2 weeks in Italy and my orchids seem OK...

[ChasWG]

So two weeks ago this past Thursday I gat a call at about 10:20 in the morning from a friend of mine. He had two questions for me: "Do you have a current passport?"
My answer: "Yes!"
Second question: "Do you want to go to Italy, Today?"
"Yes!!!"
Then it was my turn to ask questions: "Doing what?"
Answer: "Covering the Giro d'Italia for Universal Sports. They just signed the contract to be the US rights holders to broadcast the race here in the States. And Lance Armstrong is riding in the race!"
"Cool!!!!!!"

The Giro is the Italian equivalent to the Tour de France. Some say it is actually a harder race over all. The mountain stages are outragous.

So I had about 6 hours to pack everything I needed for what was said to be a 7 day trip. It turned into more than 14 days. The stuff I need for this trip was a lot. Meds, clothes and all my sound recording equipment I'll need to work over there. So most of my 6 hours of prep time went into getting clothes and gear picked out and prepped. Then I had to call cell phone services, credit card companies and daycare providers. Everything a was a last minutes deal.

Then I remembered my orchids... They're going to need some attention while I'm gone. I had two choices for this task. My son or my daughter with backup from my wife. My daughter has taken to plants as of late. She has a nice collection of cactus and succulants and she's doing a great job with them. So she was tasked with keeping them alive for me.

Well a couple of them didn't get as much water as they needed. The Dend. aggregatum seems a bit shriveled in the pbulbs but otherwise fine. My Neosytlis did fine, she watered that at least once a day like I said. The Brassavola cordata and Little stars did great. The cordata is mounted and she misted that at least twice a day. My Onc. carnival costum seemed to be fine and I have new buds opening to welcome me home. My Dend. Norma Jackson is still losing some leaves, but that was happening before I left. It probably didn't get the watering it needed. And my noid plals are doing about the same. The only one that isn't doing as well as I had hoped is my Phal. stuartianna. The leaves are a bit wrinkled, much like when I first got it. So I'm sure with some TLC it'll come right back.

I loved every minute of touring around Italy. It was a great opportunity to see a lot of this wonderful country. But every night was a new city, hotel and crappy bed. The hard part was usually the lobby of the hotel, they all had orchids in the lobby. Some beautiful and odd ones too. It just made me more home sick.

It was fun, but I'm glad to be back!

[Blueszz]

Chas, I totally understand why you left for Italy. I've been there so many times that I forgot how often. Despite I live in Europe, I totally love Italy, especially the North part.
I often watch the Giro on TV, I love to see the suroundings that are so familiar to me.

I'm glad to hear your orchids did fine when you came home. It's great to have a family that can take care of them!

Nicole

[lostonthebeach]

Glad all your orchids did so well. Sounds like your orchids sitters did a good job.
And the trip sounds like a blast. Lucky you !!!

[camille1585]

Sounds like you had a great trip! I like cycling, and follow all the big races in the news. I do like the Giro, but nothing beats the Tour de France! I saw the arrival of an 'étape' (stage?) in Lyon a few years ago, and saw them go by my countryhouse once. Don't look for me the first two weeks of July, I'm in front of the TV all afternoon watching the race! And I'm very ashamed to say that I have never set foot in Italy.
Glad to know the orchids are ok! Whenever I travel I'm always wondering about the orchids too, and worrying about what they will look like when I get back.

[Pilot]

Chas! I was wondering what happened to you! I yelled for you a few times at Tagawas but no one answered, as usual...they just looked at me like I was an escapee from the mental hospital.

What an experience you had! It must have been amazing-- but what a great thing to have such a reliable daughter-- phew!

Sorry to hear about your phal species-- but like you said she'll bounce back. What sort of pot is she in? The medium? I finally got all of my phals into s/h and honestly, I'm quite shocked how well they're doing.

Glad to see you're back and you had such a good time!

[ChasWG]

Camille, I've never been to France and have never seen the courses there, but after seeing and driving all of the mountain stages during the first two weeks of the Giro, I have to say, "HOLY CRAP!!" Those mount roads are freaking nasty small and tight. There was one tappa (stage) that started in Innsbruck, Austria and traveled through a corner of Swizterland (sp?). The decent from the Swiss mountains started about 40 Km from the border and ended in Chaivenna, Italy. At the top we (and the cyclists) were in a fog so thick that you could only see about 15 meters in front of you. And the shear amount of switchbacks was crazy. Oh, and it was raining the whole time. Driving a car down that was very, very sketchy, to say nothing of doing it on a bike. That was a tough day for everyone involved in the race.
Someday I would love to see or work on the TdF and see France like I got to see Italy! Though I was about 10Km from the French border while in the Alps.

No dought my daughter saved my orchids for me. Without her, the plants would have wilted and died.