Lisa,

I am enjoying your trip report very much...and so glad Furla worked out for you....I already have a "wish list" for Furla from my sisters and daughters for my fall trip...didn't you love their wrapping too???

Dear Oldmyst,
This is your DH. I read with great interest your travel reports. I didn't realize we had so much fun until I read your reports. I especially liked your secret about navigating Rome streets. LOL. Fellow Fodorites, Oldmyst is a great writer and everything she tells you is very accurate and objective and I agree with her observations 100%.
With regards to the restaurants: Il Chianti was very, very good AND has reasonable prices. You wouldn't think so, it being 2 very short blocks from the Trevi Fountain.

Oh yeah, just what does "DH" mean? (besides Damned Husband or Dumb Hubby)

Happy Trails,
CC48

Oh my, now my DH knows all about my secret "navigation" tricks. He just called me up from work and told me to check out the last posting from Back From Rome. He was laughing. While we were in Rome he couldn't understand how many times I would walk from one area of Rome and return to our hotel without getting lost, just using my "map".

Traviata, I love Furla's wrappings too. When I went to collect the VAT back at the airport I was so afraid they were going to make me open the packages, and they were sealed so nicely. Thank god they didn't. By the way, I was so crazy looking for gifts for my family that I didn't think to buy myself something. Make sure you treat yourself to something special to remember your wonderful time in Rome.

Ok. Still looking at my half unpacked suitcase. I am fighting a lovely case of bronchitis my DH must have shared with me as he started sneezing on our way home from Rome.
I did find the name and address of a great restaurant the Albergo Del Senato recommended to us. We had lunch there, and they sang to me as we left. It is called Hostaria Costanza (yes, like Seinfeld's George Costanza) It is located at Piazza Paradisco 63/65, and the closing day is Sunday. The inside is very interesting with stone walls.
They specialize in meat, fish, truffles and I tried the fried artichokes. Yumm!

Wonderful report, Oldmyst. I'll be in Rome the first week of April, so I've taken lots of notes.

I'll be sure to make a reservation for Il Chianti. The pumpkin ravioli sound divine!

Got to start practicing...va via...va via...good tip!

Kopp, Please take me with you...please??!!

Hi, Rome sounds really cool, is this hotel near the Vatican - Albergo Del Senato, and how much was the room.

thanks.

Does "Basta" work as well as "Va via" - or is it too rude coming from a middle-aged woman? It used to work very well when I was in Rome aged 21. DH is 6'4'' though, so maybe I won't need it.

I wish I had this advice before I left for Rome. So please, if you get annoyed by a a persistent street seller please say a "va via' or "basta" for me!

Lisa

"Basta!" should work as well as "Va via!" It's an abbreviation of "abbastanza" and means "That's enough!" If anything, it's more polite than "Va via!" which is what you would say to chase away a dog. But if spoken forcefully enough, it should do the trick.

Wonderful report Oldmyst! Thanks for sharing your trip.
One morning, DH and I encountered a beggar with only one hand. Passing again that evening she had 2 hands and was busily counting her money! Next morning, her hand was "gone" again...

Laura, Rome is very cool. The Albergo Del Senato was 195 Euro, but that is off season, and in season it is much more.

Donco, That was funny about the woman with only "one" hand, then later counting her money with her new found other hand.
I hated to see the women in Rome using their children to beg. I remember sitting in a restaurant in Venice, and a man walked around the restaurant and put a small "toy" on each table and a card saying he can't hear or talk. After awhile he would go from table to table and take back the items from people who didn't want to give him money. I later watched him "talk and laugh" with the kitchen help.

Oldmyst, I am thoroughly enjoying your trip report. I am going in June and am thinking of staying at the Albergo Del Senato. Did you happen to have a king size bed, do you think they have them? My DH is 6'4" and these small beds do not work for us.

spk, thanks for your nice comments, and I am glad you enjoyed my report. I am getting so much out of writing this. It lets me relive our wonderful time. It also lets me give back to other Fodorites who helped me make my vacation so nice. Yes, our bed was a king size bed. I needed it too, but I'm only 5'1" but I do like my space! The bed was also very comfortable. The floors are wood, so they supply you with slippers and a little cloth mat for your bedside. I must also comment on the bathroom. It was very large and very nice. We also had a bathtub/shower, which some Rome hotels don't have. Even if you don't like to take baths, it is nice to soak your feet after a long day. I was so happy with our decision to stay at the Albergo Del Senato. I chose it by reading a lot of comments on the Forum and Trip Advisor. I initially had reservations there and at a bed and breakfast that is highly regarded on Trip Advisor. I ultimately chose the Albergo Del Senato for its location. The view of the Pantheon is truly amazing, and you can easily walk to almost all the major sites. Every night I would stand at our window and gaze at the Pantheon and watch the goings on in the square. By the way, with the windows closed, noise was not a problem. Now not all the rooms are the same size. Some are larger than others. We had a corner room, so it was a larger than some. I requested as large a room as possible. I think there were no view rooms even larger, but go for the view. I also have to comment on how nice the people were who work at the hotel. They were friendly, helopful, not snooty, and one particular gentleman, who made me laugh with his jokes, and didn't seem to mind listening to me when I talked. I did tell him to stop calling me Madame! It made me feel old! I told him young lady would be more appropriate!

