Nov 18, 2009 - board the Grand Princess

Civitavecchia, the port where ships dock when the itinerary says they are in Rome, is one and a half hours away by car. ... The cruise company only brings people here if they have booked the pricey pre-trip which stays at hotels too rich for our blood.Civitavecchia, the port where ships dock when the itinerary says they are in Rome, is one and a half hours away by car. ... The cruise company only brings people here if they have booked the pricey pre-trip which stays at hotels too rich for our blood....

Nov 18, 2009 - La Vita in Campo di Fiori

Lidia?s entry: I am half-way through an intensive Italian course at Scoula Dante Alighieri near the Vatican. Did I mention that even in Rome (like in other cities and little towns)business comes to a halt from 1:00 to 4:00 PM when evrything is closed? The only places open are the cheap turist shops and some restaurants. ... No wonder people lok so healthy and NOT stressed! Through my friend Myriam from Mexico, I met Frnchesca, a wonderful young professional woman who works for the Italian Lottery.Lidia?s entry: I am half-way through an intensive Italian course at Scoula Dante Alighieri near the Vatican. Did I mention that even in Rome (like in other cities and little towns)business comes to a halt from 1:00 to 4:00 PM when evrything is closed? The only places open are the cheap turist shops and some restaurants. ... No wonder people lok so healthy and NOT stressed! Through my friend Myriam from Mexico, I met Frnchesca, a wonderful young professional woman who works for the Italian Lottery....

Nov 18, 2009 - Friend from Austin.

Lidia's entry: I am so happy.:) Our friend Mike Quinn from Texas is in Rome for a few days. ... He is the consumate chef and some one who knows how to enjoy the better things in life like good food, wine, coffe and music --just to mention a few of his favorite things.Lidia's entry: I am so happy.:) Our friend Mike Quinn from Texas is in Rome for a few days. ... He is the consumate chef and some one who knows how to enjoy the better things in life like good food, wine, coffe and music --just to mention a few of his favorite things....

Nov 18, 2009 - Seas and Ashes

Hi all We are back in our Hotel in Rome safe and sound and as the old saying goes NO MORE FREE LUNCH! Our ship docked and we took the train back to Rome.We drove from Naples over to Salerno and rode a tour boat to Amalfi and back. ... The weather gods were in our favor as the water was calm and the sky clear.Hi all We are back in our Hotel in Rome safe and sound and as the old saying goes NO MORE FREE LUNCH! Our ship docked and we took the train back to Rome.We drove from Naples over to Salerno and rode a tour boat to Amalfi and back. ... The weather gods were in our favor as the water was calm and the sky clear....

Nov 17, 2009 - in the beginning

” We've only just twirled around it on a bus in previous visits, so it was fun to go to the top and see all Rome before us. ... Peter's, Rome has a condensed skyline, totally unlike our home city. ... Rome has many picturesque piazzas and we have visited a number of them only at night, when the street performers come out and put on a show. ...

Nov 16, 2009 - getting holy

It was still dark when it began to sound like someone was remodeling our room from the outside in. The first time we came to Rome our tour took us to fourteen churches in a day. ... Since Rome was regularly threatened by invaders, the pope needed a place to hide until the coast was clear. ... It might have been fun to go inside and climb to the top for a great view of St.It was still dark when it began to sound like someone was remodeling our room from the outside in. The first time we came to Rome our tour took us to fourteen churches in a day. ... Since Rome was regularly threatened by invaders, the pope needed a place to hide until the coast was clear. ... It might have been fun to go inside and climb to the top for a great view of St....

Nov 16, 2009 - Ciao Roma!

We arrive at 7:30 a. Everyone squeezes between everything and aside from a few horns and beeps, all anyone does is wave and slide right between the next car… The architecture of Rome is incredibly complex, and simple all in the same breath,,it is simply beautiful. ... Rome has 7 hills and we have driven up 2 and climbed a couple already. ... Once we explored the Roman Forum we drifted down the hill from the Capitoline Museum and set a path for the famous Trevi Fountain to toss our retune to Roma coins in and have a rest watching people and the fountain…it just won’t fit in a photo properly.We arrive at 7:30 a. Everyone squeezes between everything and aside from a few horns and beeps, all anyone does is wave and slide right between the next car… The architecture of Rome is incredibly complex, and simple all in the same breath,,it is simply beautiful. ... Rome has 7 hills and we have driven up 2 and climbed a couple already. ... Once we explored the Roman Forum we drifted down the hill from the Capitoline Museum and set a path for the famous Trevi Fountain to toss our retune to Roma coins in and have a rest watching people and the fountain…it just won’t fit in a photo properly....

Nov 16, 2009 - European Adventures

Being in Barcelona made me glad that I'm in Rome, I love it so much. ... Barcelona was fun because EVERY SINGLE person that is in Europe from California was literally in Barca for the weekend! It was crazy! We ran into people from our Rome program all over the city. ... After that we got Starbucks (lots of excitement, there are none in Rome and we never get them!) and then went and saw something called Sacre-Coeur, a beautiful church on a hill overlooking all of Paris. ... In Rome they always cat call but it's never anything I get nervous about. ... We left Sunday and came back to Rome. ...

Nov 15, 2009 - on foot

If you're planning to come to Europe any time soon, bring only black clothes. We first noticed this funeral look in Munich and figured that it might be a northern Europe thing, but even here in Rome, everyone wears black, all black. ... Rome is a city of tourists, no matter what the season. ... Some are here for religious reasons; others because it is one of the most famous cities in the world.If you're planning to come to Europe any time soon, bring only black clothes. We first noticed this funeral look in Munich and figured that it might be a northern Europe thing, but even here in Rome, everyone wears black, all black. ... Rome is a city of tourists, no matter what the season. ... Some are here for religious reasons; others because it is one of the most famous cities in the world....

Nov 15, 2009 - Food and Statues - my journey to Florence

After a week of intense midterms, a paper or two, several incredible meals with my mom and showing her around Barcelona, we left Barcelona again, this time to visit Florence, Italy. ... Basically this journal entry is about the amazing pasta, gelato, and statues in Florence. ... Then the train to Florence. ... Sounds like a lot of travel but we were in Florence by noon. ... The whole morning and day before I had been researching/reading mom’s Rick Steve’s Florence travel book. ...

Nov 14, 2009 - arrive in Rome

We flew over the Alps and in less than two hours found ourselves in Rome with comfortable temperatures at last, although people here are bundled up, some even wearing mittens. ... Whenever I have been in Rome, I've had the impression that we have arrived 500 years too late. ... So since we were in Rome we ate Chinese! The staff there spoke Chinese to one another, Italian to the other customers, and English to us. ...

Nov 13, 2009 - Roman (Roamin' ) ways

Getting settled into our Rome ways. ... Lidia to Italian school, and I roamin' Rome. ... Life becomes more 'routine', if one could ever describe life in Rome as 'routine' ! So much for now; I need to go and prepare lunch. ...