Gaeta Can Be Scary!

Gaeta from Old Town

Most travelers have probably never heard of Gaeta, Italy from our neck of the woods. I never had until Laura arranged an overnight get away for Jim and me a few days before Christmas. We have been spoiled rotten in the travel department by Laura and Robert who have planned out everyday and have worked on all the details. Nothing like living with your tour guide and getting every detail taken care of. It has been seamless and we have not had to worry about a thing.

So off we went to Gaeta last Monday in Robert's car with our trusty GPS, aka Susan, without a care in the world. We drove for about an hour and half and then arrived in Gaeta. A beautiful, sleepy, little, beach town on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The problem was that as we approached our accommodations we seemed to be really quite far out of town...like four miles out in the boonies. But Laura is a real professional at setting things up so we just proceeded a long until we came to this sign that said San Travino Villa (or something like that.)

We turned into the short driveway and nearly rammed into a metal, locked, 8 foot gate in front of the car. We both looked at each other and shrugged when the gate started to slowly open and this rather scary man started saying something to us in Italian. That was the first moment we realized we needed some help.

Jim was pantomiming sleep, snoring etc. and the guy just kept talking in Italian, grinning and shaking his head, nodding and giving very mixed messages. The guy who, by the way was toothless, really dirty and wearing some really funny shoes with no socks beckoned us in and we drove down this little steep hill and parked on the side of the property. The guy closed and locked the gate behind us. Hint number 2 something was amiss.

Jim disappeared into the large building which he later told me was a restaurant that was obviously not functioning. Jim did not come back for some time. The thought crossed my mind...no one will ever find us here, not in a million years.

Inside, Jim handed the guy our reservation info and a phone number. The man called the number and got into a big argument and hung up on the other party. Soon Jim convinced the guy we would leave and check things out further and be back...NOT! Fortunately he complied and let us out of the gate! Whew!

We drove on down into the town and found a parking place and tried to figure out what to do. We did have the presence of mind to bring a cell phone but we could not get Laura as they were shopping and the cell phone was...hers! Jim was frustrated but I started to truly get scared.

I cannot tell you how freaky it was to not be able to communicate with a soul, to not even know how to say hotel in Italian, to need a restroom and not have a clue how to find one, etc, etc. We went into a little gelateria, coffee, bar, deli type place (trattoria )and bought a gelato and sat down to get ourselves better situated and make a plan. We stuck out like sore thumbs and I felt so conspicuous as the entire place was full of locals all looking at us!

In the church we often refer to the scripture, " If ye are prepared ye shall not fear." This first hand experience taught us that the opposite is also true.

Finally we did get Laura on the phone and we found out that the real place was not far from where we were. Inadvertently, the wrong place was written down...it was one she checked on but that was closed for the winter. The funny toothless man must have just been a caretaker or something during the off season. The whole experience was pretty disconcerting but this is one thing I learned in addition to being prepared. Anyone that lives in a foreign country and doesn't learn the language makes me nervous. Why would someone put themselves at such a disadvantage and not do anything about it? It defies all logic!

So we landed up having a marvelous time in Gaeta. Our hotel was lovely and had a perfect view of the Gaeta Bay right across the street. The people at the hotel desk spoke English and it was just fabulous! Our room was upgraded to a suite which was very nice and we enjoy a nice nap, then went downstairs for a really good meal about 8:30 pm. We slept in a little and then met some people from Virginia at the breakfast buffet. That was fun. It rained non-stop from the minute we arrived until we left but we didn't mind. It was still beautiful, peaceful and a nice retreat.

We are going to send Laura and Robert there for an overnighter while we are here so we can watch the kids for them, as a special thank you for all they have been doing to make this a nice time together. Here are a few photos. Sorry no photos of the toothless man!

An alley where we found a complete community, shops, church, pharmacy, law offices, a kitchen remodeling place, a soap shop, groceries, tobacco shop, etc. It was so neat. The residents live above their shops.

Jim loved the alley community

View from one of the cliffs!

Gaeta Harbor


Park in one of the piazzas

One great shop in the town and I
managed to find it!

Moby Dick's...Whaaa....?

All too soon it was time to go home!

Staying In The Moment

Our Sweet Kids

Back at Laura and Robert's home, it became apparent that our trip was coming to an end. How do we thank our kids for making this time so special and memorable for all of us? Laura and Robert planned everything so well. (I think this was one of those defining moments where the parents and kids traded places!) They took such wonderful care of us and all the details. The time seemed to fly by with so many wonderful places to go and see and what seemed like unlimited time to visit and just be together. You know how that goes! It suddenly hits you like a ton of bricks.....the wonderful carriage you have been riding in is about to turn back into a pumpkin.

I find it fascinating how time gets so distorted when you are traveling. Half the time I had no idea what day it even was. It didn't really matter as we had the luxury of devoting 100% of our time to just focusing on the moment. On the one hand, it seemed like forever ago that we got stranded in Munich overnight by missing our connecting flight and at the same time I wonder how the time went so quickly.

