As always, Fodors proved to be a fabulous resource in planning my trip and so I wanted to give back a bit with a trip report. My apologies for it taking so long to get started!

I always like to start with a background on who we are and how we like to travel. Therefore you don't waste your time reading if our interests don't match, etc. In addition, I like to provide some background on how I planned the trip....my thought process and resources.

Our Background:

I am 33 and my husband is 44. I'm in academia and DH is in sales. We have no kids, except for furry ones (1 dog and 1 cat). Therefore, the trip report will not contain any information about children and children's activities.

I love to travel and DH doesn't. But he loves me and he tags along. In general, I go-go-go all day long and he hangs out at the hotel or around the hotel. Therefore, when we travel, the hotel is VERY important. It needs to have all the typical US amenities and be convenient for him. The hotel ends up making up a big part of our budget. No B&B's for us.

In past travels (i.e., our Benelux trip in Fall 2010) I tried to force him to do a lot of cultural things and he was miserable and grumpy. I always feel like he's missing out on life if he doesn't see a certain church or painting. However, after the grumpiness of the last trip, I decided to try things differently on this trip. I would not force him to do anything he didn't want to and so be it. At least he had the opportunity.

What do I like to do? I love art, architecture, churches, and ancient ruins. In terms of art, I am generally an expressionist/impressionist kind of person. So Italy in all of it's Baroque and Renaissance splendor would be new to me. In addition, I am not at all religious but am fascinated by religion. So again, Italy and it's Catholicness (for lack of a better word) would be interesting.

What don't we do? We don't drink wine or beer. I don't drink at all, and DH occasionally drinks whiskey. We aren't big foodies (I don't eat anything that comes from water). We're not outdoorsy people (no hiking, no biking, etc.).

My motto has always been "You can rest when you die." Life is too short and every day should be lived to the fullest. Therefore, my itineraries may seem VERY overwhelming to some people. But it works for me, and that's really all that matters. The world is so big....who knows when I'll return to this region again, so I try to take it all in.

Coming up.....trip planning.

Trip Planning:

This trip originally began with the cruise. We cruise approx. 3 times per year. We were originally booked on an Alaskan cruise and it was cancelled. Since we were moving in mid-July, we decided we needed to rebook on another cruise in May. So we started looking at Europe. Rome was always the #1 destination on my bucket list and I knew I didn't want a cruise that only stopped in Rome for 1 day. That narrowed our choices considerably.

Once we decided on the cruise, then we had to figure out how to get to Europe. We had a ton of frequent flyer miles on American and DH started getting insistent about flying in either business or first. Given that we had so many miles we decided to search for first class award flights. The trip originally started out being about 3 days pre-cruise, followed by the cruise, but given the award ticket availability we ended up flying out 10 days before the cruise.

So, now...wow...I have 10 days to plan in Rome! I was all over the place. Do I want to try and squeeze in Venice and Florence? Or do I really want to devote time to Rome? I decided to focus all my energy on Rome, given that it was my dream destination.

I grabbed guidebooks galore, watched a lot of Rick Steves episodes and started planning. After a lot of advice on here (some of it negative - saying I was doing "too much") I decided on the following itinerary:

Day 1: Miami -> London (10 hour layover) -> Rome (late arrival)
Day 2 - 6: Rome
Day 7: Day trip to Florence
Day 8: Day trip to Orvieto
Day 9: Day trip to Ostia Antica
Day 10: Rome
Day 11: Cruise - depart from Rome
Day 12: Sicily
Day 13: Sea Day
Day 14: Athens, Greece
Day 15: Kusadasi, Turkey
Day 16: Crete
Day 17: Sea Day
Day 18: Rome -> Madrid (overnight)
Day 19: Madrid -> London -> Miami

As you can see, our flight routings gave us some layovers. We booked somewhat last minute in first class, so we didn't have much choice.

Hotel: Oh wow, the choices were so overwhelming in Rome. Trying to find the amenities we wanted made it even more difficult. DH is a bigger guy, so anytime the reviews said "Small bathroom/shower" I had to run away. If a typical American thought it was small, then chances are DH wouldn't fit in it. In addition, we needed something with Wifi and elevators.

We ended up choosing the Artemide Hotel. I'll provide a full review later, but let's just say that it was expensive and worth it! Many people on here said we should be closer to the "action" and this hotel would be too far away. I disagree. It was great and helped keep off the pounds

Transportation:

We pre-arranged private cars to/from airports. I bought train tickets on the day of travel. We used taxis throughout Rome, and also buses.

