Day 2-Thursday Oct 15( John and the Girls)

We jumped into John Fiore's Mercedes Van at 8 am. John was a tall, big man for an Italian with a matching loud, clear projecting voice speaking excellent English. He was born in the US and studied a time at Trinity in San Antonio. He was 52y/o with a bad back and this touring was his business.
He immediately filled us with much of Rome history, Mussolini's architectural impact, and stopped for us to take in many important historical sights in Rome. The Pantheon,The Forum, Circus Maximus, The Spanish Steps, a park, on one of the seven hills of Rome, with great view including The Vatican. The markets and lunch, Berlini's Elephant(good luck symbol was fun. The location of Caesar's murder, Trevi Fountain for a coin toss, Constantine's Arch, etc.
Too soon it was 2pm and time for the 1 hour drive to Port Citivietechia to catch our Carnival Dream Cruise departing at 7pm. John stopped at a grocery store for us to purchase extra bottles of wine to take on board. No Problem....Fun was going to be the theme for us.

Day 1- Rome on Foot, 4 PM- 8PM Oct. 14th.

The first day in rome I was alone as my friends would arrive later in the evening. I got about a two hour nap and then nervously took a shuttle ride alone. Dropped by Shuttle Bus, I found my way up a street finding it to be Petroselli or via del Teatro Maricello. I followed people who had cameras hanging like jewels about their neck. I felt safer already. I followed two women into a church and was delighted by the inside. I sat and prayed a bit, I was thrilled to have made the decision to go it alone, taking the risk and feeling exhilarated by the surprises. I checked my watch and began to walk further up the street when out of no where there was a throng of tourists walking up steps. I got my camera out and took pictures of the statues, ancient buildings, and plaza. I had no idea where I was. I read Museo Capitoli. I was stopped as I tried to enter a building. It might have been the university. I surely did not look like a professor or student with my USA attitude.. I found a stone stairway going down and amazed at the old walls about me. I suddenly came upon a huge deep area of ruins( The Forum) far below. I could see a glimpse of the Colliseum ahead. This moment will remain in my brain for all time...I knew immediately this must be an early Roman historical site. I tried to read the Italian descriptions. I dug out a map which had been totally confusing earlier. It mentioned the burial place of Caesar. There was Arco di Tito, Palatino, Piazza Francesca Romana,Via Curia, etc. I found my way walking toward the Colliseum on Via Del Fori Imperial. I arrived and felt so incredibly shocked at the close proximity of this Colliseum, I could reach out and touch this amazing historical stucture. I walked the perimeter and excited at Arch di Constantine. I walked Via Di S Gregorio and to Via Dei Cerchi, then Via Dei Circo Massimo. I sat and rested on the Aventino (park)edge, it was 6:30 pm. Watched a few people running or walking the grassy park common areas. I was finding my way back to the 8 pm shuttle pick up. I was thirsty and thought I found a bar....It was a Motorcycle Repair Shop. YIKs! I hustled on my way past Piazza S Anastasia and Arco Di Giano. I found I had an hour before the shuttle I walked up a small hillside street and crossed to Longotevere dei Pierleoni and talked with a young(from Michigan)couple celebrating an anniversary & gazing and picturing along the Fiume Tevere. It was getting dark now. I found a hidden outdoor restaurant and bought my first giallato and cappuccino before I walked to my shuttle pickup. I had a great afternoon in Rome. Now time to find the girls..

October 14-First hours in Rome Sleepy, Nervous and Excited.

I arrived(7:30AM, Oct 14th)(12:30Am Houston)at the Rome airport after departing (Oct 13,5pm)Newark NJ. After going through immigration, and gathering my bag I asked for the shuttle location to my Holiday Inn. I found it, by luck, in the cold morning air and waited(9AM)15 minutes. I struck up a conversation with Ohio Folk waiting for their shuttle to Hilton Hotel. They, too, were going on the Carnival Dream Cruise.

I arrived at the hotel and dropped on my bed for a quick nap at 10AM. I noted I had about two hours before I might catch a free shuttle into downtown Rome for sightseeing by my lonesome self. My three girlfriends would not arrive until 6PM.
I overslept and awakened at 2 pm. I freshened and decided to take the 4pm shuttle to where-ever in Rome. On the shuttle was a Florida couple and a young Phillopino. We talked and shared our stories of arrival. The Florida couple hinted they were going right back on the same shuttle;they,too, tired to get off. The Phillopino was getting in some tourist time because he would be working the Cruise Ship tomorrow. I walked off the shuttle nervous as a cat on a hot tin roof. I prayed that the Florida couple would get off and stay with me,did not happen. The Phillopino man asked of my plans. I said confidently, "see the sites" and then turned my back to take I Phone pictures of my surroundings as to remember how to get back and catch the shuttle back to hotel. It would be dark by 8pm and I was alone with no contact with my familiar safety net.