Friday 12/11/2010

Dull, overcast and damp feeling today in Siena. By 9.15am we had showered, had breakfast and Mike had done a sketch while sitting on the balcony around from our room, which overlooked the entrance. Checkd out, left our bags at the hotel and walked to the "Fast food" Nannini's for a coffee and to buy a panini to take on the train for lunch. As the weather was not looking good and rain was threatening we decided to call a taxi and go to the station. The station was fairly quite so we found a spot in the corner and I sat and read while Mike sketched.  The train departed on time at 11:18am, arriving in Firenze SMN at 12:55pm leaving 15 minutes to change to our train for Rome. We had already been to the station and knew the layout was all on one lavel (thank heavens!) We came in down the back end of the train from Siena on Platform 3 and had to go to Platform 11 and our reserved seats were in Car 3 which was one of the furtherest from the head of the platform so it was all go-go-go till we goth there to find our seats and stow our luggage for the trip(hopefully not too far away and within sight). The ride was good and the staff came through 1st Class (where we were) with complimentary drinks and nibbles. Then they came back with a small packaged biscuit each. Arrived at Roma Termini on time at 2:45pm. Out to the taxi rank and a fellow directed us to a taxi which was sitting almost in the middle of the road. The driver told us there was a demonstration happening and that the trip to the hotel would take 25-30 minutes and it would cost 35 Euro. What do you do when you do not know how far away the hotel is?  We accepted and were at our hotel in about 9 minutes. He managed to get us out of the taxi, we paid him and was gone so quickly that we did not think to challenge him on the price. The receptionist told us it should have cost about 10 Euro (we guess we need to add the cost for bags as they charge extra per bag).  After check-in we walked to the Trevi Fountain and parted with some coins! Not far away was a Gelati place (Gelato di San Crispino) which is mentioned in the book Eat, Love, Pray so we found that and had a gelati. Off then to the Spanish Steps and a couple from Manchester, UK askd us on the way if we knew where the Steps were so we walked together.  After some photos we walked down via Condotti, looking at all the expensive brand shops (Dior, Burberry, Versace, Jimmy Choo, Giorgio Armani) and taking photos of them, with the crowds as the sun set along this street. Found a place to eat however it was only 5:30pm so we sat with a drink till about 6pm when we ordered dinner. We both enjoyed our last dinner in Europe! Walked home via another Piazza (they are everywhere).  We had the "Rooftop" room and it was SMALL!! Not a lot of room to spare with the bed against one corner of the room.  Hopefully we will get a good night's sleep as tomorrow will be long - flight at 12:25pm to Hong Kong arriving Sunday 7am. Today I finished another book  " A lesser Evil" by Lesley Pearse (I will leave it here) and I am about to start on my third - "Under the Tuscan Sun" by Frances Mayes which I bought in Florence.