New York to Rome -July 13-14

The flight from

New York

to

Rome

was relatively flawless.  Dinner was delicious…lasagna and then perfectly braised salmon.  Now if Alitalia can do it???  Are you listening USAir?  I watched a bad Harrison Ford movie in which his wife and children are being held hostage so that he will rob a bank for the bad guys and of course he outwits them in the end.

Security getting off the plane and entering the terminal was practically non existent.  Lines were short, we didn’t have to fill out any paperwork. No one even asked the purpose of our visit.  Customs? Non existent.  Of course we had checked our bags through, but still, we could have met someone in the domestic terminal and passed on all sorts of goods.   

And like all the European airports, the baggage trolleys are FREE.  Are you listening USAir????   I mean, it is truly insulting that we (Americans) charge arriving passengers for the use of a baggage cart.  It gives a bad first impression and for those of us who travel a lot, is just an annoyance. 

Rome

airport even has these cute little carts that can be used to schlep rolly bags and hand luggage.  It’s so damn civilized. 

So here we are at the

Rome

airport waiting for our connection to

Naples

.  Seated next to me is a very interestingly garbed young lady… maybe 35, she is wearing silver nike running shoes, bluejean capris that are hanging by her hips and the Italian version of jockey briefs that are meant to show under the jeans.  Her jacket is a nice crisp white linen and she is carrying a Louis Vuitton handbag.  In the

US

she would look like a hipster (is there such a word anymore), but here she looks chic.  Which brings me to the subject of how Italian women dress and why they always look chic.

I’m especially fascinated because for the most part, they represent “glamgal.”   The clothing isn’t always expensive.  And the combinations are sometimes odd.  But the ones who pull it off have an attitude that reeks of glam.  They feel good about themselves, or if they don’t…they sure act like they do.   Take a look at some of the women I photographed on this trip and you might see what I mean.   Is it the sunglasses?  The small designer (fake or real) bag?  The hair? Most Italian women have gloriously thick hair. And please excuse all my generalities. 

Time to board the plane.  It’s a one hour trip to

Naples

.