Well an afternoon anyway. I was up this morning at 4:30
(actually with the anticipation, I woke up at 1, 2:15, 4 and then 4:30). I was
picked up by a taxi at 5:30, and dropped off at the bus station in Termoli by
5:45. Then a 6 a.m. bus ride to Rome (four and a half hours), followed by a 45
minute train ride, followed by a 15 minute shuttle ride and I was at the hotel.
Funny thing was, when I woke up I had no tickets for anything, and was going
off of experience from years ago. 
The good thing was that I had slept on the bus a little bit
and I was ready to hit the town running (walking really). I took the train into
central Rome, then a subway over to the Vatican. I decided that I didn’t need
to go into the basilica, as the line was long and I was hot. So I took in the
square and went shopping for gifts to bring home. I took care of my entire gift
shopping for the trip. 
After the Vatican, I went back to the Scalini di Spagna,
Fontana di Trevi, Piazza Navona and the Pantheon. Today I went into the
Pantheon for the first time in a few years, and decided to have lunch at a sidewalk
café right in front of the Pantheon. After dinner, I went out for some gelato
at a one of the most famous gelaterias in Rome, Giliotti’s. I was a little disappointed
in their selection, as it was pretty touristy, not like the places near me in
Campomarino that cater to the Italian palates. There was like 7 different
variations of chocolate, but no zuppa inglese or cassata which are classic
gelato flavors. 
Watching tourists was fun today as well. I was eating in
front of the Pantheon and a family was sitting next to me. I heard the one
girl, about 25, say to her family that having pizza on a square in Rome was on
her bucket list. I realized I’m spoiled when it comes to Italy as I had my
first Roman Piazza meal at 16 years old. I was also a little struck that a
woman her age has a bucket list. But I met some American’s here or there and
they were not sure which way to go so I helped them. I also ran into a
political demonstration that was taking shape in Rome. People and police were
assembling.
When I got back into the room, I put on the TV to find an
Arab-language station that plays American movies and TV shows with Arab
subtitles, but original voice tracks. I watched the end of Tropic Thunder,
still a great movie. Little Miss Sunshine is on now. As for the hotel, the
Hilton Garden Inn comes with a full recommendation. Free wi-fi and a shuttle
that connects to the airport every half hour make the large, clean room even
better.
Mom arrives tomorrow morning, so I will need to be up for
the shuttle around 6:30 a.m.
