When we got to the Hilton Rome Airport hotel, the biggest
question was whether Mom was going to join me in Rome or just stay back at the
hotel and relax. The next biggest question was how long we would have to wait
for our room to be ready. First, Mom decided that she would head into Rome, as
her scooter could be stored in the baggage hold of the bus for the shuttle ride
into town. Second, after we arrived at the hotel at 11:30, we had to wait until
1:30 to check -in. This wasn’t all bad. When we arrived, the lady offered us a
chance to check-in right away to an upgraded room for 70 Euros. We declined and
told her we’d wait a bit, as the next shuttle into Rome wasn’t until 2 p.m.
Around 1 p.m., I started to hover by the front desk waiting for the opportunity
to check-in. Finally the lady called me over as she had received permission to
upgrade to an executive room free of charge, with access to a lounge with
complimentary food and drinks. Not too bad.
In Rome today, we saw the memorial of Vittorio Emanuelle
where my father once served as one of the soldiers who guarded this Italian
version of the tomb of the unknown soldier. Then we pushed onward to the
Pantheon, and Piazza Navona. We had pranzo (lunch) at Macondo, a little
restaurant just off of Piazza Navona. The food was great. For dessert, I took
mom to Bar Tre Scalini, a famous Piazza Navona haunt renowned for its tartufo
(a death by chocolate creation allegedly started there). Mom, a lover of
chocolate, thoroughly enjoyed it. We then went back toward the bus, stopping
for a drink on the way.
Tomorrow is an early day, as we fly out at 9:50 in the
morning.
