The Hilton and Coming Home

This will be the last blog and I will cover our last day in Rome and our trip home.


Today after getting up and dressed, we finished repacking our suitcases. Then it was down to breakfast. We came back to the room made sure everything was ready to go and went down to the desk and checked out. The car came shortly thereafter and away we went toward the Hilton at the airport. The ride was smooth and quick, since it was an Italian holiday. The traffic was almost non existent. The hotel is located right at the airport and we could walk to it, under cover in case of rain.


The room is very nice and we were upgraded to a very nice room with access to the executive lounge. This proved to be a real gem. After checking in we walked over to the airport to check it out. While we were there, trying to find our terminal, we found out that you can not walk to terminal 5. Terminal 5 is where all the US bound flights originate and terminate. More on this later. While we were in the terminal building 3 we stopped at Mc Donald’s and had a coke and french-fries. They really tasted good.


Coming back to the hotel we tried out the executive lounge and it is nice. They have free snacks and drinks 24 hours a day. I don’t like 2 4/7. The drinks were water, juice soda, beer and wine. At 3:00PM they bring in sandwiches and deserts for tea. Then at 6:00 PM they provide heavy hors d’ oeuvres. We managed to participate in all of it. The food was good and all you could eat.


On Thursday we left a call for 6:30 AM. After getting up, showered and dressed we went down to breakfast in the lounge. Again it was well stocked and very good. The only complaint we had in Italy about the food was the bacon. It is like thin ham here, but not cooked very long. We like are bacon crisp.


After breakfast we finished with our suitcases and went down to check out. After checking out we took the van to what we thought was terminal 5. Here we showed our passports, got a sticker on them and then went out another door and caught a bus to another terminal. Here we got off and pulled our bags to the ticket counter. After checking them in and getting a boarding pass we went to customs for me to get a stamp on a tax free document. Now it was almost take your clothes off and go through security. After passing that test it was up stairs to the waiting lounge. We were traveling Business class, so we had a pass to United’s lounge. We could get snacks, sweet rolls and beverages here, plus nice seats.


When it was time for us to leave, it was again down stairs, into a bus and ride out to the airplane. No Jet-ways, so it was carry your bags up the stairs into the airplane.


We were in Business class as I said. The seats were comfortable, not as nice as when we flew to London. The flight departed about ½ hour late which is good for international flights. The flight across the pond was fairly smooth and we made up some time and landed in Washington DC just about on schedule.


After landing we headed for immigration and the lines that form there. Getting through there we picked up our luggage and went through customs. Now we checked our bags for the flight home and started undressing again for security here in the US. I make it sounds worse that it was. It was take your belt off, shoes off, empty your pockets and take your computer out of its case. Passing this we again dressed and started walking to our new gate in a new terminal. We went down stairs caught the tram to our terminal. Here we walked upstairs, then along many halls, upstairs again and the down stairs. More walking. Why do we always end up at the last gate? We are now all settled in a seat in the waiting area, when the announcement that all travelers fear. Your plane has been delayed due to weather. Oh well, we did not want to fly in a thunderstorm anyway. We got on the plane about 30 minutes late and departed about an hour late, which was not too bad. The flight was good for the most part, just one area of bumps. We arrived in Kansas City about 8:00 PM, an hour late to nice weather. Jackie, the nice lady that house sits for me, picked us up and we headed for home.


We are tired and our internal clocks are off, but it was a wonderful trip and after we get rested we will be ready to head out again. Not next week.

Tuesday June 2 in Rome

Tuesday and we are still in Rome. Up early this morning and down to breakfast. We called a taxi around 8:15 and headed for the Colosseum. As we said there are a lot of people in town and the traffic is bad. If you need to get your heart rate up, but do not want to exercise, take a cab ride in Rome. All I can say is OMG.
 We were among the first people in the Colosseum this morning and it was breath taking to see. How they could build something like this and have it last all these years is amazing. There were seats for the Senators of marble and the rest of the peons sat on rough stone. The closer and lower you were toward the stage the more prestige you had. It was begun in 72 AD and finished in 80 AD. It is estimated to have held 80,000 people. It was the origin of professional gladiators, who were trained to fight to the death. You can see where the gladiators and animals were prepared below the level of the arena. They had lifts to bring them up to the field from the rooms below. It must have been an amazing site in its day, for it is still amazing today.

