Rome Revisited

Our drive from Sorrento to Rome was not very long however we did pass several interesting architectural structures along the way.



When we arrived in Rome, we dropped the car off at the airport then headed to the Hotel Bernini Bristol located on the Piazzo Barberini. We were really looking forward to our hotel as it was on the same piazza where we had stayed in an AirBnB with granddaughter MVL. We knew the area very well and were looking forward to a wonderful time.

AH! Even on the last day, we have a great view!

Once again, a beautiful Murano chandelier is in our hotel lobby.

The view from the roof of the Hotel Bernini Bristol is famous. 

In the center Piazzo Barberini is the Triiton Fountain. We have pictures sitting there from our previous visit.

May 2016

November 2017

Here is what Wikipedia has to say about the Triton Fountain. “The Triton Fountain is one of those evoked in Ottorino Respighi's Fontane di Roma. The legend applied to Trevi Fountain has been extended to this: that any visitor who throws a coin into the water (while facing away from the fountain) will have guaranteed their return to Rome.

The setting of the Piazza Barberini has changed significantly since the seventeenth century. Engravings of the time and photographs from the nineteenth century show much lower buildings around the piazza, which would have made the fountain much more dramatic. However, it is a tribute to the artistic judgement of Bernini that even now, with tall buildings around the traffic-ridden piazza, that the Triton Fountain can still maintain a dramatic presence.”

After a late lunch, we headed out to visit some of the same sites we experienced with MVL. It was fun to talk about that trip and think about the fun we had in Rome previously.

Even in the cool weather, the Trevi Fountain was crowded. 

We tossed our coins in so we are guaranteed to come visit again.

When we passed by a crane at the Colosseum I had to take a picture and send it to LW.

It was a lovely day and we had a great time. As the sun disappeared, we walked the Spanish Steps.

Then we headed to another of Hubby D's finds, "Best Wine Bars in Rome" that happened to be very close to our hotel.

We did not want to but we needed to retire early to be ready for a very, very early departure for the Rome airport in the morning. Rome in a day, . .  but it was worth it.

The next morning we watched the sun rising over Rome from the windows of our taxi as we headed back to the United States.

There were a few things that surprised me on this trip.

Many of the bathrooms in Europe have motion censure lights and the light can go out before you are ready to leave.  One in Paris was so short I had to wave my arms in the air just to have light to wash my hands.

Spain was not as different as I had expected.

Nice, France is wonderful and we would like to go back someday.

Hubby D became enthralled with the Medieaval hillside towns in Italy with their legacy of time and culture.

He also commented that everything in Italy needs maintenance except the A1A highway. It was pristine and a toll road. Proving once again, the efficiency of private enterprise.

We had a bit of trouble figuring out this road sign as we would see it where there were roads and other cars.

It means road closed to vehicular traffic.

But don’t confuse it with this one.  It really threw us for a loop.  It means no traffic in both directions.

One nice surprise was that reasonably priced Italian wines are very good. You don’t need to spend on Brunel di Montalcino to drink good Italian wine.

We chose some wines, olive oils and balsamic vinegar to ship back and while we were picking them out, Hubby D reminded me to keep it under a full container size shipment.  LOL

However, we were not at all surprised that we could spend an entire month together and still be great friends. That we are -- really good friends!

It was a trip of a lifetime and we soaked up every minute.

Now, back to the real world.

Cheers,
Brenda

During our layover in Germany we had one last treat -- a beer and pretzel in honor of our friend JA.