Saturday: Arrive in Rome
Our flight landed mid-morning and after clearing customs, we headed for the train. We found it easy to find where we needed to be and to buy tickets to take us to Termini Station, which was not far from our tour hotel, Dharma Style which is in the Monti area. Unfortunately I didn't realize that my Google Maps was set to car not foot and we ended up lost and walking in circles. Eventually with the help of some nice Italians, we got where we needed to be.
The people at the Dharma Style hotel were extremely nice and helpful. The provided breakfast was good, with fruit, pastries, cheese and some meat, and good Italian coffee. Our bed was comfortable and the room was attractive. The only minus is that the room did not cool to the extent we prefer and the days we were there were hot.
After dropping off our luggage we got some lunch at a restaurant around the corner. We know it wasn't the kind of place Rick Steves recommends, but it was 2:00 p.m. and it was open, which was about all the recommendation we needed at the time. Actually the food wasn't bad.
The people at the Dharma Style hotel were extremely nice and helpful. The provided breakfast was good, with fruit, pastries, cheese and some meat, and good Italian coffee. Our bed was comfortable and the room was attractive. The only minus is that the room did not cool to the extent we prefer and the days we were there were hot.
After dropping off our luggage we got some lunch at a restaurant around the corner. We know it wasn't the kind of place Rick Steves recommends, but it was 2:00 p.m. and it was open, which was about all the recommendation we needed at the time. Actually the food wasn't bad.
Our initial plan was to head to the Baths of Diocletian, which were just a short walk from the hotel. This ancient structure had been re-purposed at a museum and a church so we thought we'd see it and then head a mile or so down the road to another church for an English Mass. Fatigue struck and when we realized that Mass would start at Santa Maria degli Angeli before long, we decided to try Mass in Italian.
I'll admit it was hard to stay awake at Mass, though we made it. We got a quick bite to eat and went to bed early!