We just returned 1/26/04 from spending 4 days in Rome. It is an absolutely wonderful city. We stayed at the Santa Chiara Hotel. The staff were friendly and helpful. Arranging a car to pick us up and return to the airport. Helped with directions. The hotel itself is nice. The room is a standard hotel room, moderate sized. Most European hotel rooms are on the smallish side when compared with American or luxury hotels. Most of the people staying there were European and its buffet breakfast was also European. The procuitto was great and they had it everday inaddition to other items in the buffet. The best part of the hotel was its location. Right behind the Parthenon. we were able to walk to everyplace we wanted to go, including the Vatican, Jewish Ghetto,Roman ruins and the Collaseum, nothing was more than a 20 min or so walk. we found some really good pizzerias and restaurants just by walking and seeing where the locals were going. We were there the other day during the first snow in 4 yrs. and living in GA. I can understand how people there felt. This was our first time in Rome and we felt we had the city to ourselves. There were few tourists. We got right into the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican museums. Not many tourists at the Collaseum, but many Romans out for the day. It was cold but a wonderful experience in a great city that I look forward to returning to in a while. The feeling of just walking down a stree and suddenly there's a ruin is exciting.

aeiger, not meaning to be rude, but we've already kidded you on another post, when I thought it was just a typo. The Parthenon is in Athens. The Pantheon is in Rome.

Sounds like a great trip. I just can't picture Rome in snow. Must be wildly beautiful. Was there enough to stick?

Are grits available at a European buffet breakfast? I can't imagine a European breakfast in Roma.......what is this world coming to? ps Sorry for my warped sense of humor.

Actually they serve grits a lot in Rome and all over Italy. They just call it polenta and it has a slightly different texture!

Why the rudeness, you two?

Thanks for the report aeiger, it is nice to read a report from a nice winter trip, esp. when it snowed in Roma!

I know what you mean by a European buffet breakfast, which is different from an American one, I don't know what has gotten into the previous posters.

Rudeness? What the hell are you talking about???

Pointing out the misspelling of the Pantheon and the remark about European Buffet.

aeiger - Glad you had a good time! I am a big fan of off-season travel. I always feel the iffy weather is offset 10-fold by the lack of crowds.

Karen

The Pantheon and the Parthenon are two different things and they are in two entirely different locations. Nothing rude about pointing out the difference.

Actually, I didn't catch the error until Patrick pointed it out. So, I feel as if I learned something today...so that's a good thing.

Thanks for the great trip report Aeiger (my fellow Georgian). I hope that you continue to share your adventure with us.

Glad to know that I won't be totally deprived of grits while I'm there! roflol!!

Leave it to Brimham to provide calm, reasoned clarity. Brimham ROCKS!

lol NYFS.....not always, but thanks.

Chardonnay, while I don't think it is even rude to point out a gross spelling order, not just a clear typo, that is not what I was doing above. Aeiger had made two posts in which he clearly called the Pantheon the Parthenon. This was clearly not a spelling area. I think pointing out to him politely (as I think I did) that he was making a mistake, was doing him a favor. Before I started telling everyone I really enjoyed seeing the David in Venice for example, I'd appreciate someone reminding me that I was thinking of Florence, not Venice.

I will be traveling to rome in a week for 10 days and was wondering if you recommend walkin tours for Vatican, Colesseum, etc....or just on our own with an audio guide?

Freezing in Roma??? Well, darling, why didn't you bring your mink coat with you? Like American Express, never leave home without it.

Yes, polenta and grits are very similar aren't they? My husband has trouble telling them apart, but then, he's Jewish.

Message: Rudeness? What the hell are you talking about???


I am with you, Patrick !

What is being Jewish has to do with telling apart polenta and grits ?
Just curious
Just stop if you meant latkes ... it is NOT grits !

Oh, Tat, that is a private joke between my husband and me. Years ago, whilst on holiday in Atlanta, Keith mistook polenta for grits in a very sophisticated restaurant. He figured, stereotypically, that since we were in the South, he was served grits. I said, "Darling, why would anybody, even Southerners right out of Flannnery O'Connor, serve grits with salmon?" Poor boy, he is from New Jersey.

My midwest mother fell in love with grits a long time ago visiting the south. When a neighbor just moved from Italy moved in next door, they became friends. This Italian woman was always bragging about polenta and how she couldn't find polenta at the local store (to make from scratch). My mother, of course, had never heard of polenta, but said she'd like to try it some day. But when the neighbor finally got some and made it, she brought some to my mom who said, "Hey, that's grits!" My mom took a box of Martha White grits out of the cupboard and gave it to this neighbor. That's how her true Italian neighbor has been stirring up her polenta ever since -- buying a box of Martha White grits at the Winn Dixie and cooking it up to make polenta.

Hi Patrick

No hard feelings pointing it out to me. I was having a senior moment, lucky I knew what country I was in. I realized way after I posted it that I was wrong it was the Pantheon, I shoud have said. It was beautiful. As for the grits, polenta controversey. Here's another, ever been to Romania, they make mamaliga there, like polenta, grits. By the way never tasted grits until I moved down here about 10 yrs ago. I'm from Brooklyn originally.

Welcome back aeiger....I am glad that you had a great time in Rome..I love polenta with a good sausage and pork sauce..Delizioso!!