March 16 and 17: Day 1 and 2

Please excuse the many mistakes you may see in this writing as we write this blog on my iPhone. This makes for interesting challenges.

Morning came early on the 16th after a short night, being up late and awake early to be on the plane. My sister Kate picked us up at 7:45. She was leaving for Las Vegas on a flight that left 20 minutes after ours. We laughed, what is the opposite of going to Italy on a Pilgrimage? Uhmm...that must be Las Vegas!😄

Wednesday we traveled through the Seattle airport enjoying fish and chips and a craft beer at the airport with 3 hours to call and say good byes to folks at home and answer a few last emails and then settle in to the long flight to Amsterdam. We had little time there, finding our way through airport construction to catch a flight onto the last leg of our journey to Rome. 

Sitting with us was an American woman from Minneapolis and a couple in front of us from the tri-cities. Funny how Americans find each other. The woman sitting with us was anxiously anticipating 4 days in Rome with her husband who is working in Dubai. The couple was spending the week away from kids and  responsibilities. It turns out he is a stay at home dad, fluent in Arabic from his time in the war and now learning Italian. I am probably going to wish I had studied more of Italian as well.

Scotti has been busy reading Rick Steves and has information on trains, pick-pockets and taxies. Rick says be wary of the taxi drivers that will rip you off. Me my head is floating on anxiously awaiting the holy city.

Getting the train into the city was not hard but then negotiating with a taxi in a city we had no idea of our way around and not speaking the language that got interesting. My mild mannered, easy going friend told a pushy driver (after arguing if he was official) we would not ride with him. Then getting another taxi, that in the end we probably were ripped off by, he drove us around for 20 minutes when it turns out the hotel is only 4.2 kilometers from the train station. I see now we should have just taken a taxi or shuttle from the airport!!!!

Our view of St. Peter's Basilica from our room turns out to be a partial view and a 15 minute walk away. They have us in a king bed and while we are close friends we opt for changing rooms with two twin beds 6 inches apart.  The motel looked better on-line. The elevator is the size of a closet and the concierge at the front desk is a person with limited English.  Our patience is somewhat frayed. We are exhausted having not been able to sleep on the plane. I tell Scotti I have hit a wall, I need a nap. It is 4:00 Rome time on the 17th.

An hour and a half later we venture down to the front desk to get a map and are in search of dinner. We are given the name of a restaurant but find it closed. In fact,  all the restaurants are closed because it is still siesta time or whatever this time is called in Roman culture. Now hungry, tired and weary we wander towards the Vatican.

Like Angie's and my Pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago we are saved by a yellow arrow pointing the way to the Vatican and the Holy Doors we will walk through tomorrow.  In 5 minutes of walking we walk through the gates and behold the beautiful buildings and statues. Our hearts are satisfied.  We have arrived at the first official stop on our pilgrimage. We find an information center and get information on where the Holy Doors are located and the Vatican museums. This will be tomorrows adventure. 

A light rain is threatening, it is dark and shortly after 7. We go in search of dinner. We are not disappointed. We find an Italian restaurant with checkered tablecloths, live accordion music and a lovely red table wine. Scotti says this is the best spaghetti ever! I have a seafood pasta that is delicious. 

Scotti makes me laugh. As we are trying to talk her eyes keep closing. It is time for bed. We walk 10 minutes back to our hotel and slip quickly into bed.

Lesson Learned: 

Yes, we are now true pilgrims; tired, hungry and weary and searching.