On this trip I think I used almost every single mode of transportation: plane, train, automobile, funicular, chair lift, subway, bus (private & public), cruise ship.

Restaurants:

I didn't bother doing any research. We relied on hotel recommendations or restaurants with a good menu. It worked for us. Remember, we're not foodies.

Money:

We just did ATMs upon arrival. I had 30 euros left over from the last trip. That worked out good for us.

Cruise excursions:

We booked everything privately with a group I met on the internet.

I prebooked all tours for Rome beforehand.

I ended up with a giant spreadsheet to organize when things were open, etc. and then transferred this to my "travel book" that I bring with me on all trips. It basically has a page for every day and says what I have booked and what I have planned for the day. That way, if I don't make it to everything I can still have that page and figure a way to fit the site in later.

I think that's it....planning this trip took about 5 months. Not every day or anything, but on and off.

So, was your husband happy?

I'm looking forward to your report. You and your husband are similar to my BF & I (except for the drinking part!), so I'm excited to hear how everything works out!

twiggers - I think I remember your TR from your last trip. [i particularly recall your DH's excursions in amsterdam's brown cafes]. and i admire your practical approach to planning within your parameters.

So I'm looking forward to this one.

Oh, I'm looking forward to this report since I have a similar predicament. I'm a go, go, go type and my SO could sit in a cafe, have a diet soda and watch the world go by.

Anticipation.........can't wait for more.

Hi all! Sorry for not getting more out....we're moving next week, so it's been crazy! I'll get some more written this weekend.

As for DH....yes, he ended up pretty happy. We brought an iPad and a laptop along with 2 movies we had from Netflix and a season of the Sopranos.

Since we had free internet at the hotel, DH would veg out during the day and watch TV/movies that he downloaded from iTunes (I preloaded the account with $50 before we left). I'd come back in the late afternoon and we would go out for dinner together.

ANN: You are correct re Amsterdam. I pushed him a bit too much on that trip and have learned. He really is content to just veg out in the hotel....that's relaxing for him. I couldn't fathom that, but differences are what makes the world so great!

The other thing that helped is that we both have iPhones and put the international plans on the phones. We were able to text pretty cheaply....so he would know when I was coming back, etc.

I'm a big control freak, so it was hard for me to just leave him be....but he was happy

I love to go go go too and my husband is the relaxing type. The big difference? He doesn't want to miss anything. His preference would be that I sit and relax with him, which I do try to do a bit for him, but usually I want to see as much as possible and he begrudgingly (at first) comes along, but of course ends up enjoying himself.

I can sit at home

I'm very lucky that he goes along with whatever I plan for us and usually loves it.

kwren: I am lucky too....he just goes along with whatever. Mine is content with seeing pictures or seeing it from a bus/taxi/car. Me? I need to touch the building and imagine the history.

Day 1: First class air to Europe, a quick day in London, and arrival in Rome.

As I previously mentioned, we were flying first class to Europe. We had enough miles and DH was pretty insistent that he would only go if I could get him up front. I was able to work a small miracle and get the tickets.

Flight number 1 was MIA -> LHR on American Airlines. We took a cab to the airport (we're only about 10 minutes away) and arrived pretty early. We'd never been in an airport lounge before, so we wanted to take full advantage of our first class privileges.

We weren't able to do online check-in, so we went up to the counter (no line) and checked in. It was very quick and she was able to check us in for our BA flight (LHR->FCO). We decided to check our bags because we didn't want to schlep them around London or pay for storage (more about the packing later - but note, that we did travel for 19 days with just a carry-on each plus 1 backpack).

Security was a breeze and we went to the airline lounge. Meh, nothing really special. Some crappy snacks and free drinks (that was nice). We just had soda, but you could get a nice buzz on if you did drink.

We went over to the gate about 15 minutes before they said boarding would start. Sure enough...boarding was late. Eventually they called us up and we were in line behind Jared Fogel (the Subway guy). The biggest celebrity I've ever seen in real life.

Anyhow, we got on to the plane and up to our seats. There are only about 14 seats in first class and oh boy! It was so cool being up there. We were playing with the seats (they swiveled and fully reclined into a bed) and chatting with the captain. There was champagne (we declined) and other drinks available.

