Today we are taking it easy – well – sort of. We had a car booked, but then decided to cancel it since we really didn’t have any plans for driving around. So, instead we decided to just take the train into Rome and sort of wander.
We started the day later than usual to avoid the breakfast rush. Even though it was 7:30 when we got up to the buffet, it was much, much quieter than yesterday and we got to watch everyone streaming out onto the hundreds of busses lined up on the pier. Of all days, today was probably not the best day to try to go to Rome. There are 6 ships – including the Allure of the Seas – in port today. A huge capacity day – and we’re sure the train will be packed.
But – nothing we can do – so we head out to the shuttle around 8:15 and sit there, waiting for it to fill up for us to leave. We don’t have any specific plans, but the girls in front of us have an 8:30 meeting point for a tour they have booked. Uh, duh, should have probably gotten out here earlier. They were having fits sitting there and were trying to decide whether to walk – which we completely nixed. No way – it would take an hour to get to where the shuttle drops you off. Finally we leave, and made it to the bus terminal at about 8:40. Don’t know if they made their tour or not, but we didn’t see them at the train station.
We got in line for the local bus to the train station, but it was crazy long with lots of people with luggage- and they almost tripled the price! It used to be 80 euro cents – now it’s 2 euros. Forget it, we’ll walk. It’s a nice crisp morning anyway and we didn’t go to the gym – so we considered it our morning exercise. Made it to the train station within 5 minutes of the bus anyway. So it all worked out. Had half an hour before the train left – all was good.
Got good seats on the train and waited while we were delayed – ended up in Termini at 11:00 with nothing on our agenda but possibly visiting this little off the beaten track area called Coppede. Sounded neat, with fun architecture and it would be different than the norm. Sadly though, after walking miles through the trains station to the Metro – there wasn't any easy way to get there. And we sure weren’t taking a cab. Crap. Plan B. But we don’t have a Plan B! Sigh.
So, we end up hanging out in one of the squares off of Plaza Republicca, sitting in the sun on the base of a statue (think it was the homeless square coz lots of people around who probably fit the profile including one couple who made out the entire time we were there – going for the world record or something, LOL). We decided we were hungry, so we took off in search of a restaurant.
Found a great spot on one of the roads away from the square called Osteria da Luciano. Menu was cheap as dirt. We got a big beer for Ed (3.50 euro) and a 1/4 carafe of wine for me (1.80 euro) and great minestrone soup, grilled cheese with ham (it’s like a grilled cheese sandwich without the bread and, yeah, I’m taking the hit for what it does to my intestines!) and meatballs. Plus to die for (carb hell) bread.
Yummy. After lunch we give up on the city and just head back to the train – it’s a death march back there anyway – even when you think you are close to the track – you aren’t. And the Civitavecchia tracks are the furthest from the entrance. Walking off our lunch for certain.
The train is late – surprise – but we don’t really care since we’ve nothing to do. Nice big comfy seats, I snooze the whole way back, once we finally get moving.
Back in Civi, we pop in at a cute little café called Prima Spiaggia – right on the promenade between the train station and town. It’s a crew bar (10% discount if you show your card), and they’ve got wifi. All our criteria. Beer and wine are good – and cheap – and wifi finally works when we move closer to the building. And good thing it does. I’ve been hacked again! this is getting absolutely ridiculous! So now, we’re traveling Europe for the next 3 weeks and I’ve got no freaking credit card, and no access to the new one, so I can’t change all my recurring charges. Geez. This damn EMV system cannot come soon enough to the US. So frustrating.
But, thank God for wifi. I Skype with Chase, and thank God for Chase. They are so good. They stop my card, but keep it open for me to use in Europe – only in person card transactions – and keep the recurring charges going until we get back. Nice. Couldn’t be happier with their service – just wish the darn card would be more secure. Sigh.
On that frustrating, but nicely handled, note – we finish our drinks and walk back to the shuttle bus, with a short stop in the little grocery store around the corner. I wanted to grab some of the box wine there that I liked in February, and we were looking for sausages. Didn’t find the sausages, but found the chocolate. OMG – 39 euro cents for a huge bar! Needless to say, we snagged a bunch, but not as many as the crew were buying. There were tons of crew there and they were buying 20 and 30 euros worth of it. So funny! The one guy we got to talking to just came on the MSC ship – he wasn’t going home until May and he was stocking up to take it home. I joked with him there was no way it would last until May – that if it were me I’d eat it all by then – and he said oh now, we all have stock and prepare to go home, and organize in little shelves in their cabins. More will power than I have that’s for sure! And so sweet. Literally. 
Shuttle to the ship, back on board, hanging out and watching everyone dribble back in. Hoping the lounge and dinner won’t be quite a zoo tonight since there will be so many late tours.
That’s it from Roma. Tomorrow Salerno and more Ghost Towns of Italy!
No comments:
Post a Comment