Hi, <BR> <BR> My 12 yo son and I are traveling to Rome for the 2000 Jubilee. We have a few questions on logistics and things to do. <BR> <BR>1. What is the best way to travel form the airport to the hotel. we're landing in "Fumino" and have to go to the Via Veneto. <BR> <BR>2. Does anyone know anything about getting to go to Christmas mass with the Pope, we would like to go but is there anything we need to do.? <BR> <BR>3. Do they do siestas in the winter...? <BR> <BR>4. Is there anything that a 12 yo boy would think is cool there...? <BR> <BR>So drop me a line at [email protected] and let me know what your ideas are. Thank you all. <BR> <BR> Robert

Robert, I was in Rome in January '94 and the weather was not too frigid. We walked a lot without being uncomfortable, but my friend finally purchased a full length coat since her fanny froze in the short coat she brought with her. We arrived at DaVinci and took a cab to the end of the Via Veneto - Hotel Flora, aging dowager. The taxi wasn't very expensive (I know because my friend was watching her pennies) but I don't remember the actual cost. Does your son like history? When I was young, seeing any ruins fascinated me; my brother would have run screaming, but he had no interest in history. There is the chapel with all the bones - I believe that's on the Via Veneto, or just off it. Pretty creepy. The catacombs no longer have bones, as they did in my first trip to Rome all those many years ago, but they are still fascinating - dark twisting, turning tunnels. Great fun, in the most respectful of manners, of course. I can't give you advice about masses. If you are Catholic, you should be able to talk to your priest. I've actually seen the Pope twice, once when he blessed the crowd from his window, and then this last trip when a cardinal had died and a service was being held for him at St. Peter's. There was the Pope himself, walking in a procession with many bishops and cardinals in full regalia. There was my friend chasing the Pope with her camera. If he's in residence, he should be fairly easy to see at some point. I seem to recall that we were able to get his schedule at the shops around St. Peter's. Siestas in Rome are fewer and farther between now than they used to be although some places still close for long lunches and for religious holidays - of which Rome has many! Still the time is well spent having a long lunch yourself and talking about what you have seen. Have a great trip - your son will treasure the memories forever - even if they aren't too "cool".

Robert, <BR> <BR>We just returned from Rome and reserved tickets to see the Pope through the Church of Santa Susanna ([email protected]). The Pope has an audience every Wednesday and we were in Rome for All Saints Day on Nov 1st. The mass was in St Peter's Square and we were lucky since the day was sunny and warm. Actually we were not asked to present our tickets, but we did notice that many people had their tickets in their hands. <BR>You can email the church and they will give you information about Christmas. We plan to return to Rome since we did not see everything in the 5 days we visited this wonderful city. Have a great time.

It is likely to be cold - take a coat! From the airport take a taxi, cost about $40. Rome is cool whether you're 12 or 120!

We just returned from ten wonderful days in Rome. We stayed at Hotel Alimandi which has an airport shuttle. It is a three star recommended by Rick Steve's book. I chose it partly because it would save us the hassle of getting a cab when we first got in. Their schedule is a little erratic, but the toll free number works from the pay phones at the airport. The train station goes into the airport and seemed to be a much less cumbersome arrangement than getting to a rail station in some other cities. <BR> <BR>My children, nearly grown at ages 22 and 16, were with us and loved everything we did. I can't imagine that your 12 year old won't be impressed. We trained to Naples, then went to Pompeii, Herculaneum, Paestum, and then drove the Amalfi Coast to Sorrento. The kids were charmed by every site. Lots of great family fun. Have a great time. Patsy Klontz