After spending a few days stuck in London with my mom, seeing no hope in the future for the volcano to stop, we decided to make the journey down to Rome where the airports were still open and where we could see Sarah, Clint, Zack, and Abe. We had no idea how we would get there, or where we would sleep on our journey, or anything. We decided to wake up at 4 a.m. and hurry over to the chunnel with all of our bags packed to see if we could get a ticket. It was crowded and very unlikely that it would happen, but we happened to be standing in the right place at the right time, talking to a guy who knew a guy who could help us, and just happened to get a walk on tickets to Lille, France. Whenever we asked for advice, they would say "where are you going?" and we'd say, "Rome" and they'd shake their heads and say "good LUCK". So we had a ticket to Lille, and that's as far as we could get for the moment.
On the chunnel, we sat in the noisy connecting cabin on uncomfortable folding chairs. When the attendant walked through, we asked her for her advice in what we should do. She strongly suggested that we should stay on until Paris because he's believed that there would not be an easy way out of France. We were a little skeptical of this advice because the ticket man at the chunnel said Paris would be a mad house, and quite impossible to get out of. Unsure of what to do, we decided to go to Paris, the kind girl went and looked up two train schedules that we could take to get to Paris from Lille. We tried getting the tickets to the train we needed but the machine wouldn't take our credit cards, and by the time we waited in line we discovered that it was too late, and it was full anyways. We got tickets to a later train, causing us to miss all possible connections to rome that the girl had given us, and we waited in the dirty mcdonalds until we could to go Paris.
When we got to Paris- with our four heavy suitcases (two for me, one for mom, one she brought for the whiting fam), we were a little nervous about our decision to go there. It was chaotic and noisy, filled with people in endless lines, everyone needed to get somewhere, and everyone was acting desperate. It seemed unorganized and we were both scared and without a plan. We did he only thing we could do, and waited in line along with all the others, because we were desperate just like them. When we fiiiinalllly got ot the front, the woman helping us (who acted more like a bored teenage girl) told us there was no way to get to Rome. We stared at her and told her we needed to get to Rome, and she sighed and chewed her gum as she stared at her computer screen forever (she was probably playing solitaire). She told us again that there was no way, and she said that the best she could do was get us to a different train station where maybe they could help us there. I looked at my mom and she looked SO stressed as she handed over her credit card to pay for two expensive tickets to a city called Chambre, with one connection in the middle. I was also very worried because I could remember how scary it was getting around in France, their system is not as clear or organized as london's and they don't speak English. We headed to our station, which was very difficult to find, and we had a few hours to kill. My mom bought us a delicious baguette sandwich and we sat and waited. Both wondering where we would sleep that night, and if chambre was a safe place. On he train ride there, we talked to the people around us, most of them were just trying to get home just like us, and one girl in front of us was going one stop further to Modane. We decided that one step closer to Italy couldn't hurt, and we kind of randomly decided to go there also. We needed to get a ticket, so in Chambre, we went to the ticket office- it was closed. So we tried the ticket machine- it wouldn't take our cards. So my mom left the mountains (or so it seemed) of luggage with me while she ran around trying to get change from a large bill so we could get on the train. No shops or people were able to help us, until one man with dark curly hair and an unshaven face asked her what she needed. She said she needed tickets to Modane, and that the train was leaving in ten minutes so we needed to hurry. He looked at her and said, in an Italian accent sounding quite relaxed, "What are you doing, Just get on the train!" It was Iike revelation, what are they going to do, kick us off after it has already started? So we hauled the billions of luggages up the stairs, down the stairs, down the hall, back up some other stairs to our train, and barely made it on. While we were waiting outside we were talking to some others around us and mentioned that we were trying to get to Rome. They kind of snickered and said good luck, but a few minutes later, that same Italian man who had previously helped us came over to us and said that he overheard. He asked why we needed to get there and we told him our story. He walked away as he pulled put his phone and dialed, and my mom and i looked at each other and shrugged. We were just ready to be out of psycho Paris.
We were starving, and we got on the train, and I ate the coconut granola that I bought for Sarah and Clint at Borough market.
(sorry guys). The ticket man came by and we bought one on the train. Not even a big deal- note to self. We had a short ride and we were just going to try to find ad hotel in modane. Half way there, that same man came back from his first class cabin and said "I have a ride for you to Italy, and a place for you to stay the night. Tell me if you are interested", and he went back up front before we could even say anything. I think he just didn't want to come off as a creep. I told my mom that I thought it was a little sketchy, but she said, "Sarah, i feel really good about it, and we have no other options". So, we found him and he introduced himself as Eric, and explained that he too was stuck in France because of the volcano and his dad was going to pick him up in Modane and drive him to his home in Turino. He had already called his parents and asked if we could stay there, and they would help us get a train in the morning. It was like a wave of relief washed over us, I could see my exhausted mom lighten up, and we thanked him a million times. He introduced us to his friend from California who was traveling with him for business. they were both very nice, and it was nice talking to an American for some reason. We showed him how much luggage we had, and asked if he was sure it was ok and that we would all fit in the car. He said that his dads car was small, but we would make it work. We felt horrible when his dad pulled up in a tiny little car, but Eric and his dad happily crammed everything in (I still don't know how) and took us straight across the border to Italy. Just like that.