Now I know this may sound silly, being in Rome and all, but I actually liked having a TV in the room, even if all I could understand is CNN. At night I was usually so tired, that all I wanted to do was get into bed and get sleepy listening to something. Usually my eyes would be tired, so reading was out of the question. One late night I think I even watch MTV which was in English dubbed in Italian! spk, Enjoy your trip wherever you stay. If you want to ask me anything else, you can email me at [email protected]. Don't take a long time to make your reservations. The New York Times just had an article the other day that said that Rome would probably be the number one destination in Europe this year. It's the best! Lisa

ttt

I have a major announcement to make! i finally emptied my suitcase and moved it! I think my husband was afraid it was going to become an Everyone Loves Raymond episode where the suitcase stayed on the bottom of the stairs and Raymond and Debra argued over who would move it? Remember the stinky cheese Ray put in it? Tonight we are going to have pasta tonight and try one of the tons of spices we bought at the Campo Fiori market. I'll let you know how it works out. Lisa

Oh Lisa, the only part of travel I hate is unloading the luggage, LOL. Think most of us do. Congratulations!!

Thanks Loveitaly. I just wanted to ask after your grandson, as I read he was sick, and I had him in my prayers.

Hi Lisa! Sure enjoyed your report. And I can so relate to the CNN in the room. Even though it seems to repeat itself over and over and over, sometimes that's all the energy I have at the end of a tiring day, to fixate on the TV. And yes, that episode from "Raymond" is a classic. Good for you for getting unpacked so fast!

I'm so excited about my Italy trip. I leave on Thursday! Today was the "let's start think about packing" day, so the bedroom looks like a disaster area with all the piles. Tomorrow we weed through the piles, get rid of half, and get the suitcases out.

Ciao!

I sure hope my husband isn't reading this. We leave for Rome in two weeks and even though I pack light, when we return my suitcase will sit on our bedroom floor for days and days because I hate to unpack. Hopefully he won't read the stinky cheese idea!

Dear Kopp and Postal, I did forget to mention that the suitcase, while empty, it still hasn't been put back in the attic. Tomorrow is another day!! I am so excited for you both to be going to Rome. I would return there in a flash.
If you decide to buy a bag, I would suggest using Fodorite advice and look at Furla. My daughter's bag cost 250 Euro, asked for the paperwork at the store (got the VAT back on the spot in the airport). She took her new Furla bag to the store in NYC and the salesperson told her there is a waiting list for her bag (a magazine style editor also wants it) and it retails for $500. By the way, it is called a Farrah bag, but not the model on the Furla cover. That one is huge, even for my daughter's standards, and she loves large bags. She got a more rectangular shape. Her cousin calls it a Mary Poppins bag becasue so many things can come out of it.

Also I wanted to mention, if I haven't already about a restaurant I had lunch in. It is called Hosteria Constanza. My hotel recommended it, but I also just found it mentioned in a Gourmet Magazine March 2003 issue today. You are literally dining in the ruins of the anxient Theater of Pompey. "It recalls the glory days of Rome. The restaurant hsa good food, too. The house antipasto and the farro soup with shellfish are superb." It is located at Piazza Paradiso 63-65. Check for closing day.

Also mentioned in Gourmet, but I never tried, but wanted to is Ditirambo. It says "it is the area's most popular restaurants. Ditirambo charms with a combination of casual convivial atmosphere and first rate food. The vegetarian selections are particularly good. Piazza della Cancelleria 74/75" It is also mentioned in many guidebooks. Can't wait to hear about everyone's experience. Lisa

Oh Lisa, the empty suitcase waiting to go up in the attic, yes I can relate to that too!!

BTW, thank you for asking about my grandson. It evidently was a virus and not something more serious medical wise as his Dad got it to and was in bed all weekend. The blood workup results had me so worried. Again, thanks for your concern and prayers. They are very appreciated.

And Kopp you must be so excited. I am still "working" on when I will go back to Italy. A friend there asked me the other day "when are you coming home to Italy", too sweet. Have a beautiful trip!

I have to ask this, but am i going crazy? I see special airfare for places and I am so tempted to make reservations. I just had two separate and wonderful trips to Italy, and I am going to the Carribean on a cruise in July. What is my problem? I don't even want to know what we spent in Italy, but I can imagine.(But don't care, after all when you die you can't take it with you)

About the Carribean cruise. I am kind of a reluctant, captive vacationer. The Carribean in the summer, yuck! Any advise to help me get in the mood? I am going with extended family, a cousin reunion, but it is the fact that my DH and two daughters will be with me, is the important fact. My daughters are not babies anymore and the clock is ticking regarding future travel with them. I know I should look at it as a time to be together.(But I'd rather be touring Europe!) Lisa

I am still cruising the Fodor's Forum, so I guess you could say I am addicted. Happily so. Of course the housework isn't getting done. Last night DH and I made pasta with one of the spices bought in the market at Campo Di Fiori. It was Arrabi something or other. You know, the spicy one. When my DH tasted it he was shocked it was so spicy. He said your dish that you loved so much wasn't spicy. I said I had the Bucatina Amatricana, which is with pancetta bacon. It is a completely different dish. So DH said, why did we buy this? I said "because you wanted to". Oh well...

Loveitaly, I hope your family is feeling better. I know how I get when something goes wrong. When my daugther was a little girl, around 2 years of age, she one day stopped walking and said she couldn't walk. I took her immediately to the pediatrician, who examined her and told me to take her to the emergency room of the hospital. He was concerned she might have a hip infection. She got blood work done, and everything came back normal. As soon as we got home from the hospital she started walking again, and she said "It's a miracle!". We laughed and we cried. Now she is 21!

My DH just called from work and told me he took over 4,000 digital pictures from our trip! He said he is tweaking them. I am sure they will be magnificent!