Today’s Schedule
Land safely @ the Roma airport and arrange for transport to hotel. Original plans were to meet daughter and husband @ Terminal 3, but since they were taking different flight – changes made that we would just meet @ hotel. Main train terminal is only blocks away from hotel so we have option – taxi, train or bus. Decide on bus, which allows us to see some chance to view countryside before entering town area.
We drag our suitcases a block and turn corner toward hotel, We find Maggie & Dann having breakfast at sidewalk café. We join them knowing we had an hour yet until room check in. The airline “box” breakfast was not filling, plus need to coffee to help adjust to 6 hour time difference.
When we get to hotel, find our friend, front desk manager Marco, has day off. We go to rooftop garden to show off spectacular panoramic view to our new visitors. Carol & I stayed @ Hotel Diana 2 years ago on prior tour with Road Scholar to to see classic art of Rome, Florence & Venice. Plan is to stay at hotels we know the location and happy with prior service.
Once on the roof, meet again with Ali from Afghanistan, who was very helpful on prior visit. He introduces us to a staff member who was there for a few months as student-worker from Portugal. As we talk with them, find out she goes to school in Coimbra Portugal. We visited her university last year on another RS tour. The school is noted for excellent education and capes the students wear – yes, just like in Harry Potter.
http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/Portugal/Distrito_de_Coimbra/Coimbra-289328/Local_Customs-Coimbra-TG-C-1.html
After getting in our awesome rooms – a real update from last visit. Very nice (-:
Then, off to our potential daily schedule – walk as much as you can – so much to see just from block to block. Take them first to Cathedral Santa Maria Maggiore. Rather than adding my own photos, will let you “browse” via a virtual visit.
http://www.vatican.va/various/basiliche/sm_maggiore/vr_tour/index-en.html
After that, head toward Coliseum. So much architectural antiquity is clustered in this area. We walk, walk, & walk. When I see the younger ones slowing down, decide to change direction, back toward hotel, maybe a 30 minute walk – if you don’t stop to see so much that is surrounding us.
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.9005603,12.4773822,15z
Once we got to Trajan's Column, a record to the many battles won by the Roman army, decide our “troops” need to be fed.
http://www.aviewoncities.com/rome/trajanscolumn.htm
All are hungry, so we settle for local small café and order food and drink. The weather was hot, so enjoyed a chance to sit in the shade. The walk back to the hotel was slow – with a stop for Gelato. One of many we have over the next several days.
My Observations
It’s great to be back. A chance to visit new places and revisit some favorites. Although the weather is hot, 38 C/100 F, we know that there are many places to stop for refreshment. From prior visits, have added names and contact information for many friends we have made. Each city has people we want to make sure we say – ciao – and renew friendship.
It’s been a long day – not much sleep on the airplane. So will make more comments in upcoming days. Will meet all for breakfast and decide – do go visit a place as a group? Or go our separate ways and meet for dinner?
Here are internet links for highlights:
Photo 1 - See. We call it coliseum in USA – Italy, it is the Colosseo.
Photo 2 - Do. We meet a friend from prior visit – Ali from Afghanistan.
Photo 3 - Eat. A very delicious pizza funghi (mushroom)
Click here for today's online photo album.
