MY JOURNEY - ROME

[Kiya]

Thank you LLL......it's been my pleasure to share it with you & all it truly is a wonderful place to visit

[Kiya]

Sunday 26th......... Nothing at all planned for today, this was to be total relaxation, most of the morning we just lounged about, showered but still not dressed, late morning the maids were eager to get in & do their daily work, I forgot the " do not disturb" sign was still hanging on our door, we tried to give them a day off explaining we were leaving the following morning & no need for changing beds etc today but they were insisting & said they had to do it, I guess they have a rota that's checked.
We got dressed & went for a walk around the hotel & grounds taking some photos.
The Rome Cavalieri Hotel is gorgeous, can't fault in any way the rooms spacious & always very clean with lovely bath/shower room, the beds with crisp white Egyptian cotton sheets etc & the beds/mattress I've no idea what they are made from but, it's comfiest bed I've ever used & we slept soundly every night.
We were in a good position on the 4th floor above the entrance to hotel, on the balcony we were never bored watching all the comings & goings, some days we saw groups .......must have been in the executive suites with their bodyguards leaving/ leading them to their smart posh cars & would you believe police escorts at front & following behind.
The management were welcoming, helpful & polite even with the maids & our lovely driver of the shuttle bus to the door men always cheerful & ready to greet us.
Around the hotel there is beautiful artwork, tapestries, statues, clocks etc etc etc, I believe the hotel has its own private art gallery which you have to pay if you want to see it.
Later in the afternoon using the shuttle bus we went down to Piazza Barberini for one more look around & some supper returning with the shuttle bus for the last time.
We started to pack our cases, mine seemed to be fuller this time...lol & really just had a lazy evening watching telly before some reading & bed.




















The last photo is a postcard of hotel in the 6o's from the back showing the grounds & looking over the city of Rome.

[Grandad]

Well I just got around to reading this chapter Kiya and as has been said, your advance planning really paid dividends.
Your description is very detailed and paints a picture for us as if we were there. All the art and architecture is amazing but what I find most incredible is the marble statues, some nearly 2000 years old.....how did they achieve such beauty with what must have been primitive tools.
Lovely personal touches too like choccies in your jimjams before bedtime......love it!

[LovelyLadyLux]

Very terrific Kiya! Lovin' your trip!

I must say, like Grandad, I'm always amazed as the quality of art that was turned out so long ago. So detailed and intricate yet the tools not like ours today. The work that went into these pieces was phenomenal and has lasted over the centuries and is still being appreciated today.

Also makes me wonder at all the art we've lost over the centuries. Lost in the sense of what has been destroyed by war and natural disaster or hidden away in personal galleries that are never open to the public. We have treasures that show so much of the past and we can't replicate them now.

I'd love to visit your neck of the woods just to soak up the feeling(s) of great works of art.

[Kiya]

Did you spot my squirrel in the grounds of the hotel, I thought I was going to catch a frontal view of him but, he was far too fast for me

[Ruby Slippers]

Kiya, fantastic account of your trip, with wonderful photos! Thanks so much for taking the trouble and making the time to share it with us!

[Kiya]

Thank you RS its been my pleasure to share with you all

[LovelyLadyLux]

Since Kiya just had a terrific (for the most part) trip and holiday to Italy I thought this might be applicable. Matter of fact Kiya might have even noticed this phenomena when she was there......


http://safeshare.tv/w/IEgQqEQmpJ

[Horus]

[Kiya]

..

[Kiya]

I just remembered I had to finish My Journey - Rome off

Monday 27th..... And so our day of departure had arrived, we were up bright & early showered & fed with cases already packed the day before.
We left our room meeting our maids we had for the week, thanking & tipping them for all their generosity shown to us, we headed for the checkout & bill, checking the bill we were a tad surprised to see on the list a charge for a A-city tax - 7Euros pp - p/n 98 Euros which we didn't know about, the receptionist explaining to us this tax started about 3 years ago in New York now in Italy & he told us he believed it had also started in London.

We had no more ado but to pay & say our Goodbyes to everyone & headed for outside where our lovely silver coloured Mercedes was already there waiting for us to take us back to Rome (FCO) airport for our flight at 14.40pm , of course the driver being very helpful & polite took charge of my case & helped me into the car & David again left to fend for himself.

Soon we reached the airport with the driver jumping out & round to my door helping me out & took my case straight into the front door of the airport with David following behind, paying him with thanks he wished us a safe trip home to Scotland.

