|
| 7:02am (CEST) |
The lights just turned on in the cabin. The geriatric bunch of grumpy
Delta flight attendants threw some breakfast items our way. I went
to the lavatory but got caught between food carts. Alas. (CEST is
Central European Standard Time, by the way.) |
| 8:45am |
Touchdown!, or so says I. Our oh-so-comfortable coach seat would
soon be left behind. I said my ciao to Anthony. He was a good seat
buddy. He even ate with his left hand as not to jar me while I munched
on my bread and whatnot. Thanks, amigo! |
| 9:24am |
Luggage and Rachel in tow, I see a sign for our trip coordinators.
While I was busy getting us to the right
spot, Rachel engaged in conversation with Peggy and Doug. They
were on our trip, too, and Rachel used to work at the same place Peggy
does now. Great…nurses talkin’ shop (thus beginning my
list of reason not to travel with your director of Medical
Services; this is #1). I mentioned there was to be no talk of
rectal procedures, IV stuff and dressings. Remember, I was banged
up in an accident
recently? Anyway, the airport security looks a little foppish in their
get-up, but I was careful not to laugh out loud. |
| 9:35am |
Now we sit back and enjoy the 40-minute bus ride in our luxury coach
to Rome. I guess SUVs just aren’t
popular over here in the "old country." I was hoping
to see some prettily colored road signs, but they
look just like at home -- copy cats! |
| 10:15am |
We’re finally in
Rome but they didn’t seem to want to go to the trouble of
making some huge identifying sign. (And no, it's not your eyes --
this time -- the sign is blurry, but consider we were on a moving
bus at the time, m'kay?) We did pass an American
landmark, though. But that’s okay -- we made it to the Melia
Roma Aurelia Antica Hotel (web
site) safe and sound. |
| 10:30am |
Finally I’m in my room, number 031. It took the girl at least
5 minutes to figure out how to turn the lights on -- the plastic door
key had to be
inserted into another slot to power the lights. (Of course, I
knew this from my trip
to the Philippines in June 2002, but figured half of the fun of travel
is letting others work it out for themselves.) I had to double check
that the door was closed because the door doesn’t go all the
way into
the frame. Strange but Italian. Shower was kinda weird with only
part
of a shower door. But the square-ish shaped toilet was accompanied
by a
bidet. Perfect for me to rinse off in. |
| 11:15am |
A few fellow Californians and I head into the city centre at Piazza
Barbareni. We wander by a watery fountain of Triton (seen from here
and here),
but all I can think is, “Where’s Ariel?” I do enjoy
The Little Mermaid.
We stop at some hole in the wall and eat some fettuccini and gelato.
The bottled water was a liter of “still” water in a glass
bottle. I vetoed the bubbling water. Mustn’t be burpy; I want
to impress the fashionable locals with my charming manners. |
| 1:30pm |
Standing by the stop, awaiting to be bused back to the hotel, I
spy a
sign. I guess Frodo and the gang are popular here too. Shocking,
really. No, not really. The streets are not exactly multilane,
either. |
| 5:00pm |
After napping a bit, the girl and I wake up to meet Lydia,
our roommate. We three tromp downstairs to have a drink with our
tour director, Debra. She tells us about the dangers of gypsies (small
Albanian/Bosnian/etc. kids who pick your pockets) and pickpockets
(adults who disguise themselves as tourists to pick pockets as well).
Debra offers an evening tour of Rome. I’m eager to go but as
Rachel’s practically snoring now, I’d better just put
her to sleep. |
| 8:55pm |
I wasn’t hungry but the girl and Lydia went to get a bite
to eat at La Sughereta, a restaurant in the hotel. They arrived back
disheartened, as the artichoke salad was something to the effect of
weeds with slices of hard artichokes on top with 2 to 3 small shavings
of parmigiano cheese (how the Italians say 'parmesan')on top. Not
quite what she was expecting. |
| 9:35pm |
The phone rings; I go to it thinking it’s Tubby, all concerned
about my well-being. Oh no, of course it wouldn’t be him. It
was the girl’s family. She jabbered happily with them, while
I shot her dirty looks due to her noisiness. |
| 10:10pm |
I’m tucked in next to the girl. Let’s hope she doesn’t
keep me awake with snoring! |
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