Rome

Rome is only a 2-1/2 hour flight from Madrid but with airport transfers, early check-in, etc. it still took pretty much the whole day to get there. The final walk to our Rome hotel was made even longer when I took us on a confused detour after our last bus dropped us off at an unfamiliar side of the train station after dark. So our suitcases got rolled over a few extra blocks of narrow cobblestone sidewalks, but eventually I got my bearings and we found our way to our hotel. Our room was no bigger than a walk-in closet, but it was efficiently laid out and suited our needs just fine.

The following day was our only full one in Rome and we spent it just walking around. We had been to Rome before and seen most of the big sights, so this time we kept it to a low key stroll. And walking, provided you can avoid being run over by insane Italian drivers, is the best way to experience the city. There is always another baroque fountain, gothic church, or Roman ruin around the next corner. It was mostly sunny for our stroll, but cold. One doesn't normally associate Rome with hat and glove winter weather but that was definitely our experience here in December. The cold weather did not, however, stop Deborah from requiring gelato. Twice.

Another beautiful church


_
_
...and this one mixes modern art in with the old frescoes.


_
_


_
_
At the Spanish Steps.


_
_
Interesting reflected light pattern on an old ruin.


_
_
Piazza de Popolo


_
_
Fortunately, the Italians are not large people.


_
_
Piazza Navona

_