September 23rd - Tuscany to Rome
Breakfast was always filled with a variety of foods. We were never starving on the tour. But all the walking did build up an appetite so we were able to sample the options available.
Time for one last grape - load the suitcases on the bus - & wave Goodbye to the staff until next time we visit!
Hub dropped us off in Rome and we walked the block to the hotel. We are sad to say Goodbye to Hub. He was an amazing driver and became part of the group. We sure appreciated his skill and knowledge.
Hotel Selene
Our room is on the top floor, that would be the 4th floor in Europe, so we have a great view. Lots of space. We all decided after the bus ride to walk up the stairs instead of waiting for the elevator to get to our rooms, but 4 floors ended up a lot of stairs. Maybe we should have waited for a ride.
The breakfast room is on the second floor, so we can walk down the stairs or ride the elevator, depending on how much walking we plan to do that day.
The breakfast room is on the second floor, so we can walk down the stairs or ride the elevator, depending on how much walking we plan to do that day.
After dropping our bags in our rooms, we met downstairs to our next destination. Keith brought us to the Rome metro station and our final lesson to getting around on the metro. Our local guide, Gabriella, gave us a tour of the Vatican. She was so knowledgeable and thorough. This is a city in itself and she showed us all the highlights. She even knew where we should stand in the Sistine Chapel to see the ceiling as it was best to see. She made us feel welcome in this very special place.
Free time before dinner
We had some free time between the Vatican tour and dinner. We thought it was a perfect time to find some gelato. We learned a valuable lesson. Don't stop too close to the Vatican. We paid a small fortune for 3 cappuccinos, 2 gelatos and a sandwich. So always ask for a menu and walk a block or two away from the major attraction.
Group Dinner
We had our group dinner tonight at Hostaria dei Bastioni, a small family run restaurant. We knew we would be well taken care of when we saw the picture of Rick Steves and Antonio, the owner, on the wall.
Evening walking tour of Rome
Keith took us on an evening walk to the Spanish steps, the Trevi Fountain and the Piazza Navona. We rode back to the hotel on a local bus. Now that was a fun experience.