Since I knew it was a long flight (almost 9 hours) I went and changed into pajamas I had brought. Much more comfortable than sitting in regular clothes.

We took off on time and dinner service started immediately. The food was pretty good....I had some type of chicken dish, fresh made salad, fruit, etc. My only complaint was that the service was too long. I wanted to try and sleep! I ended up skipping dessert and trying to sleep.

Having the fully reclined bed was a nice treat. I was able to sprawl out on my stomach and catch about 4 hours of sleep. Woke up in time for breakfast and changed back into my clothes and freshened up.

Arrival at LHR was also a breeze. Because we flew first class we were able to get special express immigration cards. Thank goodness! The line was awful....we probably saved about 60-90 minutes!

We had about a 10 hour layover in London. I did this on purpose because my husband had never been to London (I've been several times). Now, knowing that my husband isn't a huge fan of public transportation and wouldn't want to do any walking....I planned an easy day for him.

We took the Heathrow Express into Paddington (I got a B1G1 ticket special to save money). It was really quick and comfortable. Once at Paddington I had arranged for a Big Bus tour that departed less than a block away. I prepurchased tickets online to save a few pounds.

It took us a little bit to orient ourselves and find a stop. In the meantime, I grabbed a little Paddington Bear souvenir. We found the stop and there were tons of people milling around. It was so congested! Finally a bus showed up and it was packed. People were starting to complain. I finally found a worker and got my tickets validated and we got on the next bus.

Now, the Big Bus Tour is not something I would ever do. I prefer using public transportation and seeing things up close. But since I've been to London a few times I did this for DH. I mean, he really just wanted to see the biggies (Big Ben, Westminster, etc.) and would be content to see them from a bus window.

But oy! This was a mistake. The traffic was horrendous. The tour was supposed to take 3 hours and it ended up being 4.5 hours for the full loop! It was painful at times just inching along in traffic. I mean, if would be so bad if you're inching along next to Big Ben, but that never happened.

DH was jetlagged and grumpy (he didn't sleep on the plane...even with an Ambien), but he was grateful he could just sit and that I wasn't dragging him around. Anyhow, I would NEVER recommend this tour to anyone!

We took Heathrow Express back to the airport and went through security. It was quick and easy. No signs for business/first express lines, but we just asked and were directed to the right place. We took advantage of the British Airways lounge. It was MUCH nicer than the AA lounge. More food, better drink selection, and so much seating. We found some really long couches and DH finally got an hour of sleep.

Our flight to Rome left on time. We were in business. Nothing special in Europe. It's basically coach seats, but no one is in the middle seat. The food was OK.

We arrived in Rome around 10 PM. We taxied forever (or so it seemed...was really about 20-25 minutes) and then there were buses that took us to the terminal. Figured out where our luggage would come out and then prayed to the luggage gods. While waiting I spied an ATM and took out some Euros (I only had 30 euros on me). Easily withdrew 500 euros (contrary to a lot of reports that Italian ATMs only give 200-300 at a time). And voila! Our luggage arrived...BOTH pieces. Amazing!!!

Immigration was a breeze and out to the arrivals hall. From extensive reading I knew I needed to go outside to the official taxi stand. Several shuttle drivers approached us, but we just said no. We grabbed a taxi and heard our first of many "prego"! We learned quickly that it has a multitude of meanings. Our taxi driver spoke limited English and didn't understand the hotel I was telling (Marriott Garden Inn). Fortunately, I had written down the name and address and showed that to him. We arrived quickly and the total was 12 euros. I only had a 20 and wanted to give him 15 euros. He tried to say he didn't have change, but I insisted I only wanted 5 back and he magically found that.

Check-in was a breeze and somehow I got free breakfast, even though that wasn't part of my online reservation. The room was more than adequate and had free internet. It really looked just like a typical US business hotel. Big bathroom, big bed, and a flat screen TV (full review on Tripadvisor).

We were zonked....long day of traveling on just a few hours of sleep.

Tomorrow we head into Rome!!! I was so excited for that experience. I chose this airport hotel because it was 50% less than my city hotel and I didn't figure it was worth it to pay that much just for a quick sleep.

Day 2: Our First Day in Rome

I am beyond excited for this day! I have been waiting for this since my Freshman English professor talked about putting coins into boxes to see paintings.

We woke up around 7 AM and went downstairs for breakfast. It was just your typical hotel breakfast. Nothing special.

