Farewell America (Monday)

So another day, another plane flight, another continent!

The last 24 hours have been relatively quiet. Nic and I watched a movie last night (after our dirty martini adventure) and then went to bed. Today we visited a local farm for my favourite American chocolate and peanut butter icecream, before heading in to Hoboken, where we had delicious vegetable crepes by the water, looking across to Manhattan. Robert fell in love with the crepes, and managed to devour an entire cheese crepe all by himself – pretty impressive given his size!

Then it was off to Newark airport, and goodbye to Nic – until next time anyway. One of the great things about going to Puerto Rico annually is that it gives me the opportunity to see Nic, and be at least somewhat of a presence to my nephew (note to self, MUST SKYPE MORE OFTEN!) I joked with Nic today that as I’m always training, maybe I’ll have to take my laptop to training and chat on Skype in between songs… !!

Then I met up with my posse (Carlos, Elli, Colin & Juan) at the airport gate, and found them filling time by teaching Col “essential” phrases in Spanish. They seemed to resolve around key priorities such as “Tu casa o mi casa?” (your place or my place?) and other phrases to help him pick up women. This concerns me somewhat as Col and I will be rooming together in Malaga, Spain. Carlos’ response to my concerns?: “Get a video camera Kinsella!”

Anyway, in Italy I’ll be rooming with Carlos and Elli – which means no doubt I’ll be “Team Torres” all the way, and we’ll send Carlos mad by ganging up on him the whole time. But I’m sure he’ll survive.

Meanwhile.. in a few hours I’ll be in Europe. So excited. I spoke to Dad on Skype this morning and he was super enthusiastic about my first visit to Rome, “Just stand on the street” he said “and feel the steps that Julius Caesar walked on.”
I then reminded him about the time he gave me the “Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Volumes 1-8” to read. I was 8 years old at the time. I think I managed one and half volumes (of one of the driest historical books in existence) before forsaking them for the ‘First Man in Rome’ series.

Nevertheless, I totally intend to channel some Julius Caesar.