A traveler's prayer

Traveling abroad so close to today's somber 9/11 commemorations prompted me to look for a prayer for protection that I can say now and throughout the trip. I liked this one:

God, you have given us feet to move, and a mind to imagine new things and places and people. You have made us to travel and explore your wonderful world. Thank you for this gift. Still, this world over which we move is wrought with dangers and threats. When we travel, we are vulnerable. Please protect our steps. Protect us on the road, and in the air. Send an angel of protection to accompany us. Shield us from evil and the Evil One who would use this opportunity to bring destruction. Bring us safely there and back home again. And while we’re gone, protect those we leave behind. Keep the peace and secure the boundaries of our home. Assign an angel of protection to stand guard over our property and our loved ones, our children, and our friends and family. Keep us healthy and guard us from sickness, injury, accident and violence. Give wisdom to those flying the airplane and driving the vehicles, and keep the machinery working properly. Moderate the weather on our travels. And even now, begin to prepare us and the places we will visit, so that we can meet you there. In fact, Lord, come with us. Join us on this journey and be our companion and guide and protector and provider. In Jesus' name we pray.

-- Posted by Mark Herringshaw on Beliefnet.

Saint Christopher, watch over us.
Deliver us safely to our destination
and home again.

The prepared traveler

It's ridiculous how much money and effort I have put into getting ready for this trip. I have purchased all of the following:

• A new Canon camera with GPS.
• An ASUS netbook for writing up my trip journal, downloading photos, and providing pre-bedtime entertainment (since I don't expect I will understand Italian TV).
• A Nook with lots of books downloaded. I love to read on vacation, especially on long flights. I also have several audio books downloaded to the iPhone.
• An XCom Global portable Wifi device (rented for the duration of the tour).
• A $2.99 monthly subscription on Skype for unlimited calling to US phones.
• A tote bag to replace the usual carry-on, as the magical mystery tour bus won't accommodate more than one piece of large luggage.
• A new handbag and wallet.
• Various articles of clothing. Amazing how clothes that will do fine for at home are clearly not good enough for travel. Plus, it is challenging to pack enough pieces for 11 days without over-stuffing the suitcase, so a mix-n-match strategy was essential.
• New shoes (see above). Just could not take the 10-year-old sneakers with the peeling-off soles to the fashion capital of the world.   
• Other minor stuff, but this list is daunting enough.

Financial arrangements also received some extra attention. After I discovered that my bank charges fees for purchases and ATM withdrawals overseas, I opened a checking account with Capital One. There will be a small fee for cash withdrawals, but none for purchases.

Still trying to get enough Euros from the local American Express Travel center. They were out of supplies when I visited them on Friday. Should be able to complete the transaction Monday or Tuesday.

The back story

I have always wanted to visit Italy. Although I grew up living and traveling abroad, Italy is one destination that somehow never made the itinerary (except for one transfer at the Rome airport while flying between Cape Town and New York, somewhere in the mists of the 1970s).

By February of 2011 I was finally able to save enough money for what I consider a long trip to Italy – 11 days of traveling and touring. I chose Insight Vacations for my travel provider as I had heard good things about them. The tour is called “Best of Italy,” and I selected it because it includes all the places on my Italy Bucket List: Rome, Assisi, Florence, Sorrento, Venice, Capri, Pisa and Pompeii. You can view a map of our route at the top right of this blog.

My former cruising buddy was excited too, and agreed to join me, so we booked together. After months of happy anticipation, only a couple of weeks before our departure, she and I both received some sad news about family members’ health. For my companion, it spelled the end of her participation. This loss gave me a hollow feeling and dampened my enthusiasm. In any case, my portion of the trip was in serious limbo too, while I waited and watched to see if my father, who was very ill, would recover in time for me to travel with a clear conscience.

As of today, my trip is still on. I depart in less than a week (Wednesday, September 14), leaving my adult son in charge of my home and pets and as emergency backup for my parents. Prayers to Saint Francis that all goes smoothly.

Most High, Glorious God,
enlighten the darkness of our minds.
Give us a right faith, a firm hope and a perfect charity,
so that we may always and in all things act according to Your Holy Will. Amen.
 
-- St. Francis’ prayer for vocations, but quite applicable to me.