San Francisco-Milan

I ended up booking a flight to Milan due to ticket prices and a location that would allow riding to Trento, Italy.
Our ride through the Dolomites was set to begin in Trento. Originally, I had looked at flying to Munich, then taking the train to Trento with Scott. I was able to save $200 by flying into Milan and the train fare to Trento. In addition, I would be spending my time riding the bicycle versus riding the trains.
I booked my flight on the internet with United Airlines. While booking, the flight appeared to be nonstop to Milan. Later I discovered that this is what they call a direct flight with a possible change of gauge. Translated this meant that the flight number remained the same all the way to Milan, and in this case there would be a plane change at Washington Dulles airport.
About one hour into the flight from San Francisco, the captain announced that an unclaimed bag was found in the front rest room. It was decided to be conservative and treat the situation as if the bag contained a bomb. We would be landing at Denver.
The flight attendants moved passengers from the rear of the plane forward into what empty seats remained. Blankets were piled against the rear rest room (I thought the announcement had said front rest room?).
Prior to landing, we were briefed to tuck our heads between the knees. First time I'd landed in that position. Upon landing we taxied to the gate (for bombs I thought we'd be taxiing to an isolated portion of the airport?).
At the gate we awaited bomb squads with dogs to sniff the package. We were not allowed to disembark even though some of the flight crew did (they were afraid everyone would not return in time for an orderly departure).
After about 15 minutes, 2 groups of bomb squads boarded, each with their own dog. They ventured to the back rest room for a sniff, and quickly left.
The flight crew disembarked to make a report to the company and the FAA, and a fresh crew boarded for our continuance to Dulles.
We arrived in Dulles just in time to catch our "direct" flight to Milan. I was seated next to a woman from the San Francisco flight and we talked about our adventure. She commented on how well the flight steward had handled the situation. I said that when we landed he went into the rest room looking green, and exited looking pale as if he had vomited. She said he might have in that he had transported the bag from the front rest room to the back while we were in-flight and had appeared nervous.
So that's how the bag ended up in the rear rest room!
They closed off the front restroom shortly after departing Denver. The flight was normal into Milan arriving around 8:30 am local time.

Milan-Como

At the Malpensa airport I picked up my suitcase and the large S&S backpack style case containing my coupled Rivendell All Rounder bicycle and was through customs in less than 30 minutes.
A coupled All Rounder is displayed on the Sands Machine website. A stop at the ATM for lira and it was time to find the bus to Como. The driver had just pulled in and it would be about 45 minutes before departure. I purchased a round trip ticket for about $17, loaded my bags into the baggage compartment, and awaited departure.
I turned out to be the lone passenger. The bus ride was about 45 minutes. Drop off was approximately 100 yards from my hotel, which I had also booked on the internet .
I dropped off my bags and started exploring Como, since it was only 10:30 am, it would be some time before my room was ready.
The hotel was located across the lakeside drive from Lake Como and close to the ferry landing. I walked along the lake and checked out the ferry schedule and policy for carrying bicycles. I found a place to buy pizza by the slice and a coke to consume by the lake. Upon returning to the hotel, I found my room ready. I had the desk make a hotel reservation in Aprica for Friday night. I was worried about arriving without a reservation in that Aprica is a ski town with summer recreation activities. I had attempted unsuccessfully to obtain a reservation prior to leaving the U.S.
The second hotel the desk tried had vacancy and I was set. Love the service at a four star hotel.
I went up to my room to find the bags delivered and began assembling the bike. About 45 minutes of assembly while watching television, and the bike was ready.

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