Many people have contacted me to see if the earthquakes in Italy will have an effect on my trip.  At the moment, there are no changes planned.  The epicenter of the quake was in Norcia, which is 43 km from Spoleto, which will be my headquarters for a week after landing in Rome.  I checked last night, and there was no significant damage in that area, and I plan on keeping the original schedule.

I had planned a day trip from Spoleto to Noricia, but that will not be on the schedule now.  The route is the blue line heading due east out of Spoleto.  The "blue circle route" on the map which passes through Assisi, Perugia, Orvieto, and Orte encompasses many of the scenic hill towns I will be visiting, although I prefer the back country roads with my little stick-shift car.

All the admin stuff is complete: Renewed passport, airline tickets, rental car, accommodations downpayment, TSA Known Traveler number, Untour guide books, trip insurance, etc.  Now the fun part.  I'm amassing tour books and planning a detailed list of all the photography targets for my "Can't Miss" list.

Everything I read, makes me happy with the choices I made in picking Spoleto in Umbria and Amalfi on the coast.  I do have a partial day and night in Rome on the way out of Italy, but I've learned not to try too many things or one runs the risk of glossing over some wonderful experiences.  I think these areas will rival our previous vacation trips to Tuscany and Cinque Terra.

I have started learning a few Italian words (I never learned many when we lived in Belgium), and interactive, on-line, self-teaching sites are wonderful.  The book, "A quick Guide To Customs and Etiquette" by Charles Abbot is a real help in refreshing my knowledge in that area.  I'll always remember my first business lunch in Italy with my manager for Italy.  When the "finger bowls" arrived and I dutifully washed my fingers, my dining companion explained that "In Italy, we use that water for washing the fruit."  Wooops!