I’ve just booked tickets on Air Canada for a trip to Italy this fall. My fare from Halifax to London was an unprecendented $398 return ($646 total with taxes and fees) — the lowest I’ve seen this fare since I became obsessed with it.

By comparison, the fare from Charlottetown was $646, which is over $900 with taxes and fees; for $300 I’ll happily drive to Halifax.

My ultimate destination is Colletta di Castelbianco, which describes itself as “a medieval hill-top village restored as an internet e-village.” I’ll spend two weeks there getting lots of work done and enjoying the olive harvest, which will be happening all around me (I must admit that some of my motivation for the trip was to be able to say “I’ll be in Italy for the olive harvest”).

Meanwhile, Catherine and Oliver are going in the opposite direction, visiting her parents, and mine, in Ontario. Their tickets to Ontario cost more than mine to London.