The good news from today is that I finally took the time to research our plane – it’s supposed to be an Airbus A330, which has individual audio/video monitors at every seat.

Do you KNOW how much tension that instantly relieves? I haven’t been too concerned about the trip over, because it’s overnight, and both Joseph and the baby are good sleepers, even sitting up in cars. Katie falls asleep the instant she sits on a plane. It was the trip back – beginning at 11:15 Rome time (supposedly) and ending around 7pm Eastern…I’ve just been thinking, whatarewegoingtodowith them, whatarewegoingtodowiththem….well, the baby will still be an issue, but Joseph has my full permission to be mesmerized in front of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, repeatedly. (They supposedly have a few television channels as well, including Nick, etc.)

Phew.

Planning continues apace, although loosely. We have a few things scheduled, and I have a list in my head of things I don’t want to leave Rome without seeing, but given the fact that there is so much, not all of it could ever be seen, ever, and given that the weather is so off-and-on – between weather.com, reports from Zadok and the webcam from St. Peter’s Square live on my computer during (their) daylight hours, I’m seeing and hearing of off-and-on light rain,  we will definitely have to be flexible.

And what about that all-important element of the Italian journey…FOOD? One could go mad sorting through restaurant recommendations. I have a few from you all, a list from a bishop who spent many years in Rome, although I’m sure most of his recommendations are above our pay grade and maybe not so suited for the toddler set, and I’ve bookmarked a few discussion threads for printing out: here, here, here, here and here. I’m thinking we’ll be eating lunches out, and most evening "meals" such as they will be, in the apartment (which is near St. Peter’s – two blocks, I’m told, from Ratzinger’s old digs.). There is no way we can do the late leisurely Roman dinner with our crew – well, at least 2/5 of our crew.

But again, food is something I’ve decided not to overplan, to waste any time searching for a particular restaurant I saw mentioned. Every day that we’re there, we’re going to be spending some time with someone we know  – either touring, or meeting – and I’m thinking that asking for their recommendations will be the best way to find a good cheap place, especially since, to my knowledge, none of the people we’ll be seeing are secretly rich.