Hi Barry,
Rose promised lots of photos and I hope you are going to be taking lots as well!
You can pick up a GPS at any Euronics store in Italy. In addition the big superstore like Auchan and Ipercoop also sell them. If you are flying to Rome from Toronto that means your going to Leonardo Di Vinci airport which is on the west side of the city. You have to get on the ring road and hope it's not to busy and drive to the east side to get the autostrad to L'Aquila. It usually takes us an hour and a half from Ciampino which is a good 20 minutes closer than Leonardo but once your on the toll road (about 8 euro to L'Aquila) it is a very nice drive. Maybe you will run into Bruce in Ofena!
Barry