With Paris under our belts and a much greater understanding of each of our strengths and limitations, we set out yet again for an international voyage!
We arrived in Ciampino at around 7:30 and while both Sheila and I are used to getting around the hard way (i.e. busses plus walking) we treated our tired-selves to a cab and headed straight to our hotel near the Trevi Fountain.
The fountain has such a powerful draw that we walked past our hotel and straight to it right away with our luggage.
I can't believe we are staying only a block away from this incredible landmark. The last time I was here, with Jackie, we were too poor to even rent a hotel. We stayed in a room near Termini train station for about 20 lire a night.* I don't remember having a bathroom, and Jackie remembers loads of beer bottles outside on the street every morning... More than she'd ever seen before (and that's saying something!).
Legend has it that if you throw a coin into the fountain, you are guaranteed a return. Supposedly over 3,000 euros are tossed in each day!
After dropping luggage and marvelling that our room was in a different building than the lobby and that the narrow, cobbled streets actually did accomodate fast-driving mini-cars, we headed out for some fresh pasta and gelato. As Jackie can attest, I can't go a day in Rome without gelato. Thank God there were many, many places from which to choose.
*We considering heading back to me and Jackie's old haunt and to auction off our room at Trevi. When I booked it Benedict hadn't yet resigned. Given that tomorrow is Francis' inauguration, I bet we'd get a pretty penny for the room.
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