We had arranged for a car service (Rome Cabs) to take us into Rome. The cost was 50 euros, which is comparable to what a can would cost. I just figured it would be easier to have something prearranged and not worry about a cab potentially ripping me off.

The car arrived right on time. He was this cute little Italian guy wearing sunglasses and driving a Mercedes. DH said he was the "Italian Transporter", for anyone who has seen those movies. OMG, the guy drove so fast! 140-160 kmh! Wowsa!

Along the drive my DH swore that he was going to rent a scooter. He had talked about it for weeks and done all kinds of research. I kept telling him "Everyone on Fodors says you are crazy." But he was adamant. We, as we started getting into the city he rapidly changed his mind. There we were, sitting at a red light and it was like a swarm of bees....all these people on scooters. Darting in and out of traffic. It was crazy! I've never seen anything like it. We were just staring in amazement. DH quickly changed his mind and proclaimed that "These people are crazy!"

As we started getting closer to the historic center, the driver pointed out some of the sites in his limited English. And then...there it was...the Colosseum. Oh wow! My heart quickened and I was like a giddy schoolkid. I couldn't believe it...there it was. Wow.

We arrived at our hotel and we were early. The Artemide Hotel is located on Via Nazionale, about a 10 minute walk from Termini. It is consistently ranked #1 on Tripadvisor and it was easy to see why. I'll spend a little more time later talking about the hotel.

Anyhow, it was too early to check-in. They had upgraded us! I learned later that it was because we were staying so long (9 nights). They told us the room would be ready around 1 PM and we left our bags there and went out for some sightseeing.

Now, I had a big huge list of things to do. Well, not that big, but focused on Pantheon area. We caught a cab right outside our hotel and headed to Campo de Fiori. The morning market was in full swing and it was interesting just to wander through and see the different fruits and vegetables.

We then navigated our way over to Piazza Navona. It wasn't too busy and we were able to snap some pictures and relax a little and then walked over to the Pantheon. Oh wowsa! I had seen this on Rick Steves, but seeing it in person? Such an overwhelming experience. Even DH thought it was very impressive! We walked inside and took pictures. It was VERY crowded in here and in the square outside.

Once outside I decided I wanted to hunt down Giolitti's gelato. I was a little turned around, but we eventually found our way. Wandering down the little streets and alleys was just so Italian (or what my mind thought was Italian). We arrived at Giolitti's and I got in line at the counter. oops...I didn't realize you need to pay first and THEN order. Now, I knew I wanted strawberry and DH wanted peach, but I had no clue what I was doing and what the words were in Italian. So I just pointed. Turns out I ended up with a strawberry/raspberry and a peach/orange. And O.M.G. that gelato was like eating little slices of heaven....if heaven tasted like explosions of strawberries in your mouth! Just amazing. I don't think I can eat ice cream again.

We caught a cab back to the hotel (8 euro) and were able to check in. Our room was great! It was VERY big, mini fridge that was stocked (for free), big bathroom, our own little hallway, and we had our own private patio area (I don't think there were any others in the hotel). This was great because DH is a smoker, so he had a nice place to relax and smoke outdoors.

Did a little unpacking and vegging and then I decided I wanted to head back out. I had a few churches on my itinerary. DH, of course, had zero interest in that, so I left him at the room. I caught bus #64 back to the Pantheon. It was very easy to read the bus stop signs and validate my ticket, thanks to Ron in Rome's website.

On my itinerary was Sopra Minerva, Gesu, San Ignazio, and Francesi. What struck me about the churches in Rome was that they are very unassuming from the outside. Not all the crazy Gothic architecture that I was familiar with from other European trips. But then BAM, once you walked inside it was just breathtaking! The Caravaggio inside Francesi was particularly striking. It always just amazes me at the works of art and beauty inside churches. Now, I am not a religious person...so I'm not there to pray, but I realize that the money of a city/village, etc. is always tied up in the Church. So where else do you go to see the good stuff?

I then wandered over to Doria Pamphilj. I bought the audio tour and wandered through the villa. It was very interesting to see how the rich lived. It was so ornate and over the top. However, I'm not sure that it was worth the 10.50 euros.

I looked at my map and realized I was really close to the Trevi Fountain. Even though it wasn't on my itinerary, I decided to head over. As I was wandering I stumbled on the Bortobucci wood store. Buying a Pinnochio was on my list, so I grabbed one from here.

