Yesterday, Friday, was a travel day and it took all day long! We got up in Paris at the apartment and cleaned, as Donald will be coming next week before we get back from Italy. Went to Tante for breakfast but my almond croissant were sold out. Darn!! AND the coffee machine was on the blink. This was not a good start.
We went to Porte Maillot and caught the transfer bus back to Charles De Gaulle Airport around noon. Arrived about 1:00 and waited in a snake line like a Disneyland ride to check in our bag. We only had one, but it still took a long time. Once through security (I got patted down and it wasn't bad!) we had some time to sit, and wait, and wait, and sit. Our plane was late getting in, so consequently we were late leaving.
This time we flew Air France. Much nicer! Free wine, ice in the drinks, lemon with the seven up, more seat room. It took about an hour and a half to fly from Paris to Rome. It was clear all the way so we saw the alps, the med, really beautiful! Sat next to a man from Senigal who was (I think) getting married in Italy. I say I think, because he spoke no English and my French is really pretty "hazy". I am limited to, please, thank you,bring the bill, and do you speak English?
Arrived in Rome about 6:30, found the train to downtown Rome and got on at 7:09. That took about 45 minutes, and by the time we got to Termini station it was dark. Our hotel was only 5 or 6 blocks away but we didn't know which way to go. Plus it was HOT and humid! And Jerry and I were pretty crabby. Melissa was right, the taxi drivers were relentless, but we just kept saying no and walking. After a long walk (really too long because we missed some streets) we found our Hotel Verona. Room is nice, we have a balcony,and blessed air-conditioning. After a quick shower we went down stairs to a restaurant next door. We sat outside, and our waiter was so cute. He spoke pretty good English and we had fun teaching each other phrases in each other's languages.
Dinner was amazing.....Mussels, salad, prosciutto & melon, and Fettuccine Bolognese. Fortunately we were 10 steps from the hotel and fell into bed.
Today is the Vatican tour and then venturing out to see the town. The hotel guy, Marco, says the Colosseum is about 5 minutes down the street. I can't wait. I will post pictures tonight. Ciao!
Today was another fabulous day, but hot, hot, hot! We were expecting warmer weather but our coolest clothes are getting a workout, as there is bright hot sun here and very little wind. Oh well, it is steaming off the pounds, I am sure. HA!
Yesterday we went to the Vatican Museum, The Sistine Chapel, andSt. Peter's Basilica in the morning. All of these are closed on Sunday (except for mass) so there were lots and lots of tourists. The line for waiting for tickets went around the block! Fortunately, I had booked our tickets ahead, so we went right in. The Vatican museum is huge and difficult to navigate. We notice here in Italy there is much less English on signs etc. where as in Paris almost everything as English underneath the french. Anyway, we enjoyed seeing the largest collection of ancient and mid-evil artifacts in the world. The Sistine Chapel is "as advertised" amazing, but there were so many people it was hard to really study the paintings.
The most amazing part was St. Peter's. It is HUGE!!!! like over 200 meters long, every niche, section, area is gorgeous marble, gilded plaster, carvings etc. The famous Pieta (by Michelagelo) is there and honestly is breathtaking. The dome, designed by Michelangelo is over 300 feet tall, and is the tallest structure in Rome. We were blown away by the beauty. Jerry said if he ever took up religion he would have to be Catholic so he could go to these gorgeous churches. (Really not gonna happen).
Now, remember we are seeing all of this in 90+ heat with 65% humidy so we really were DONE when we finished. We took the Metro back to our hotel (we had taken a cab there to save our feet), walked another 6 blocks then went in and showered, changed, and slept in the air conditioning. About 5PM Jerry decided we were refreshed and we walked down Cavour (big street) 15 blocks to have a wine and check out a restaurant that Phil and Melissa Hess suggested. Wasn't open (or going to be at all that night) so we walked down to the Colosseum and the Roman Ruins of Palantine Hill and the Roman Forum. We couldn't tour it buy you can see it from the top and we took a ton of pictures.
Anyone who knows Jerry knows that when his dinner plans fall through it is hard for him to change his mind, so we WALKED all the way back to the hotel looking for a suitable restaurant. (14 blocks) Didn't find one. Finally we went to one right on the corner. Really good food. We had Roman Bruchetta (to die for) I had shrimp rissoto and Jerry had Fettuccine with mushrooms. Had a great bottle of Chianti with our meal and it was fun watching all of the traffic and people walk by. Then we went back to our hotel bar and had another bottle of wine and visited with 2 women from Vienna. One was an English translator so her English was very good and we enjoyed talking about traveling, etc. The weather was perfect for sitting outside and we didn't come in until midnight. Slept like rocks!
This morning we had breakfast at the hotel and then walked down to the Colosseum. We bought an English tour to get by the lines but were ditched by the tour guide as soon as we got inside. No problem, we really like to look at things by ourselves.
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