Leaving the Colusseum we walked to the Arch of Constantine. It was built in the memory of Constantine’s victory over Maxentius. It is very well preserved and has an inscription on it that says “Devine inspiration”. It was chosen to pacify both the Pagans and the Christians.
 From there we got back on the hop on hop off buss to Piazza Navona. It is one of the largest squares in Rome and the location of the fountain of the 4 rivers. We believe that this is the fountain that was portrayed in the movie “Angels and Demons”. The area is very lively with music, restaurants, street performers and artists. We walked the area and then had lunch at a little outdoor café on the plaza. The lasagna I had was the best I have ever had. Judi again had caprice salad. After lunch we walked to the Pantheon. It is the cities only architecturally intact monument from classical times. It is called the “glory of Rome”.

Pantheon

We then walked back to the Piazza Navona and treated ourselves to a gelato. Sitting on a bench and enjoying the gelato and people watching, a Belgium gentleman stuck up a conversation about traveling. Very nice person and very good English. After a little shopping we got a taxi back to the hotel.


Arriving back at the hotel around happy hour, we indulged ourselves.


We are moving to the Hilton Hotel at the airport tomorrow in preparation to fly home on Thursday. Tomorrow is a National Military holiday with many celebrations, parades and a public mass by the Pope in St. Peters square, which is going to turn Rome into a parking lot. Trying to get to any site will be almost impossible.

Emperor Hadrian's Mausoleum---The Colosseum

Monday May 31, 2010 Rome

We woke up early this morning, not sure why, but way before breakfast. When the restaurant opened, we went down to eat. After breakfast we walked down to St. Peters square. The hotel advertises it as a “couple of steps.” -- 15 minutes to the museum and that many more to the square. It was a nice morning walk by the wall that encloses Vatican City. We purchased ticket for the hop on hop off bus and boarded it close to the square.

Don & Judi @ Trevi Fountain ----  Spanish Steps

The route took us past Plaza de Popolo and around to the Trevi fountain. We got off and walked down some side streets to the fountain. It is beautiful and if it was not for the crowds, it would be very relaxing. We walked back up the alley/street to the corner and asked directions to the Spanish Steps. Judi was disappointed seeing them this time. When she was here before, they looked like the pictures you see in magazines, with lots of pretty flowers on both sides and up the middle. This time there were people sitting on both sides and up the middle and all over instead of flowers. We left the steps and headed back to the alley, because we saw some outdoor restaurants there. After checking out several of them we settled on one. The pasta was good and the atmosphere was great.

After the lunch we walked back to where we left the bus and boarded it for the ride back to St. Peters square. We passed the Colosseum and Palatine Hill, where the Forum is located. We crossed the Tiber River on our way back to the square. We were getting a little tired, so we thought about taking a taxi back to the hotel. When we priced one at the square, he did not want our business, because he quoted an outrageous price, so we walked.

When we walked in this morning, the line to get into the Vatican museum was at least a half mile long. I know that sounds like an exaggeration, but it is not. The walk going back to the hotel was just like the one this morning, uphill both ways.


Back at the hotel, we relaxed and tried to figure out where we could grab a salad or sandwich, since the hotel room service had neither. We walked across the street and split a pizza and then it was back to the room. This afternoon in a crowd I had my back jarred so when we got back to the room I poured a little medicinal liquid into a glass and headed for the bathroom. I took a nice hot Jacuzzi bath and drank my “medicine.”


It was off to bed then. We are planning on taking a taxi to the Colosseum early tomorrow to beat the crowds. Lots of people in town as there is a national holiday coming up and the Pope is going to celebrate a public mass. They are already closing down certain streets.


PS: Roman Spelling was used.

This is our last full day in Venice. We decided this is the day to just walk around and look at the area, do a little shopping and have some relaxing fun. The day started off with another nice breakfast in the hotel. The name of the hotel is Locanda Orseolo, which means Orseolo Inn. As we said the hotel building is over 1200 years old and located on the canal Orseolo. The area around the hotel was owned by one family, a very rich family, and so the canal and a street are named after them. The people who run the hotel are very nice and greet you by name as soon as you are introduced to them. The breakfast is as good as or better than we had on the ship.

