Roma - Day 1 & Day 2

I’m happy to report that we're home. I would like to take some time to write up a pretty detailed analysis, just so when someone else is researching their trip, they can have this to look on. I’ll have to write in installments.
Day 1 & Day 2 – Roma
We left on our KLM flight (Airbus A330) to Amsterdam from Seattle. What a nice flight. Not only are the engines really quiet but everyone gets their own TV! I watched – That thing you do (all time fav), Bobby, Mr & Mrs Smith, and some others. We were there in what seemed like no time. KLM also feeds you like crazy so I was stuffed when we landed - 9 hours later.

After a short layover, we boarded for Rome. We landed about 2 hours later. There are 2 trains that will take you downtown Rome from the airport and they are pretty easy to find. We boarded the cheaper one with more stops and got off within walking distance to our hotel.

Tip 1 – always have a small map of where your hotel is with the street address. (The big maps won't help). I forgot to print that off and we needed to find an internet café to get to the hotel.

Il Roserio is where we stayed it’s a convent turned b&b with very simple yet cheap accommodations. It was about $85 a night, which in Rome, is a great price with breakfast. The nuns spoke very little English and you needed to get through the secure gates when leaving and coming in -making it very safe for us to leave our things.

Getting up early was tough, but we tried. Starting at the Vatican, we knew it would be busy and it was. The line was 3 blocks long - no way - we couldn't waste a whole day in line. Instead seeing the free St. Peter’s Basilica. We'll save the museums for another time. The Basilica was amazing and huge. It's the largest church in Christianity and holds over 60,000 people. While there, we fell upon the tombs. The burials of the past popes, including Pope John Paul II, a security guard by that one. After that, we walked over to the Spanish Steps then down along the Pantheon, Capital building, and a bunch of other churches, duomos and monuments and building along the way that were highlighted on our map.Next, the Colosseum and audiotour. Really Interesting. The Forums & Ruins were really neat. we spent a few hours just walking around that area. So interesting when you think of the history right there. Unreal. Back at the B&B, we rested a little until dinner, anticipating a full day of travel to get to Praiano the next day.

Tip 2 – You can't see Rome in a day, so why try? I loved Rome, I'll come back in a heartbeat.

Stay tuned for more on our trip...