WI-FIght It?

The even flow of our world travels, that is. For 6 months we circumnavigated the globe with nary a care in the world, besides getting to the next bus, finding a place to sleep and eats of course, we were living in the NOW! Living each day for what it was and barely thinking past the tips of our noses. Two months into Leg #2, and railroading our way through Europa, our experience has definitely been a different one. Sure, the environs are uniquely varied, the language, historic castles everywhere!! But where I find the most variance is at the computer, as we email or phone about the next accommodation possibility. Apartment, single room, cozy cottage, it doesn’t matter, our needs are the same: kitchen, close proximity to public transport, near to the city centre or as far away as possible (depending on our mood) and INTERNET!

Talk about reality interrupting a good time!?! Internet? Really?? WIFI would be ideal thank you very much. We travel with the 17” silver Macintosh. You know, the thin one with the nice little half-eaten apple? I am working for my past employer this winter on the production of the Rose Bowl Game, which takes place on January 1st on ABC by the way.

From Germany: Neuschwanstein Castle

That being the case, keeping in touch has never been more important. Skype conference calls, emails and excel documents are now part of this world adventure. Sorry babe. Nothing like traveling with a little piece of home, right? So now, in an effort to work in the privacy of our own ‘home of the week’, we follow the WIFI signals. When we first get the keys to our new place, we do not jump on the bed or check out the kitchen accoutrements, we sit down, whip out the computer and test the signal.

Sometimes, it goes great! Like Luca’s House in Amsterdam, we actually had a hard line in our room. When I didn’t trip over the blue coaxial coming from the hallway, it worked amazing. Or at Thomas’ house we were linked into his home signal, sweet! We had to remind each other we were in the room sometimes, we were so entranced.

Other times it doesn’t go so perfectly. In places like Prague or Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic or in fact this place we are right now in the Dolomites. We had been sold on the place with the opportunity for connecting of course. But upon arrival, it was determined on all occasions that either there was a broken signal or none at all inside the cozy confines. But, luckily enough for us, if we sat at the base of the stairs on the way out of the buildings, we could get a nice strong connection. “Honey, are you going to check email? Don’t forget your beanie & blanket.”

From Italy: Hike to Prager Wildsee (Dolomites)

On a few occasions, the hotel at Disney Paris for example, we had WIFI in the lobby, but not in the room (not in the room, Disney? Seriously?). We had to buy an hourly internet card for too many Euros and then we could sit in front of the giant Sequoia fireplace, or in the bar, and 21st Century ourselves into a frenzy. “Where is my wife anyways?”

Often I walk around holding the Mac in my arms searching for a signal, like the guy at the beach you see looking for your forgotten gold watch or a penny in the sand. There has got to be a better way, Andy. There are 11th Century chapels, cobblestone roads and Alpine peaks outside and you are in here like a chicken with your head cut off.

Nevertheless, this is the world we live in wouldn’t you agree? This is the world we are living in now everyday as we embark on every new interlude. It was a blessing in disguise when we had our wonderful place in rural Czech Republic. Fireplace - yes, wood-burning stove - check, Internet – HELL NO!

I ask you, what happened to the simple things in life?