Getting Ready to Get Ready

We’re about two weeks from departure for our fall ‘22 trip and last minute Amazon orders are the order of the day.  Batteries, charging cables, international electric power converters and other must have items are being amassed.  This “other stuff” complicates packing plans but makes travel more enjoyable and in some cases possible.  

We are keeping up with blogs of travelers in our planned destinations to stay abreast of the clothing needs, fall and spring are our travel preferences but the weather is more “exciting”.  The crowds tend to be smaller and more mature as schools are mostly in session.  

We have learned from our blog reading and communications from traveling friends, that pickpockets and even teams of pickpockets are more active than in our last travels.  Violent crimes in Europe against tourist are not common, other than a terrorist attack every now and again, but pickpockets and flim-flam artist  can be an issue.  The difficult world-wide economy stresses may be causing more encounters of the later type.  The point of this dialog isn’t meant to discourage traveling abroad but to encourage travelers to prepare for the chance encounter.  

While traveling with Robert St.John last fall we were able to experience a “snatch and sprint” event first hand.  We were having breakfast in a very nice hotel and preparing for a day of touring in the Spanish countryside, when an opportunity thief lifted Robert’s backpack from his extended rolling bag handle (with Robert right beside) and ran off.  Gone, a well traveled backpack, various personal items and one laptop filled with schedules, tour admittances, personal bank account numbers and other information which could have a lasting negative impact in the wrong hands.  

Disaster averted, Apple allows virtual hard disk wiping from your iPhone or iPad and, if information and data is stored on the web, it can all be easily recovered. Note filed in short term memory, long term no longer reliable, secure backpack on suitcase if you’re in a public transportation crowd or a nice hotel.  Air Tags are in all of our suit cases, back packs and on our selves.  An Air Tag left in our rental cars means we never forget where they are parked and hopefully assist the Polizia in locating one stolen.  We also use S-Clips on backpack zippers to make it more difficult for a thief to unzip while on a crowded train or boarding landing.  I’ve attached a couple of pics to illustrate.  Stay tuned to learn how we pack for our extended trips and avoid the bag checking requirements on the small airlines we seem to find ourselves traveling. Jim

NATO WHISPERer

I mentioned earlier that we were planning a visit to the airfield my father,Vic, flew from in WWII.  It’s a visit I’ve wanted to make for a while. We ran into an issue as we searched for a way to get on the airstrip. (Only one building has survived the passing years on the base but I wanted to able to stand on the strip.) 

I understand but cannot verify that NATO jets used the airstrip during the Bosnian conflict in the ‘90s. Probably F-16s, again, not confirmed. However, NATO fenced the strip after the conflict and has restricted access. 

I knew the San Pancrazio city historian had authored  a book on the US, 15th Army Air Force operations there. I contacted Pancrazio (same name as the town) Stridi to inquire about getting on the base. He immediately responded and invited us to join him and an interpreter for a visit.  He can read and write English, but not speak English. NATO allows him access as a town official. 

It will be a special time for us to visit the place where Ry’s and my father flew his last mission before being imprisoned by Hitler for fifteen months. Over time, I’ll share some of the research we’ve completed on Vic’s battle missions flown and his long months and hardships as a prisoner of war. Jim

James V. (Vic) Hemphill, Jr. 

Covid Revenge, Continuation Trip

September 23, 2022

Our travels in the spring (2022) were interrupted when I tested positive for Covid somewhere between Cologne and Regensburg. We had been traveling for a while when the positive test put an end to our river cruise.  Spain with Robert St. John, independent travel in France and the Viking boat, Idun on the rivers. Idun is the Goddess of Spring… it snowed on us, what’s Idun thinking?  Still a great trip and I recommend it. I don’t recommend, however, quarantining in Frankfurt. 

If you are not familiar with Robert, he is a restauranteur and developer who also guides small group tours in Europe. His European associates Jesse and Marina provide local flavor and knowledgeable information about the locations we visit. 

Next month we will depart for Regensburg, board a Viking longboat and compleat the Spring Covid interrupted cruise.  

Regensburg is important to learning more about my father’s WWII experience.  Pam and I are visiting all of cities he bombed, Regensburg, I believe, is the last city we have not made.

At the end of the river trip, we will begin independent travel in Budapest.  Pam has located an apartment for us (Air B&B) as she has in most spots we will visit.  She works diligently before all our trips to locate sights to experience and great apartments in old city areas of our destinations.  I will try to give some suggestions for accommodations and interesting places to visit, if they merit the mention.

Our plans include a flight from Budapest to Bari, Italy on Wizz Air, (no kidding) and if successful, we’ll take the train to Monopoli on the Adriatic coast and to our apartment with a much needed washing machine (no dryer).  We try not to check baggage and will be running low at that point in the trip. 

Monopoli will be our home base in the Puglia Region.  We want to see Ostuni, Alberobello and several other spots. 

The main reason we are going to Puglia is to visit San Pancrazio air field; the air field my father, Vic, and hundreds of other WWII airmen flew from.  Twenty percent of the airmen who flew from San Pan died or were captured in our fight against the Nazi regime to ensure the freedom we so dearly cherish. 

Leaving Puglia, we will fly to  Palermo on Ryan Air and visit as many sights on the island as possible before heading up to Florence (Vueling Air) for a couple of slow days before joining the Robert tour in Rome. Talk later, Jim