The last week of our month long vacation saw moments where the concerns of everyday life at home started to creep into our thought patterns once again. Work, the bathroom remodel, commitments, the projects and other things that people were relying on us to do, etc. etc. were dancing in our heads once again. The perpetual 'to do' at home started to rear its ugly head and that can be distracting when you are trying to enjoy and savor every last minute of where you are.

Ross 7 1/2 and Spencer 10 1/2

On Monday and Tuesday of our last week we were able to send Laura and Robert off to their over night get away in Gaeta. This gave us a perfect opportunity to be with our little grandsons and to savor moments with them. There was just something so magical about being with these two sweet boys. Grandparenting just simply must be experienced to be understood. Who knew we had this kind of love within us until we had felt it? It was so neat to have this one on one time with them while Mom and Dad enjoyed some time alone.

Spencer and Ross are polar opposites in many ways and yet identical in how much they are loved. They are smart, funny, full of life and such good boys. Honestly, they gave us no problems the entire month. I think we were stuffing down the melancholy at the prospects of not seeing them for another undetermined amount of time, most of our last few days there. When Robert and Laura returned we had only 2 days left.

Even though we had a lot of busy work to do in getting packed up, preparing a box to mail home, etc. we managed to thoroughly enjoy both of those days. But in the back of my mind the saying good bye was taking up more and more space. I fought it but could not deny it. It was very hard to stay right in the present and not think about being part again. Because in spite of all the time and fun we had...I think families are meant to be together and when we are not....something always seems just a little off. I have come to know that for me personally, I will never get use to it. But like so many things in this life you just push through it, do the best you can and find creative ways to make it as good as you can under the circumstances.

One nice thing about living apart is that it never becomes routine when we do have time together. Each moment is cherished and that is one reason why I have spent so many hours writing about what we have done. I think I have captured the highlights that will remind us of all of it. I want to have a blog book made of this time in Italy for us, for them and for Jim's mom. How often do four generations have vacation time together anyway?

We have been home six days now and I am eager to get back to blogging in the 'actual moment' but I have just a few more posts to do about Italy. We took so many photos and it has been a chore to go through and edit them but it has been worth it. Digital cameras have got to be one of the best invention of the century! And blogging, what a wonderful way to preserve memories in a timely way. I cannot think of a better way to stay in the moment while savoring it and saving it forever.

Gaeta One Last Time and Forever

Can you believe this beach?

While Robert and Laura were in Gaeta they discovered this wonderful place that they knew Jim would love. So Wednesday morning the 6th of January, Robert, Jim and Spencer made the last of four trips over to Gaeta with someone from our family in tow. Rossie had school and the "girls" did one last shopping trip.

If you have been to Europe, you may have noticed that every town needs its little hook. Something unique that is its claim to fame. Often times it has something to do with Christ or his followers and is steeped into the traditions of that little town. Gaeta is no exception.


Can you imagine being home schooled by your parents so you can learn of the history and culture of other countries right there on the spot? What an amazing experience for a fifth grader! Spencer is so blessed! He is about to learn about something very special and unique to Gaeta.

They are about to visit the
Sanctuario Montagna Spaccata

AKA The Sanctuary of Split Mountain

The legend has it that the moment that Christ died on the cross the mountain split in three places. They refer you to Matthew 27:51 for this event. One of the crevices is too small and dangerous for you to walk into but the other two allow you to walk down near the sea. As you enter into the building you see some beautiful mosaics representing the Stations of the Cross. Jim took a photo of this one.

You can then proceed to the stairways
leading down into the crevices.

On the right as you descend the stairs you will see a large hand print with a sign underneath. According to the legend, a Turk, who did not believe that the rock had split at the death of Jesus, touched the rock and said, "If this is true, then let this rock become liquid." As he spoke, the rock liquefied and gave way to the imprint of his hand.

Here is Spencer putting his hand in the hand print
as visitors do as they pass by.

Looking straight down to the water
from the end of the stairway.
See Spencer's shoe?
What a field trip, huh?


Wow!

My knees are thankful that we went elsewhere for the day but I am thrilled to have these photos as I know how much fun this was for Jim, Robert and Spencer. While in Gaeta Jim did something really sweet. I was sorry to not have been there for this.

Have you heard of the ♥ Love Locks ♥ of Italy??

People that are in love buy these locks all over Italy
and they come with two keys.

In their travels they find a special place and
Lock them to something near the water,
symbolizing that their love is forever and
they throw the keys into the sea.

Isn't that sweet?

We had planned to do this in Cinque Terra but the time and weather did not permit. I am actually glad as Gaeta was where we went on our romantic get away so it is a special place for the two of us.

Jim throwing away the keys!
I guess he's gonna keep me!

There are places near the shores where we have seen hundreds of them locked in the same place. The above photo is Cinque Terra. Since I wasn't in Gaeta with Jim this time, he took a picture of our lone little lock for me. I think we need to start this tradition in San Francisco and Sausalito.

Or any romantic place that people in love
spend some time together for that matter.
Are you game?