Fantastic Day in Rome

Well I just got back from a fantastic day in Rome, so I am going to try and write this all down before I forget anything.

The day started off without being able to sleep much last night. This usually happens when all I can think about is having to get up early the next morning. So at 6 am I was wide awake, an hour before I wanted to be. It was nice to be able to be out on deck and watch us pull into port, I don't get to see that too often. We arrived about 15 minutes late.

As soon as I saw that the gangways were out, I grabbed my stuff and headed to the gangway, my friend Seth arrived at the same time to go with me.

We got off without any problems, it was boat drill day so we were both excused. The main reason for the trip was to try and get my computer fixed.

We headed out of the port on the shuttle and my masonic connection was waiting for us outside McDonald's. That is right next to the shuttle drop off point. We headed straight to Rome after a few introductions. The weather in Civi wasn't all that good and it looked like it was going to be a rainy day. It turned out not to be, the bad weather was just on the coast and Rome was bright and sunny.

It only took about an hour to get to Rome, were we went straight to the brand new Masonic Home. This is where my driver works, he is retired Italian Military and lives in Civi. He is also the Secretary for the district of Rome. The brand new part of an office building is where all of the Lodges (or Orients as they call them) meet in Rome. Its about 15-20 of them. They are still under construction, and will have their first meetings at the end of the month. I am going back to see it in October when it is finished. They have 7 Lodge rooms, most are very small, to me they looked like closets. Their large lodge room is about the size of the small lodges in Spokane.

Once I have my computer back I will send him some of my photos and he can see what some American Lodges are like.

So after the Masonic Home visit we headed to the Mall that has the Apple store. He wasn't very familiar with this side of Rome, he said it was like the Bronkes in NY. I guess he meant the slums. The Mall was very nice, and the Apple Store was just like in America, just in Italian and Euros. I checked in, my friend had called ahead and made my appointment. I was first in line, but still had to wait 40 minutes till they saw me. They were activating iPhone 4's all over the place. The place was packed. Did I mention this is one of only two Apple stores in all of Italy (I got lucky).

When they finally looked at my computer, they tried everything that I did to turn in on. Looked up my serial number to check my Apple Care. They told me the Logic board and left I/O board need replaced, it will take about a week, so it should be done on Monday. I love Apple Care, if you ever buy a Mac laptop, spend the extra money on the apple care, it will pay for itself someday (I have already got a new hard drive out of it).

So My friend will pick up my computer hopefully on Monday when it is done, and I will meet him again on Wednesday when the ship comes into Civi again.

After we left the Mall, we headed back toward downtown. We stopped at this little hole in the wall on the Appian Way. Its a set menu with only a few choices, lets say what ever Mama wants to cook that day, that's what your choice is. It was a great meal.

Seth hadn't been to Rome much before, so we drove around the Colosseum and St. Peters and a few other stops. Then he surprised me and drove to the Grand Orient of Italy (aka Grand Lodge for the Country). It just a small house with administrative offices and a huge library, but it was special. I was given a special Calender (I haven't opened it yet).

After this we drove back to Civi and stopped to see the Lodge in town. It is very small but nice.

Well that was my day in short form as we call it. I will update on my computer when I know more

Computer don't like ship power

Well my Mac died the other day. This is the second time it has died, the first time the hard drive needed to be replaced. I think it is the logic board this time. Thanks to a fellow Mason in Italy I have a ride to Rome on Wednesday to go to the closest Apple Store (only 2 in all of Italy). He has been great, and I haven't even meet him face to face yet. He called the Apple store for me and got me a Genius Appointment. They say it will be 14 days to fix it. I have so much to do on it before I leave the ship it will be good to get it fixed. The last thing I wanted to have to do was land in America and go straight to the store to get it fixed. Thank goodness I still have Applecare on it. I think it might be time to get a smaller laptop, so I can have one in my room, and leave my big one at work. Less ware and tare.

Sorry for not posting anything for the past 2 months. Things are very busy around here. The cast is past the halfway point, and we get a new ice cast in 2 weeks.

After many months of waiting for new lamps to arrive, I finally got them a few weeks ago, so my rig is looking very bright and clean. I have gotten many broken lights working. I have one more to try and get working before I leave, but if I don't its not that big a deal.

I have never started to count down to when I am leaving so eary. I started at 10 weeks. I guess it's because I have so many exciting things to do at home. I can't wait to see my niece, she is growing up so much. I will have not seen her in 7 months. She is talking and walking now. I have heard she loves to use the video camera. Future Tech I think.

Anyway I will let you know later in the week how my adventure to the Apple store in Rome goes.