Rome
We arrived a day early in order to help get over any jet lag and in case there were any travel issues. Thankfully we were not traveling on British Airways which was striking! We arrived on time and ready for adventure. Our taxi to the hotel was easy, but our driver was easily going 80 mph and even passed a cop. Welcome to Italy!
We stayed at Casa San Giuseppe in the Trastevere neighborhood. The location was great; just follow the Tiber River to St. Peter's or just cross it and you are at the Campo di Fiori. I immediately felt very comfortable in our new home for the next few days. We spent most of our pre-tour time in Vatican City. We arrive on Sunday just in time to hear the Pope give his Sunday blessing, climbed the dome at St Peter's and, toured St Peter's Basilica. Our first night we enjoyed a fabulous dinner and bottle of prosecco (Italian champagne) in the floodlights of Bernini's Four Rivers Fountain.
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At 4:30pm on Monday we meet our tour guide Heidi and fellow tour members. Everyone is very friendly and Heidi sets the tone for an efficient, yet relaxed trip. We are in wonderful hands.
Our local guide in the morning takes us to the Jewish neighborhood. There is a memorial to Aldo Moro, an Italian Prime Minister that was assassinated in 1978. Even now there are tributes left where his body was found. Kind of an equivalent to JFK. We trek up to Capitol Hill to tour the Capitoline Museum and visit Marcus Aurelius.
Heidi sets us loose for the rest of the day. Andy and I must have walked the entire city that afternoon. We are able to find St Peter-in-Chains Church and Cappuccin Crypt. We take the long way back to our hotel and pass just about every major Roman site. We were in Rome 3 years ago and saw the Colossseum, the Forum, the Pantheon, etc. Seeing these sights again was like seeing an old friend. |
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Memorable Meals: Superbufaloa pizza at Dar Poeta Pizzeria Linguine with pesto, carbonara, Roman style artichoke and a bottle of prosecco at Tucci Fettuccine with swordfish & artichokes, long pasta tagliolini with anchovies & pecorino cheese, thin beef loin slices with balsamic vinegar & arugula, sea bass in white wine & mushroom and an apple tart with calvados at Osteria Ponte Sisto  |
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