Rome

May 12th - May 15th 2011

Thursday 12th May 2011

Home to Rome

Up at around 07.30 for our last minute packing. I’d been doing the Lottery the night before so a little groggy. 

Left for the airport at 09.30ish. Pretty easy run down to Heathrow. We were at Terminal 4 so didn’t have to fight through the tunnel. Pulled up outside and the Purple Parking man was there. Got our stuff unloaded and headed for check-in. 

Alitalia have this automated check-in thing where you have to print your boarding passes and then queue to hand them over. Bit of a bear garden at this point. I got to a machine but it didn’t recognise my code so I got the attention of one of the staff. She checked us in and then seemed totally stumped by the chair! Eventually told us we had to queue – which is what we were planning to do anyway! 

At the front there was one person checking in with another senior bloke just watching her – really slow. Eventually got our bags through and a tag for the chair. Leaves you exhausted before you’ve even tackled security. 

In fact there were no problems there – we got sent down a quiet lane and they got us scanned, checked and on our way quite quickly. 

Did a little bit of shopping for a few things and then found somewhere to sit down and get some food. It was 10.50 by this point and it’s traditional to have breakfast number 2. Fancied a coffee and a pain-au-chocolat. They didn’t have any. Then fancied a croissant – no chance. In the end we went for an omelette, potato wedges and a sandwich. Actually really good food so we lingered there for a bit. Some chaps came in dressed as the Blues Brothers – obviously off on a stag do! 

We picked up a half hour delay so we wandered around the terminal for a bit before heading down to the departure gate. We had an air-bridge so getting on the plane was fine. Only problem was the 6 mile walk to the back of the plane. Alitalia have this mad rule that people with disabilities must be sat in one of the final rows on the plane. Makes it knackering for Nikki to get there though. 

Quite a long delay on the taxi-way as other planes took off before us. When we were up we were treated to the legendary Alitalia hospitality – a drink and a biscuit! Think they should go to the EasyJet system of selling you food and drinkies. 

Landed in Rome and waited for the helpers. We weren’t on an air-bridge so had to wait for the Ambu-Lift. They got us off easily enough and took us around to passport control and onwards to the baggage reclaim. Very helpful girl who waited with us. Took ages for the bags to come through. Initially I’d planned on dashing off at this point to get the car, but figured we were late so there was no real rush. 

Went straight to the Avis garage and got the car in double-quick time. Very small car as they were so darn expensive in Rome. Squashed everything in and off we went. 

I’d spent ages on Google Earth working out how to get to the hotel as it’s right next to a complicated motorway junction. Thought I’d figured it – but oh no! Found ourselves going north on the Rome ring-road and it just went downhill from there. We could see the damn hotel but just couldn’t get there. By the time I’d finished shouting at anything and everything it was getting dark. It was at this point we came across ladies of the night hiding in the woods by the side of the road. We decided they should be called Wood Hookers! 

Finally found our way there and pulled up outside the hotel. The bell-boy came straight out and helped with the bags. Reception took a while as they explained all the possible upgrade opportunities to us – but it all cost money. Of all the Marriotts I’ve stayed in, this one was by far the most grasping! Breakfast was €27, Internet was €22, Parking was €12 per day and so the list went on. 

Eventually got to our room and unpacked for our two night stay. I nipped down for some chocolate supplies from the hotel shop and we got the kettle going. 

After a bit of a rest it was time for hunting down some food. We got on the road we know towards central Rome and pulled off where we’d been previously to a supermarket. By this time they were all closed – but we found a decent restaurant for some tea. I had pizza and Nikki went for a pasta dish. Nice food. Back to the hotel and collapsed into a Marriott bed – result.

Friday 13th May 2011

Rome

Up around 08.00 and ready for breakfast! Our plan of buying breakfast the night before had failed because of the closed supermarket so I decided to go and check out what the bakery at the bottom of the hill had to offer. Came back armed with pain-au-chocolat and various other bits and pieces. Result. Cost less than €5 compared to the €50 the hotel wanted. 

This turned into the day of naps – Nikki had about 8, I had about 5. It was designed as our big rest day. 

I went to find the spa and indoor pool and found it opened at Midday. After a few naps we decided lunch was in order so went back down the hill to the supermarket next to the little bakery and bought what we needed for lunch – and for tomorrow’s breakfast. 

We hit the spa around 13.30 - €10 each to get it – but it was all part of our relaxation therapy. Lovely warm pool and a grassed area outside with sun-beds. Had the place pretty much to ourselves. Both dozed off again on the sun-beds! 

Back up to the room around 16.00 for a nap! Had a shower to wake ourselves up and jumped in the car for a trip into central Rome. I had in mind a restaurant near Barberini where we’d eaten previously. Got near to the Colosseum and then got horribly lost AGAIN! This wasn’t too bad as there were lots of things to see. At one point we were pulled over by the police to let a parade of Ferrari cars go past – and then we couldn’t get rid of them. It seemed every corner we got to, there were police pulling us over to let the Ferraris go by! 

Eventually found Barberini and parked in a back-street. Found the restaurant I had in mind and settled in for a good meal. Really nice food and as it was on the pavement we kept having the Ferraris go by. Never heard that sort of roar before – the ground was shaking as they accelerated up Barberini.

