and it would be returned.  We thanked her and then headed over to the arrivals area and found the hotels board.  I started calling random hotels in Bergamo and finding our if they had availability for a triple room and how far from the airport they were.  We finally got a room at Hotel Pegasus in the village just outside of Bergamo.  We were assured it was only at 10-25 minute drive from the airport.  I reserved a room and let the receptionist know we would be arriving in approximately a half hour.  Once that was done we walked over to the Ryanair stand and confirmed our flight for the next morning.  We paused to get a cappuccino and croissant as we skipped breakfast in Milan and then headed out to the hotel.

Again, Melba was a godsend and she got us to the hotel with only a little confusion.  We checked in and got into a surprisingly nice triple room.  We dropped everything off and went out to get on the internet.  I needed to check my email and get a hostel for Rome for the next night.  I spent the next couple of hours on the computer doing business stuff, making reservations and what not.  Mom and Dad sat out in the lobby with me and read books and magazines.  When I was finally done I paid the internet fees and we got directions to the local mall.  There's not much to see in Bergamo.

We drove to the mall and found a great parking space and headed up.  We just walked around and window shopped as well as admired the random hair and clothing styles of the Italians.  But more interestingly all over the mall were giant plastic animals, life size or bigger.  There were rams, penguins, sea turtles, bears, alligators and dolphins.  We're still not sure why they were scattered all over the mall but I got a picture of Mom and Dad with some just because it was so random!  We got some gelato for a snack and then split a piece of pizza and fries between the 3 of us.  After our adventures in the mall we headed back to the hotel and Dad watched some TV while Mom and I journaled.  I was trying to catch up on my journaling and finish up the journal so I could give it to Mom to carry home.

About 7 we headed out to find our last dinner together.  We checked at the front desk and got a name of a good local restaurant.  After some entertaining circular driving we found the restaurant only to find out it was full for the night.  We got Melba out and found the next closest restaurant and headed there.  They looked a little shocked to see 3 random tourist in their restaurants.  The restaurant was good but not outstanding.  I got porchini gnocchi which is odd because I don't really like gnocchi.  I'm still not sure why I ordered it.  But we had a leisurely Italian style dinner before heading back to the hotel.  Upon our return I took a shower, my last in a normal bathroom for a while.  We talked and Mom and Dad watched TV until we went to sleep about midnight.  We had to be up really early for our flight.

We got up the next morning at 3:30am and were packed up checked out and on the road at 4:15.  We drove to the airport, but not before back tracking a bit because the shuttle bus driver was right the autostrada was closed and Melba had to take us a different route.  Dad dropped off me, Mom and the luggage and he returned the car to the rental car return lot.  When he met us they checked in their luggage and I held onto mine as my flight was not until 8:00am and check in didn't start until 6:00am.  It was only 4:45 or so.  We walked over to one of the just opening cafes and had a cappuccino and croissant and talked.  After our breakfast it was time for them to go through security so I walked them over and we said goodbye.  I wanted to cry as it was the last time I would see them for the next 9 to 10 months.  But I got big hugs and kisses and they went through security for their flight.

I walked back and found a bench and sat down to read a book and wait to check in.  At 6:00am I checked in for my flight and paid my overweight luggage fee and dropped it off my suitcase then headed through security.  I found a seat near my gate and read until boarding the plane.  The flight was good and I slept through some of it and read through the rest.  By noon I was in Rome!