Egads! It’s Thursday. Today is our last day in Bellagio — in Europe, even. We just found the best pizza in town and we still haven’t found the fabled two-dollar beer. We can’t leave yet!
It’s too late now. I fly to Portland tomorrow morning, and Louise flies to Virginia. She has a wedding to attend; I have doctors to see. We will reunite in Portland September 8. Friends of a friend in Portland are honeymoon-bound. They require house-sitters while they’re away; we require a house – a happy coincidence. We will stay in their house until September 18.
After that, we take the Amtrak Coast Starlight to San Francisco. (The only thing I like better than riding on a train is sleeping on a train.) By the 28th of September we’ll be in Puerto Vallarta and settled into our apartment there, where we will stay until April.
April, as in 2014. It hurts my head to think that far out. But it hurts my soul to think about leaving Bellagio. Arrivederci, you charming little town; arrivederci, lovely garden apartment; arrivederci, Italia. Dio la benedica.
The Expat Almanac 
Don’t you want to stay in Europe for ever ?
I’ll be happy to see you back after all your adventures !!
Welcome back
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Already???? We hope you have time to come to our house for dinner while you are in the area. The view from home includes an abundant garden full of produce to share. What great posts and pictures. By the way, it is State Fair time, so we are having rain. 🙂
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Well, Mapi – We miss you and the rest of our friends and family (and they’re all in the US), and we’re not going to miss the cost of living in Europe. The dollar has taken a beating over there! But yes : well miss the people, the sights, and the European culture. Such a lovely place!
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Welcome home soon Tom!!
I will miss your Europe also!
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Tom and Louise,
Isn’t it amazing how travel impacts your sense of time? It seems like it was just last month you were setting off on this adventure … and now you’ve reached the next stage. Thanks so much for bringing us along so far. Can’t wait for your next installments. We’re swapping places with you – heading off to Eastern Europe in a few weeks.
All the best, Terri and James
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So true, Terri & James. It does feel as if it was just yesterday that we left the US. Lots of events, lots of places, lots of people — yet they all go by in an instant.
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Look forward to the next phase of your expedition. Also look forward to seeing Louise here in Leesburg VA in about an hour as she stops here en route from Milan for my daughter’s wedding. So glad she can join us for the festivities and will miss Tom not joining us too !
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Hi Louise and Tom remember the lovely afternoon in Bellagio I am one of the sisters having lunch beside yourselves and the Saudi Arabia couple, we will always remember it. We did not want to leave the village and go back to town.I hope you both have had a wonderful experience and enjoy the next trip. Ann Gallagher
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