Top Ten | Travel Memories With My Dad In Italy
My dad is my great friend and to the disbelief of my old high school self, I have come to realize we are actually quite alike in personality.
Except at some crucial moments when we are traveling.
Over the last few years I have taught my dad the beauty and art of savoring the moment and throwing schedules to the wind. My dad has reminded me that patience with family and a perfect packing job make for a better vacation. Here is my list of favorite travel moments with him. Some good, some bad and some utterly embarrassing. Hey dad, this is pay back for grilling my boyfriends in the living room before they could date me.
10. My parents met me in Rome after a cruise. This was their first time ever in my favorite city on the planet and I couldn’t wait to make the introductions. One of the first things I taught my dad was how to cross the busy streets; walk out with confidence while maintaining eye contact and never hesitating. At his first lesson, I told him to stay close and do what I did. When we got to the other side of the street he turned to my mom and said, “Our daughter has balls of steel!”
9. I have driven a stick shift most of my life and usually have no problem, but on one particular day I was trying to get up a steep gravel road in our excessively weighted down sardine box of a rental. I stalled half way up and couldn’t get the momentum back. My dad saved the day, maneuvering that sorry car up the hill with gravel flying and smoke trailing behind us. I am sure our hosts were wondering what they had gotten into watching our approach from above.
8. Speaking of that cracker jack box of a rental, I had accidentally reserved an economy sized car instead of a compact. Doesn’t sound too bad, right? Not unless you want to take your luggage with you. I stood in front of the car and fought back tears. There was no way we were going to fit four adults, one child with her car seat and our luggage. Then my dad started putting stuff together like a real-life game of Tetris. The ride wasn’t the most luxurious but we didn’t have to leave anyone behind. I know for a fact I could not have done that without him.
7. My dad has an uncanny sense of direction, maybe it was all the Boy Scout trips of his youth. You can blind fold him, drop him in the middle of nowhere and before you can say Bear Grylls he will have found his way home. Except in Italy. For some reason his internal compass goes awry and I’m not sure if he would be able to find his head if it wasn’t attached. Of course, we didn’t discover this until one fateful night in Rome when my dad was leading the charge toward the Spanish Steps. Instead, we found ourselves repeatedly visiting the Column of Marcus Aurelius. My dad commented that he didn’t realize Rome had so many relief style columns; I commented that I didn’t realize my dad knew how to read a map upside down. Not the best night for the two of us.
6. The issues with directions didn’t end there. Originally, my dad was to be my co-pilot and right hand man in the car. Nothing was farther from the truth and the tension came to a breaking point near Milan as I was demanding to know which exit to take for Lake Como. He was utterly frozen and I was less than kind. My mom decided to chirp in from the back seat (where her sole job was to entertain my daughter) and ‘help’ which only infuriated both of us more. My dad balled up the map and threw it in her face, telling her where she could put it. Mind you, this all happen in front of my four year old and the version found here is toned down for the sake of my readers. The event made a lasting impression on my daughter, and to this day she will ask me to reenact the day Papa threw that map at Nana.
5. For the most part though, travel with my dad has been bonding. One of my favorite things to do with him is go for a morning cappuccino and then spend the rest of the day popping in and out of little cafes for our espresso fixes when my mom isn’t looking.
4. Another great memory is cooking together with my dad after shopping in the morning markets. Sometimes we would make nothing more than cheese and meat platters, other times we would go all out. Once my dad made us steaks cooked over a centuries old hearth in a little villa in Tuscany while I put together a simple Carbonara. Perfection.
3. On that first trip to Rome, I took my dad into the Roman Forum. I can’t explain how touching it was to look over and see him bent down on one knee and weeping over the site of Caesar’s cremation. I knew then he wasn’t the average tourist.
2. His love for Italy and travel in general started on that first trip and then blossomed even further when he returned two years later. Watching him grow to appreciate and love the people and lifestyle of Italy was amazing.
1. I made sure my parents both traveled with their money belts containing everything of value safely tucked beneath the pants and safe from the fingers of pick-pockets. They were instructed on the importance of use and what they should keep stowed inside. What I forgot to mention, because the thought never ever even occurred to me, is that you do not need to remove your pants to access your money belt. Yes, that’s right. I happened to walk into the lobby of our hotel and found my dad in the corner with his pants around his thighs trying to pull a credit card out of his money belt.
Sorry dad, but this one was too good not to share.
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Copyright 2012 Andi Brown, Once in a Lifetime Travel
This was fabulous to read. Sounds like you have many amazing memories with your family and with travel.
I’m glad you enjoyed it! We can’t wait to make more memories.
that’s an awesome top 10!! knowing you both, it’s even better.
Thanks!
What awesome memories. I traveled with my dad to the lake once, does that count? The map story sounds like something I would do!
Anywhere that involves traveling in the close confines of a car counts!!
Hahahaha!! Laughing at number 1 right now!
What a wonderful trip you must have had. Love that you had to ‘sneak’ your espresso fixes 😉
Believe me it was a sight!!
What a fun read! Isn’t it funny how the parent you think you are most unlike can become the one you are actually most like once you reach adulthood? My dad and brother recently toured Thailand together & some of the stories my bro has are similar to yours. Definitely a bonding experience.
I a million years I would have never thought I would grow up to be so much like him, but I’m glad! Thanks!
Oh my god, that is so funny about your dad and his money belt! What a memory! What a visual! You are very lucky to have him though and to travel with your parents through Rome. (-:
And that it was early enough in the trip that his underwear were still clean!
This was great! I especially loved No. 8. Dads are really awesome at saving the day, aren’t they? And men, in particular, seem to be really good at real-life Tetris! And of course, No. 1 was hilarious! Your dad sounds like a hoot!
Oh wow, this is so great. What a blessing to be able to travel Italy with your parents and your daughter,,,except for maybe during #6. Ellen
It really was, and we got to travel together twice! After this post he might not go again though.
Just shot milk out of my noise imagining #1. Thanks. A. LOT.
I’d offer a tissue….
Hahhaahahha your dad sounds hilarious! Maybe not intentionally… (with the whole pants/moneypouch thing…)
Poor guy, he probably wishes he wasn’t so funny. Lucky for him I didn’t write about my top ten memories of him in high school.
Your dad sounds AWESOME. And the last anecdote had me rolling, seriously 🙂
My dad is awesome and you should have been there in person!!
Your dad sounds wonderful, and the story about the money belt is priceless! Italy is one of my favorite places on Earth. You are a lucky girl!
Thank you, I am very lucky!
The map incident, the money pocket incident, “our daughter has balls of steel!” – OMG. So funny. I just loved this peek into your world. Italy is a place I’ve ALWAYS wanted to visit and hope to someday with my family. Sounds like you have a wonderful life and a great relationship with your father…now I must call mine…I miss him!
Get yourself some daddy time!
Love this post and your blog!
Thank you so much!!
What a lucky lady you are!
That is for certain!!