I know I posted this earlier this evening. <BR>I saw it. Now, it's not here. Now you see it-now you don't? <BR>Interesting sequence of postings and dates here...many old postings are given current dates... <BR>I thank you all again for all the help. <BR>I would like to know what you would suggest doing the first afternoon in Rome which is interesting but doesn't require a great deal of walking as I assume I will be jet-lagged. <BR>I will be seeing most major sites on the following days. <BR>Pam

Your other post is still there. <BR>Allow for possible arrival delays. Just go out and take a walk and get orientated to the atmosphere. Anywhere. You are in a great location. It's a short walk to lots of good things. Just wander. Have something to eat. You'll be a lot more awake and energized than you expect. Everybody takes walks in Rome at night. <BR> <BR>Enjoy, <BR> <BR>Gerry

Wait...it's turned up! Mystery solved! <BR>it's now number 28...hahaha. <BR>Now, if only someone would be kind enough to respond to the question. <BR>Pam

<BR> <BR>My normal procedure is to walk as much as possible and stay up as late as I can the first day in the new time zone. <BR> <BR>Don't know where you are staying, but Rome is a great place to just wander around and get your bearings. <BR> <BR>Enjoy . . Rich

Pam <BR>My experience is that walking on the first day is better for me than a bus or a boat or a train tour, which tends to make me sleepy. I also tend to avoid <BR>most museums on the first day, unless they are small and "easy" ones. <BR>My philosophy on the first day is "keep moving" until I just can't. <BR>Get some lunch, have a coffee (Italian coffee will certainly help keep you awake) and take a stroll to a specific destination, or get to know the area around your hotel to get the lay of the land, and perhaps visit one or two sites (church, museum, shop, etc) that interests you.

I would immediately treat myself to a HUGE gelato! Then while eating the gelato, start to plan you next day while sitting at an outdoor cafe. If you are close to the Fountain Trevi, do it there. Carey

Agree with posts above. If you want a specific suggestion on what you could be doing the first day, here it goes (as good as any alternative): <BR> <BR>Find your way from the hotel to Piazza Navona. Take your time, sit down and have a capuccino/snack. At a short distance to the north is Chiesa di San Agostino (Via della Scrofa 80) boasting the marvelous Caravaggio "Madonna of the Pilgrims". Retracing your steps back, just off Piazza Navona to the east is Chiesa di San Luigi dei Francesi (Via Santa Giovana d'Arco) for some more Caravaggios (the 3 paintings St. Matthew cicle). Continuing east, a short walk will lead you to the Pantheon and Santa Maria Sopra Minerva close bye. A short distance to the south is the Gesu church. <BR> <BR>If you fill fit, it'd be time to do some walking and change neighborhood (otherwise you may take a cab). I'd go to Piazza di Spagna for some window shopping (Via Condotti and Borgognona), dinner and close it with a visit to Trevi fountain at night. <BR> <BR>Paulo

We arrived at our hotel in the Centro Storico area by noon. We dropped our bags and went to the Piazza where the Pantheon is and had lunch at an outdoor cafe, relaxed, sunned and soaked up the atmosphere. <BR> <BR>Then we met up with a Scala Reale guide for an orientation walk which lasted a few hours. <BR> <BR>After that, a late siesta and a late dinner. All in all, it was a perfect first day in Rome. <BR> <BR>Carol

We spent our first afternoon in Rome walking around...and marveling. Since our pensione was near the Spanish Steps we started with the wonderful pedestrian streets in that area, wandering on to the Pantheon/Piazza della Rotonda, and then Piazza Navona. We saved our first view of the Trevi Fountain for that evening.

You fodorites are simply the best! <BR>Thank you all for the wonderful suggestions here. <BR>Paolo, I especially appreciated yours and look forward to the gelato and the trevi fountain at night.