Italy Tour 2008 - Day 2 - Rome

Upon arrival in Rome, we met up with our tour agency and our host, Martin Hirsch. All appeared to be going according to plan... until a couple called that were already staying at the Hotel Cicerone to advise us that our reservations (for 30 people) were non-existant. Our tour guide, Anna, transformed into travel agent/crisis fixer in an instant. This is her with the rose embellished umbrella leading us like Mary Poppins =)



This day was a scheduled “free” day, but we had to remain together until we knew where we would be staying. So our free day in Rome ended up being a day on and off the bus at different previously unplanned places until our room situation was squared away. Our first stop around 11am was near the Borghese Museum at the Piazza del Popolo. Just inside the Large Porta Flaminia gate, was an obelisk from the Sun Temple in Heliopolis, Egypt, which Augustus brought to Rome. It had previously been on display at Circus Maximus. As we walked toward the restaurant, we saw two large domed structures. Not sure what they were.
We walked though the oval Piazza to a restaurant for Champagne and apertives, while Anna worked out our hotel reservations. We ended up at the Ritz Grand Hotel... not a bad tradeoff. The ceilings are all incredibly high, and our room walls were rich padded red silk brocade. The building was marble lined with marble stairs and walls. Even looking at the artistic placement of each marble piece was a treat as you could tell they were artisans familiar with marble sediment and compression patterns. After checking into our hotel, and a quick shower, we met again for a trip to Piazza Navona. The Piazza Navona is a beautiful square with wonderful artisan shops, restaurants, and bars, and the square is filled with artists, musicians and street vendors. First experience with Italian desserts….at Tre Scalini for a Tartufo Artigianale. Chocolate and whipped crème..indescribably the best dessert of mom's life. Alongside our table a guitar playing street performer was busy playing renditions of Hotel California and Another Brick in the Wall. Odd... but enjoyable.

Wandered a bit and took some pictures (couldn't pass up the creepy clown for Vinnie.)

Now it's bedtime as we have a 6am wakeup call and 7am departure onto Pompeii.