We got rid of our cases within minutes so left us with 3 hours before our flight, that was ok, the airport is so big, modern, clean with plenty cafes, shops, duty free areas & smoking areas that we could take a coffee with us, our time soon passed as we always struck up conversations with different fellow passengers.

Before we knew it our gate was open & everyone started to board, we took off on time & had a pleasant fight of 2 hours to Frankfurt Intl.

Frankfurt Intl is another big, lovely airport with plenty to see just having a wonder around, our flight wasn't till 21.25 pm so a little time later we went for a light supper & coffee.

Again our time had flown by meeting with other passengers & the re-telling of their holiday stories, one gentleman was from South Africa & returning from a golfing holiday in Portugal, his journey to & fro was far longer than ours, he told us of once getting everything stolen in his wallet from his back jeans pocket where the thief unknown to him had slashed the pocket & got everything even his passport, what a nightmare he told us of sorting out the passport etc etc out.

I knew when booking at home this was a long layover but, the only other flight at the time was a 1 hour connecting time which I was too wary to chance in case of delays.

Once boarded & sitting comfortably we were ready just to relax & enjoy our flight home to Aberdeen which was a half hour late on takeoff due to air traffic being so busy, our female pilot (that was a first for us) was polite & kept us well informed.

Soon we were taxing down the runway & when coming to a stand I waited with excitement for the roar & revving up of the engines, the power of these amazes me every time & within seconds we were airborne, it was dark at this time but, I did watch from the window the lights of Frankfurt below slowly disappear into the darkness.

This was our first using Lufthansa airways & would recommend to anyone for comfort, roomy seats & the cabin crew very polite.

David as usual had his Kindle open while I looked through some magazines & listening to the 6 young lads sat around us, they were full of energy & cracking jokes with each other which I couldn't help over hearing & having a giggle myself.

The cabin crew came round handing out sandwiches & drinks of your choice which were lovely.

Can't quite believe I nodded off for a little while when David nudged me to say we'll be landing soon, just at that we heard & felt a very heard thud, looking at David & asking " what's that " he let me know it was the wheels dropping.......geez! never heard that before.

And so we were descending upon Aberdeen, looking out at the spread of lights showing around the beautiful grey granite city get closer & closer & soon we had the perfect touch down .

Leaving the plane & heading for arrivals to collect our cases, this I always think is the longest boring part of any journey they finally came through, heading out for a ciggy & there to meet us was David's son David, with cases in boot we set off through the winding road leading from the airport to the main Aberdeen - Peterhead road.

Once on the main road the winds got up & heavy rain started.........oh aye! I say, " we are definitely home"

[Grandad]

And so, safely home.
I have enjoyed reading your holiday account Kiya even with its ups and downs. Great description and lots of lovely pictures....Thanks for sharing and do the same again on your next trip.

[Kiya]

Grandad - Thank you glad you enjoyed it & all the pictures

I've already been looking into my next journey but wont say just yet or when I'll get there, but, somewhere in Europe

[Horus]

I will echo Grandads sentiments, a great little travelogue with great pictures and very well narrated. I was especially pleased to see that your final day went to plan and no nasty glitches to spoil things. I too am looking forward to your next sojourn. but may I suggest that next time you take some handsome forum admin person with you to such a lovely location.

[Kiya]

Horus - Thank you also & that handsome forum admin would be more than welcome

I forgot to add there is one more mishap on our way home to Aberdeen, when David woke me to say we were near to descending he closed his Kindle & put it in the pocket of the seat in front together with his glasses, seat belts were already on so he couldn't reach the holdall above.

He didn't realise till he was home the next day he'd left the 2 items behind, phoning the airport for lost goods & so many other numbers to try, in the end he gave up & just put it down to forgetfulness on his part.....shame

[Horus]

& that handsome forum admin would be more than welcome

Already applying the 'handsome' cream and started jogging to lose a few pounds (stones ) and filling out my passport renewal form as we speak

[Kiya]

Well that renewal passport wont take long, mine was back in only 1 week

[Horus]

Well that renewal passport wont take long, mine was back in only 1 week

It's the application of the 'handsome' cream that may take a bit longer to get a result.

[Kiya]

[LovelyLadyLux]

Sounds like a terrific trip and sounds like you met a few interesting travellers too (poor guy from S.Africa losing his stuff too). Hopefully the airlines will find and retrieve your brother's Kindle. I'd imagine the airline staff have it and it might take a bit to get it over to a lost and found. Am SURE there is lots left in the cabins so there has to be a procedure for reclaiming it.

GREAT TRIP, totally enjoyed all if in including the pictures! (Still want to know how they got all those extremely detailed carvings up to high and hanging forward!)