Now, the Trevi fountain was everything I thought it would be! Before I even got there I could see the crowds and hear the fountain. I pushed my way through and got all the way to the bottom. Kept my bag close to me the entire time. I threw my coins and took pictures. I really wanted a picture of myself in front of the fountain (one of the downfalls of traveling alone). I saw a couple of girls who wanted pictures taken so we swapped cameras and took pics of each other.

I totally got lost getting back to my hotel! But in a good way! Just aimlessly wandering down streets was so much fun. This would become a theme of my time in Rome...I was always getting turned around and lost, but it allowed me to stumble on sights that weren't originally on my list of things to see.

We went out to dinner at a restaurant down the street called Berzitello. Mmmmmm, such good food in a casual environment. DH had a calzone, which he declared to be delicious. I had a pasta dish...bucatini with a tomato/bacon sauce. The exact name is escaping me right now, but it was yummy.

We got to talking to a couple next to us from England. Turns out they were staying at our hotel, so we walked back together and had a few drinks in the bar. We arranged to get together for dinner the next night. It's always nice meeting new people when traveling.

Still jet lagged and ready for bed! Tomorrow is a big day in ancient Rome!

Looking forward to more of your trip report, twiggers. "Wowsa!" is a great word for Rome-hope you don't mind if I steal it.

More, please!

TD: Lol, I really couldn't think of a more sophisticated word! Coming into the city and seeing everything....literally took my breathe away. I was just in awe. I can't imagine becoming immune to seeing those sites every day.

And yes, definitely more to come! I hope to get through another day or two tonight. The cruise portion will come much quicker, since I had already written that review for another website (specific to cruises).

Great report. It's so nice to read about a couple with very different interests traveling happily together.

And I love Rome too! Even after several visits I can relate to your sense of awe.

Can't wait for the rest of Rome as that's where I am right now! I have a day at the Vatican, including the Scavi tour, and a day trip to Pompei planned, but also 2 days with nothing planned (well one is today and I purposely chose this apartment so I could start the day at the Campo de Fiori market. I'm hoping that my husband wakes up soon - and my kids don't - so we can mill around and hit a cafe to get some early people watching in.) It already sounds like you'll have some great ideas for me!

Thanks Leely!

kwren: You will LOVE the Scavi tour...by far one of the best parts of the entire trip (and I'm not religious)!

Day 3: Ancient Rome

Today was my planned day in Ancient Rome. Prior to departure I had booked the Colosseum underground/3rd level tour. It happened to open up before I left and after calling a few times (bookings weren't available so early) I was able to get things booked. I was booked on the 9:40 AM tour, so I was up early and grabbed some hotel breakfast (included with our room). Left the hubby and walked to the Colosseum.

Many people on here advised against my hotel. Saying that it wasn't "in the heart of things." However, I was never really THAT far away from things. The Colosseum was only about a 15 minute walk and I got to stroll down a small street where shop owners were up early cleaning the streets. It was so quiet and a nice glimpse into daily Roman life.

And then all of a sudden the street just opened up and there it was. In all of it's glory. The Colosseum. Seeing it up close...so different from just whizzing by in a car. The street I took was at the back side, so I had to walk around. Not that I minded at all. Every angle of the Colosseum has something different to see.

There was already a long line to get into the Colosseum, and I couldn't help thinking "Didn't any of you read a guidebook before coming here? Buy a Roma Pass or prebook!" Nonetheless, I walked right on by and went up to the reservations desk. Everything went smoothly and I got my little sticker and my ticket.

Our tour guide showed up...awww he was so cute. He was from Naples and kept apologizing for his "Napoli English." He was wearing these super tight pants, suspenders, and a striped shirt. So cute LOL

The tour started with some history about the Colosseum. It was very illuminating, as I don't remember much about Roman history from school. Then we went underground. Now, I had pictured being able to walk around the center part (silly me), but that was not what happened. We basically walked in a small area that is right under the wooden stage area they built. He provided a lot of information about how the gladiators entered/left the Colosseum, the animal elevators, how water got in and out, etc. Very informative.

He took us up to the 2nd level and then we climbed a private set of stairs to the 3rd level, that is only open to people on a tour. And wow...this was better than the underground part! Wonderful views of the Colosseum itself and of Rome. I was able to take some beautiful pictures without people jostling around you, etc. Oh, and there is actually a surviving "vomitorium" (tunnel) that was interesting to see.

