I spoke with Heidi this morning. She's already there. Seems military transport is kickin'. Due to the fact she didn't know what day she would get there, Heidi arrived in Rome sans reservations and has spent the last two nights in two different hotels. Interestingly enough, the locals speak some English, but aren't very helpful. We wondered if Americans are helpful to foreign tourists when they visit in the US and vowed to do better in the future. I myself talk too much to strangers as Marsh and Daron are often quick to point out.
Always the brave one, Heidi scheduled a haircut first thing. A typical Drylie, Heidi has a lot of hair AND a cowlick in the front. She says the male hairdresser (who was very nice) struggled with the mutinous cowlick and kept muttering something under his breath that sounded strangely like....'rebel, rebel'...Only having known Heidi a short period of time and he already had her AND her insubordinate hair pegged.
Scheduled Itinerary ~Heidi and Kerri’s Trip to Italy
Rome: Stay at the Aberdeen Hotel with the tour group, drink Frascati White & Torre Ercolana Red.
It is recommended you DO drink Roman water.
10/20 Fri ~ Kerri leaves Orlando at 10:35 a.m. Hopes everything fits into her suitcase.
10/21 Sat ~ Kerri arrives in Rome from Florida, 8:40 a.m.
Reservations at Anna Rosa’s B & B near Termini Station.
Kerri drags her overstuffed suitcase uphill unassisted. Anna Rosa's is possibly located in a seedy part of town. There were no rooms available at the local convents.
10/22 Sun ~ K & H meet with tour group at 3:00 p.m., evening; dinner with tour.
K & H go back to their room later and talk about their fellow
travelers.
10/23 Mon ~ Colosseum, Forum, Pantheon (picnic?), evening & dinner on our own. Heidi has already seen the Colosseum and declared it was "GARGANTUAN". She likes that word.
Churches near the fountain, ‘Miscellanea’, Trevi Fountain,
Gelatoria, San Crispino, Basilica de San Clemente.
Drop dead later that evening due to the fact I did not get in better shape prior to the trip.
10/24 Tues ~ Vatican City, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s, evening & dinner with the Pope, excuse me, the tour group.....
Side note: During a military de-briefing, Heidi was informed Italy was 'high on the terrorist alert watch'. I am thinking this is probably due to the close relationship enjoyed by the Pope with certain members of the Middle East community. I am not sure what this means to everyone else, but I can tell you what it means to me. In case of trouble, Heidi and I are bolting and it's every tour member for his/her own self......end note.
10/25 Wed ~ Cooking class, afternoon, evening & dinner on our own.
Night Walk across Rome? Campo de Fiori (dinner?),Piazza Navona,
Street Scenes, Four Rivers Fountain, Tre Scalini, (Death by Chocolate),Castle St. Angelo, Bridge of Angels......
10/26 Thurs ~ Ostica Antica coast, Appian Way, evening & dinner on our own. Catacombs, Cappuccin Crypt, Palatine Hill
10/27 Fri ~ Borghese Gallery, Last Supper, afternoon free, evening and dinner with the tour.
Florence: Hotel Aldobrandini (two nights)
10/28 Sat ~ Breakfast, train ride to Florence, 1.5 hrs.
Santa Maria Novella and perfumery. I hear this is lovely.
Uffizi @ 1:45 p.m., San Lorenzo Market (where we will buy leather goods), Ponte Vecchio, Pitti Palace, Boboli Gardens, Brancacci Chapel (make reservations)
10/29 Sun ~ Accademia Gallery @ 10:00 a.m., Museum of San Marco, Straw Market, bring stuff home for everyone.
Medici Chapel @2:30
10/30 Mon ~ Duomo, Baptistery, Palazzo Vecchio, Giotti’s Tower,
Churches, Santa Maria Novella and perfumery. Wait. Is this on here two times? 
Late afternoon, Kerri takes train back to Rome. Staying one night in Rome at Hotel Pensione Italia, Via Venezia 18. I like the sound of 'pensione'. Reminds me of Room With A View. Let's hope so.
Heidi takes train/bus ~ Cinque Terre
I think Cinque Terra is pronounced 'chinka terra'.
Cinque Terre: Hotel Villa Steno (Heidi ~ two nights)
10/31 Tues ~ Kerri Flies Home. Leaves Rome 11:30 a.m.
Heidi spends day in Monterosso. Cinque Terra is the 'southernest' most point of the Italian Rivera.
11/1 Wed ~ Heidi spends day in Monterosso. 
Heidi takes train/bus Back to Rome, p.m. Where will Heidi stay?
11/2 Thurs ~ Heidi flies back to Afghanistan via most of the cities of Europe and the Middle East. That or she goes AWOL.
More later. Maybe.
K
1 comment:
Sounds like you are in for a great trip Kim . I was in Rome once when i was in my 20s . Interesting city and at the time (I'm sure it's the same now) any place we ate had delicious Italian food . I made a point of finding some bad pasta and finally did at a horrible cafateria type place . Tastedlike plastic . Then it was back to the great bistros with the wonderful food . Have a great time Kim , Allan
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