Back out of Rome to the hotel for another well deserved sleep!

Saturday 14th May 2011

Rome

We were picking Stuart up at the airport at 11.30ish so we had a leisurely breakfast in the room. Really nice sitting there and watching the cars go by in the very far distance on the Grande Raccordo Annulare (Rome’s ring-road).  

Checked out and after a bit of arguing about the parking charges we were on our way. 

Stuart texted as we approached the airport to say he’d landed. We parked illegally outside the terminal and after a quick bit on the mobile phone managed to find him. 

This part of the trip was on Nikki’s free points night so we were heading for the Intercontinental at the top of the Spanish Steps. As the hotel is in an area restricted for cars we were supposed to tell the hotel about our car before so they could warn the Rome police – sadly we forgot. 

This time we didn’t get lost! Found the hotel simply enough and pulled up outside. Bell-boy was there to meet us and take the bags in. Check-in was simple enough – bit of a discussion about free internet and breakfast. Duty Manager escorted us to our room – they’d upgraded us to a Junior Suite. Only problem was the lift. This IC is in a very old building so the lift is VERY narrow. Couldn’t get the chair in there so Nikki had to stand! 

Up to the room and a swift unpack. Nikki had a quick nap while I got the kettle on. Surprised that a hotel of this level doesn’t have tea and coffee facilities – so we had to rely on our trusty travel kettle.

By now it was time for a spot of lunch. We met in the lobby via a quick look at Stuart’s room and wandered across to the Spanish Steps. Amazingly close to the Steps. Took us a bit of a while to figure where the lift down was and when we found it, we saw the disabled lift that takes you down to the main lift was broken. Poor Nikki had to slowly climb down two flights of stairs before we could get to the main lift. 

Wandered around the square at the foot of the Steps for a bit and then went off into a side street where we found an outdoor café doing some lunch. Noticed a number of TV cameras that were filming 6 glamorous looking women having lunch at a nearby café. Figured they were filming something like America’s Next Top Model. Had a nose around and spoke to the American group on the next table to us – they didn’t recognise anyone either, so it wasn’t just us! 

After lunch we walked back around to the square to find an ice-cream shop. Very nice indeed. As we were standing, eating our ice-cream near the lift back up to the top of the steps, I noticed some of the buildings were connected to the top so thought I’d be a bit cheeky. Went into one of them which turned out to be a wine importer. Asked if we could use their lift and they were more than happy to help! Lift took us up but sadly there were still some steps to negotiate at the top. The Romans clearly never considered disabled access important when they were designing Rome! 

Back to the hotel for some down time. Both me and Nikki ended up lying on our IC bed and true to form we dozed off. 

Woke up around 17.00 to plan our evening. Walked down the road to some shops which were right on Barberini – bought some nibbles and went back to Stuart’s room and sat on his terrace.

We’d planned to go to Piazza Navona for tea so we got the hotel to call us a cab. Got dropped off just around the corner and went into the square. Found the restaurant we’d eaten in last year and got ourselves settled for an evening of eating! Excellent meal. It’s great sitting there watching all the people go by.

After dinner we tried for an ice-cream but all the shops were being a bit sniffy so we decided not to give them our business. 

Got a cab back to the hotel – driven wildly by a woman who was shouting into her phone and steering with one hand through the Rome traffic – much respect and glad we didn’t die! 

At this point Nikki decided to call it a night so me and Stuart watched some Eurovision in his room for a bit before I turned in around 23.00 as well.

Saturday 14th May 2011

Rome to Home

 

I was up by around 06.30. Went for a walk by the Spanish Steps to see if we could find somewhere for breakfast. Didn’t fancy the €37 per person at the IC. Found a little place at the top of the Steps so went back to the hotel to collect the other two. 

Not a great deal on offer for breakfast and the ultimate problem came when they said they’d run out of strawberry jam. I remembered we’d bought a jar when staying at the Marriott and that it was somewhere in our room. Nipped back and grabbed it. After breakfast we left it for them! 

Back to the hotel to sort out the car. It was already parked outside as the hotel’s garage closes at 13.00 on a Sunday and we’d told them we were going at about 14.30. After another relax in our room we met for lunch. Decided to take the car and drive illegally down to the Fontana di Trevi. Parked in the same place I found last year and walked around to the Fountain area. Loads of people thronging around as usual. Found a place for lunch – not a bad pizza at all. It was threatening rain but we managed to finish our meal without getting rained on. 

After lunch it was time for our final ice-cream in Rome on this trip. Went to the place we always go and sat in the shop enjoying it! 

Drove back up to the hotel and got our things packed and left for the airport at around 14.30. Straight forward drive and got there in plenty of time. 

Dropped the car off and walked through to departures. No queue at all at the Alitalia desk. Got checked in and went through security and found a coffee place. Flight was on time. The Special Assistance was very good. They even brought a small on-board chair so Nikki wouldn’t have to walk to the back of the plane. Stuart managed to get a leg-room seat so everyone was happy! 

Back at Heathrow Stuart made a sharp exit as he had a train to catch. We got our bags and picked the car up from Purple Parking and headed home. 

Getting late by this time and we both have to be up for work on the Monday. Oh well – we’ll be knackered tomorrow!