The guide took us back down to the 2nd level and we were on our own. I took some more pics and stopped in the gift shop. The tour lasted about an hour total.

Next up on my itinerary was Palatine Hill. I was going to use a Rick Steves walking tour in his guidebook. So, I walked out and stopped at the Arch of Constantine for some pics. And then started walking towards the Arch of Titus. I swear I saw a sign that said Palatine Hill, so I walked all the way up this hill to a little church and it was a dead end. Bummer. Turned out and found a worker and got sent in the right direction.

There was a bit of line for entry, but not too bad. It was a little hard orienting myself in here. Probably because it's all ruins and hard to figure out where I was. Eventually I found my way and followed along to Rick Steves tour in his guidebook.

I found the House of Augustus to be very interesting. It was amazing to see frescoes that have survived so long and with such vivid colors. Otherwise, the Hill wasn't overly exciting.

Next up was the Roman Forum. This time I had a Rick Steves audio tour on my iPhone. I wandered around following his prompts. For me, it was just really interesting to try and imagine this as the hub of Roman life. To think of soldiers, beautiful women, and caesars walking these same paths. It really is quite overwhelming to think of all the history that has come before us.

I had it on my itinerary to visit the Mamertine Prison, but things have changed. It is now 10 euros to visit and you can only go in at certain times (guided tour). They wanted 7 euros to visit without a guide. It wasn't a "must see" on my list, so I passed.

Next up was Capitol Hill. They were setting up a stage for some type of even taking place that night. I went into Capitoline Museum. Totally touristy, but I loved the big pieces of the Constantine statute that were just sitting in the courtyard. But the showcase of the museum (at least for me) was Bernini's Medusa. Wow. Now, I have NEVER been a sculpture fan, I usually pass right by them in museums. But wow...Bernini...how does a man do that with his hands???? I can see what all the hubbub is about. The agony on Medusa's face...I've never seen anything like it.

I then walked over to Santa Maria Aracoeli. Wow, that church is really over the top! I mean, I've been to other Catholic churches here in the US and in other parts of Europe, but the churches in Rome are just so...what's the word?...extravagant? Sumptuous? Amazing?

Then over to the Victor Emmanuel monument. Now, the guidebook says people in Rome aren't big fans of the monument, but I thought it was very impressive. Just the sheer size of it. I mean, when I read about the monument in the guidebook I thought "OK, just a little monument" boy was I wrong! As I walked down the stairs there was a cop whistling and yelling at people who were sitting/laying on the steps. I guess that is a big no-no.

Next up was a long stroll over to Bocca Della Verita. Whew, it was getting warm out. I had forgotten sunscreen (silly me) and was starting to get a burn on my chest. I grabbed some ice water from a vendor and started my trek. Saw a church along the way and popped in to cool down for a few minutes. When I arrived at the church, there was quite a long line. But I had walked all this way, so I was sticking around. It took maybe 10-15 minutes to get up. I made my donation and had some people behind me take my picture.

Took a look at my itinerary and realized I forgot to visit Trajan's Column. oops! I was right next to it earlier!!! Doh! So, off I went...trekking back. Thought I would take a shortcut, but that didn't work out. So, I got lost again. No biggie. Stumbled on another church. Wandered in and regrouped.

Arrived at the Column, which was very impressive! Wandered by the ruins of the Imperial Forum and then strolled back to the hotel. At this point it was late afternoon and I was finally hungry, so I popped into a little gelateria and had a strawberry/mandarin. Yummy!

Tonight we ended up having dinner with the British couple we met the night before. They were so nice and we had a great time! I don't remember the name of the restaurant, but the food was overpriced (or so we thought). But we had a good time and that's all that really matters.

Today was a long day...but it was interesting. When I posted my itinerary on here everyone thought I was nuts. In the end, I was able to do everything on my itinerary and was still back at the hotel by 5:30 PM. And that even included getting lost 2-3x. It was a great day for me! What works for some people won't work for others.

Tomorrow is a visit to the Borghese Gallery, some churches, Spanish Steps, and more!

Enjoying your trip report!

twiggers, great report, I'm enjoying reading about your rambling around Rome. Looking forward to hearing about the Scavi tour, I have one booked for October. I'm still waiting and hoping the colliseum underground will be open in October.