After breakfast, we started walking and window shopping. Window shopping did not last long, and Judi was off and running with her purchases. I was just along to help her spend her money. I have to say, that she made an outstanding purchase, but will let her explain what it is. I purchased some souvenirs and a gelato.


We walked over to the other hotel that is owned by our hosts. It is very nice and as a balcony where you can have a drink and watch the activity on the Grand Canal and also with a view of the Rialto Bridge. While we were sitting there some people that we met on the cruise sailed by on a vaporetto, a boat “water bus” that circles the city on the larger canals. They yelled and waved at us, so being friendly people we waved back. We spent about an hour there and then walked back to San Marcos square, using some new side streets and crossing some new canals. Actually there are no new canals or side streets in Venice, but they were new to us. Arriving at San Marcos square we found a restaurant and had some pasta for lunch.


Now it was back to the hotel, to rest for awhile. This evening we went back out and looked for a pizza parlor. They are not hard to find, but finding one that will sell pizza by the slice is a problem. We finally settled on a pizza parlor. This is our new world, a pizza parlor in Venice, Italy, owned by a Chinaman. Oh well, we ate the pizza walked back to San Marcos square and then to the hotel.


Tomorrow we depart for Rome. We are wondering what it will be like to go out of our little window in to a water taxi. Oh well another adventure.


Here are some pictures from the other day.

Grand Canal                         Isalnd of Barano 

                                                                                                      Low Bridge             
             Glass Blower on Island of Marano 

Venice Friday 28 May

Friday morning and the sun comes up early (4:30) over here in Venice. I was up showered and out the door before Judi got out of bed. She thought I was nuts, and she is probably correct, but that is just the old farm boy in me. I headed for St. Marks square, wanting to take some pictures. I was rewarded for my effort. There were just 4 of us in the square. It was quiet, no pushing or rushing to get the best view or camera angle. While I was there more people began to arrive and I took picture of them in front this statue or view of the basilica, so they would have a memory to take back with them. I continued on to the Grand Canal and got some nice pictures there. It was about time for breakfast so I headed back to the hotel.



Breakfast was all you could want it to be. Fruit, juice, sweet rolls, hard rolls, cereal, wonderful omelet, much more and of course that great European coffee. Judi and I both had veggie omelets, but I had cheese with mine.


Judi and I walked up to the Rialto Bridge after breakfast. It is a beautiful bridge and has been standing longer than the one in Minneapolis. We worked our way through the various streets (i.e. alleys), doing some window shopping. We went to a bank to exchange some money. Not as expensive as the money changers on the square. We then headed for San Marcos square to meet friends that we had made on the cruise. We told them we would meet them in the middle of the square. We were slightly late as the bank took longer than we had thought. I told them that we had trouble finding them, because they were not exactly in the middle. They are fun couple and we have reached the point that we kid each other about most anything.


And now the adventure begins. We went over to the canal and headed for the ferry to Burano. More on this island later. There was a “timeshare salesman” on the docks offering free water taxi to the island of Murano to see the Murano glass. We accepted his kind offer. So boarding the water taxi we bounced across the bay to Murano. Getting off the free ride, we were met by our guide who assured us we would not have to purchase any glass. We were then led into the area where an artist showed us how the beautiful glass is created. The show was quite fascinating, but with the furnaces it was very warm in there. The gentleman was quite good. However, after the demonstration, we were led through room after room of glass. Judi, found a piece that she liked, the only problem was it cost more than my first house. She did not buy it, even though they offered to ship it.


We left there and tried to figure out how to get to the island of Burano. We asked people where to get a ticket, most said on the boat. Were to we catch the boat; over there, where ever that was. We finally found were we were supposed to be and boarded the boat and rode two stops and got off. Here we boarded another boat to the island of Burano. The island is famous for its lace. One shop had ninety year old women sitting in a chair, with her feet on a stool, making lace. The work there is beautiful. The village we were in is also a fishing village. Actually the island is the village. The houses were all painted different colors by the fisherman, so that they could identify their home while approaching the island. We were all hungry by this time, so we found a little outdoor café and had lunch. After lunch we strolled around the village doing some window shopping. I am sorry, I was window shopping, the ladies were doing inside shopping. Our friend purchased a very nice table cloth and Judi purchased some Murano glass.


