Day 14

Friday was a nice relaxing day, where most discussion seemed to be about the logistics of getting home. With the recent terrorist plot, we still weren’t sure how tight security was going to be at the airport, and whether or not we would be able to take on hand luggage. We had planned for a worst-case scenario by buying extra bags to check in as standard baggage, but we were still getting mixed messages from the airport and Alitalia. We also weren’t sure how much time would be needed for checking in, as we were half expecting delays and longer security checks.

As we had to leave the villa at midday on the Saturday and our flight wasn’t due to leave until 9.15 that evening, there were also a number of suggestions as to how to fill or kill the time. In the end the consensus was that people preferred to get going and get to Fiumicino in good time, then maybe find somewhere for lunch once the journey was effectively behind us.

These things decided, we were left with another strenuous day of nothing much. Most of us wanted to take advantage of the pool for one final time, and so we ended up with eight or nine of us in the water playing catch and an aquatic version of keepy-uppy. This provided hysterical laughter at many times. The pool, it seems, is an excellent forum for physical comedy and general high-jinx. It was the single longest time I’d spent in the pool, and having cut my toes on the rough bottom of the pool earlier and having neglected to put on sunblock this time I decided to leave before the game ended, before I toasted or drew further blood.

Sitting back on the terrace reading, it was lovely hearing the shouts and giggles from across the way.