My mom and i could not believe the huge blessing that just whacked us in the face. We weren't just lucky, this was serious blessing material. Nobody could get to Rome from France, we were told that a million times. And it felt like heaven doing just that in a comfortable car with our new friends.
It near midnight when we arrived to the Gandino home. as we drove up to a beautiful small red brick cathedral, Eric told us that his great uncle built it, and we then found that it was basially in their backyard (you can see it in the picture). We drove through a gate, up to a gorgeous italian home.
We were greeted by Erics parents, Dimitri and Mariella, who didn't speak any English. They helped us carry all our stuff inside and showed us where we would sleep, which was a nice room with a big bathroom and everything we could need. We went back downstairs and sat down on the white leather furniture and talked for a minute. It had been the longest day ever for us, and we stated that we were ready for bed. Eric exclaimed, "not before dinner!" we were confused, until we remembered that we were in Italy, and that it is appropriate to eat dinner at all times. They took us to the dining room, where they had prepared a beautifu, delicious beef pasta, with bread, salad, and home made wine, which of course we shocked them by drinking water instead. On this stressful day though, for the first time in my life I thought i maybe understood why people drink alchohol. Haha. We conversed about their culture and they told us how horrible our italian food in america is. It was so fun and relaxing. They brought out orange gelato, and Eric (a little woozy from his wine) looked up trains for us. 
There were multiple options and all of them direct to Rome. I couldn't believe it, especially after being told over and over that it was impossible. Eric had to work in the morning, but his parents (through his translating) invited us to a festival in turino where they would display a relic from the virgin Mary. We really wished we could stay for the cultural experience, but we wanted to beat the volcano to Rome.
We thanked them over and over, and went to bed, after mom contacted Mark, who contacted Sarah, who woud meet us at the station. My prayers were very sincere and thankful that night, and I meant every word, even though I think I fell asleep standing up, I was so tired.
In the morning the alarm was an unwelcome sound. I could have stayed there forever with these nice people. We went downstairs, and Dimitri had already loaded all our things into his car, despite his bad back. Not a sweeter man walks on this planet. They drove us to the station and tried to talk a bit with broken english. I wish there was more I could say to them to thank them. We got there, and it was clean and uncrowded, getting tickets was easy, and we headed straight to Rome.
Ahhh, finally we could relax because we knew where our train was stopping. It was a shame passing all the wonderful places in Italy that I wanted to visit, like Florence, but we had to go on.Sarah and the adorable boys were waiting for us, just as planned.
Seeing family made us want to cry, and we were so thankful for all the events that fell into place for us to be able to get there safely. Mark had booked our flight for the next day, so we had little time in Rome. We went to their cute little home, and slept there. 
The gelato shop down the street had far more than 31 flavors, and was sooooooo delicious.
The next day, they showed us the city. My favorite was the pantheon, it was just as incredible as my classical civilizations teacher told me. Truly an architectural feat. 
We visited Vatican city, climbed st. Peters dome (zachary took it like a champ), and I had a blast looking at all the art and mosaics in the cathedral. Really beautiful art.
We ate real Italian pizza on the roadside and went to that one famous fountain with all the statues. I really feel dumb I can't remember the name.
We then made our way to TRAJANS COLUMN, in real life :), casually walked past some Roman ruins, and headed to the colosseum, which is just as magnificent as i've always imagined. I can finally check it off of my to do list in my journal from elementary school! Yay!
We ate at a real Italian restaurant and finished our day at Sarah and Clint's, sleeping as soundly as ever. Italy in a day was really cool, I wish so badly that I could've stayed much longer.
Our flight home went smoothly, except for a short scare that I wouldn't get on the plane. We had a couple hours for a layover in Georgia, and my mom left me for a minute or two. I thought she left because I was kind of grumpy and she was sick of being with me, but she came back with a surprise! She had made appointments for us to get massages at the airport spa. I quickly welcomed THAT idea, and we went to the waiting room, and were surprised when two black men came out and called our names. I'm not sure if black men just give really good massages, or if we just really needed it- but we both agreed that it was fantastic.
We then flew straight to our beautiful home surrounded by the majestic snowcapped mountains. There were flowers in the garden and blossoms on the trees. Utah has never seemed so spacious! It was nice to take my first breath of fresh air in a long time:)
My Europeran adventure ended with a bang, just like it started, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I learned many valuable lessons on this four month adventure, but one of the most important was when we asked Eric how we could repay him and he said that we just need to be kind and help others who are in need, and possibly someday do for someone else what he did for us. I'll never forget him or that lesson. I will forever be thankful for him and his sweet parents, and for my teachers in London who taught me so much. I made lifelong friends and memories, and I am better and smarter in many ways. I love LONDON!
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