Rome

It was a pleasant flight from Gatwick to Rome, although we had a bit of a wait for our luggage. The train from the airport to the city was €14 each and took 35 minutes. We arrived at Roma Termini at around 2 p.m. and walked straight out onto the street our Hotel is situated, Via Giolotti, which runs parallel to the railway. We faced a long walk through some very grotty areas and over cobbled and some potholed walkways. We were pleased when we arrived at the Hotel Tempio di Pallade to see that the area down that end of the street is much nicer.

Check in time is posted as 13:00 hours (1 p.m.) but when we arrived at 2:30, we were told that our room wasn't ready, could we come back in an hour or so? The young man on reception was very apologetic and pleasant, and he took our bags to the luggage room, so after paying the city tax (€4 each) and €3 for the wifi (for 24 hours for one device only) we set out to explore the area around us.

There are a number of small restaurants around our hotel, and we checked out the menus and prices. They all seemed similar, around €10 for a pasta dish.

Just around the corner is what looks like the tram terminus and behind them an old Roman gate and old walls, some ancient, some not quite so old. We decided to cross the road to get closer for photographs without tramlines cutting through them.

In Rome, a green walk sign does not mean that the vehicles can't go ahead, nor does a red light necessarily mean stop. Crossing any road here is to take your life into your hands - pedestrian crossings are often ignored by drivers.

We managed to get a few photographs then called into a small shop for some cold drinks. Before ringing up the sale, the cashier asked if we would be taking away. We said yes. When we got outside, Lindy asked me what was the difference. I told her that if you sit to eat or drink, you will pay extra. We also looked at some postcards at a little booth a bit further on. There was no price marked on the stand. I said that you have to ask - mostly if there is no price they will charge you whatever they feel like at the time.

We got back to our hotel at 3:45 and had just sat down in the lounge when we were told our room was ready. Room 121, I thought he said. We were relieved, although one flight of stairs sounded a lot to two weary travellers. He collected our luggage, and as I went to walk upstairs, he said we could use the lift. We hadn't noticed it! What a relief. We got to room 121, but the key wouldn't work. Lindy asked if I had the right room. We looked at the key. It was 131, just a couple of doors away.

Very small, but firm beds. No tea making facilities but we're not too fussed. Breakfast is included in the cost of the room, just €50 for the two of us.

The rain appeared to be easing around 6:30 so we set out to walk a block to a nearby restaurant, but got caught in a heavy shower and arrived looking a bit bedraggled. It was a nice dinner though. I had fettuccine with meant sauce and Lindy had a Buccatine. With mineral water and the cover charge, it cost €23.00.

Back at the hotel, it was a little cooler, so we shut the window. The road outside had become a bit busier, so an added bonus was the silence.

We both had a restless night's sleep, Lindy because she had a neck ache and a slight headache, me because of a sore throat. We woke late (for us), at just after 7 but considering the time difference; it was 6 a.m. in England.

Breakfast was below ground level, in a lovely room that had an arched ceiling (as many rooms in Italy do). We had a choice of bread to toast and various jams and hazelnut spread, crispbread, cheese, ham, cereal, fruit (fresh water melon or tinned mixed), juice, coffee or tea. We were surrounded by a variety of languages, French, Italian, English, German or Dutch, and Chinese.

After breakfast, we returned to our room to pack and rest before checking out at 11am. Our train doesn't leave until 3:50 so we asked if we could sit in the hotel lounge for an hour. Lovely tiles in patterns on the floor, columns and statues, with very elegant lounge chairs. At midday, we  left to walk to the station to find our train for Venice. With a couple of hours to fill, we found a relatively quiet spot to sit and read. I left Lindy with our bags and went for a walk. Bought some water and throat lozenges and saw where we would have to wait for our train departure platform number to be advised.