Writing From Roma

Well, here I am in the eternal city and, while two of my friends are trekking through the Vatican Museums and the Sistene Chapel, I am sitting here in an internet shop, catching up on email and relaxing.  I decided to forego the crowds and lines of tourists since I was here last year and spent hours strolling leisurely with two friends, taking it all in stride.  We had a wonderful day at the Vatican, looked at beautiful art, and endured several days of neck pain from craning to look at Michelangelo°s ( sorry, I can°t seem to find the apostrophe on this Italian computer! ) beautiful Sistene Chapel - all the while being told to "shush" by stern women whenever we uttered a sound!  I just didn°t feel up to going it again in the middle of a crowded tour group, hence my friends are off and I am at a Roman computer! 

I had a joyous flight here in KLM business class on a 747.  I thought they had made a mistake and put me in first class as the seats were unbelievable.  They reclined totally so that I was able to sleep completely stretched out - now, that is definitely the way to do a transatlantic flight!  I had an unbelievable meal, a choice of champagne, three white wines, two reds, port with my cheese and countless cocktails...okay, I had a glass of champage, two glasses of a nice French wine, a fabulous filet mignon and port with my cheese.  I slept a full five hours, with no trouble at all.  I will fly business class on Air France on the way home.  Let us see how they compare with KLM...then it is back to poverty class for all my travels!

The Hotel Napoleon, a small property I discovered last year, thanks to Trip Advisor, is delightful and I was warmly welcomed like a returning dignitary.  Last night, was their weekly wine tasting hour in which  hotel manager, Roberto Cioci, presides and all the hotel management attend.  It is a delightful event and the gods of air travel prevailed and made sure my flight was not delayed and I arrived in time to attend.  I was so surprised when someone came up to me and asked, "Are you Carmen Henesy?"  It seems she had seen me writing on cruise critic.com and was booked into the Hotel Napoleon on my recommendation.  She is also sailing on the Navigator with us tomorrow.  The internet truly makes for a small world.

Tonight, we are off to Orso 80 for dinner, a wonderful place I discovered last year, thanks to a sales person at the Rome Harley Davidson store!  We looked it up on Trip Advisor and it came highly recommended by a number of people.  I also wrote my own review after eating there.  I thought my friends would like it so that was all arranged before I left San Fancisco.

Tomorrow, about 9AM, we will head for Civetivecchia, about 90 minutes from Rome where we board the Navigator of the Seas for six days.  My next communication will be from on board the ship.  Forgive any typos, etc - this computer speaks Italian and I do not!!   Arrivaderci for now!