After about an hour we were getting tired and so headed back to the dock to pick up our boat. We timed it just right, as it was just loading when we arrived. Full to brim, we had to stand for the first part of the trip. At the first stop we were able to find seats, which was good as the trip takes an hour. Arriving at our home dock, we said good bye to our friends and headed back to the hotel. Now it was time to stretch out on the bed and rest. Around 7:00PM we decided to go back out and grab something at a fast food place, not sit down. Judi got a piece of pizza and I had a gelato. While we were standing at the gelato place, in a small alley by the hotel, our friends walked up. We all ended up with gelatos and walked back to the square and set on the steps and listened to the music different restaurants provide. We said our final goodbyes and headed back to the hotel for a good night’s sleep. That did not happen right away. The gondola came by under our windows and there was singing and accordion music playing for some time. Finally it was time for sleep.

The pictures I was going to add are not available at this time.  I will add to the next blog.


Tomorrow is a slow day for us, I hope. We have seen most of what we want and plan to just stroll around and maybe shop.

Arrival in Venice on Thursday

Thursday and we are getting off the boat and heading into Venice. The exit off the boat went very smoothly and we were soon hooked up with the other 2 couples and on our way to our water taxi. The ride was quite exciting, (kind of like water bumper cars) but not as interesting as our entrance into our bed and breakfast. We were on the Grand Canal and then proceeded down some narrow canals until we reached the bed and breakfast. Our bags were shoved through the window from our water taxi into the Locanda Orseolo, our bed and breakfast. It is located on the Orseolo canal. We “climbed through the window” from the water taxi into a very nice reception area. The place is owned and run by a local family. Father, son and daughters work here. Since we are the oldest people here they naturally put us on the third floor. Actually the forth, but the European’s count ground floor, 1,2,3 etc. The building was built 1200 years ago, so no elevator.

We have a large room by any standards, huge by European standards. There are two windows overlooking the canal. We can open them and lean out to watch the gondolas sail past. Some have the singer and accordion playing and others just silently sail by. The gondoliers are all handsome with their black and white or red and white shirts, black slacks and a straw hat.


Everything in Venice is delivered by boat. They tie their small freight boat up to the area of the canal, where they want to unload. Then one man gets up on the sidewalk and the picks up the crates and thrown them up to him. We are talking about crates of 1 liter bottles of water, cases of beer and other merchandise. We did not see one go in the canal. They probably do not go home and go to the gym to work out.

We got settled and I took a nap, actually we both did. Around 2:00 PM we headed out to see what we could see. Judi stopped and got some money exchanged and then we walked into St. Mark’s Square. We walked around the square just trying to take it all in. The Square is enormous, and beautiful. The basilica of St. Marks is at one end of the square and is very impressive. The square was very crowded with lots of tour groups. Guides talking away and the tour groups trying to hear what they were saying and still look at everything. A note: now would be a good time to visit Japan as all their citizens are here. We left the square and headed for the Grand Canal. This is the canal we came up last night that was so breathtaking with the full moon.

As we are walking toward it, someone called” hey Don.” In the square not 5 feet from me was Dr. Chuck. For those not in my Rotary club, Chuck is a member of the club. They are headed for the Crown Princess and are doing Venice to Rome. Judi meets a man from Mankato, MN in the middle of the ocean and I meet Chuck in the middle of St. Marks Square. I think it must really be a small world after all.

At sea on our way to Venice

Today was a normal sea day, except for packing to get off the ship. The bags that we are shipping home were picked up this evening and we will not see them until we get home, next Thursday. We had our other bags outside our cabin by 8:00 PM as requested.



We had some drinks and good conversation with friends this afternoon, for the last time out on our deck, and then met them and other friends for supper.


The normal sea day came to an end around 9:30 tonight. We entered the canal into Venice, heading for our docking. There was a full moon out and the view was beautiful. Judi’s response was OMG. I agree with her. We sailed past St. Marks Square and other beautiful sites. We cannot wait to get off the boat and see the sites up close.