The Hotel Giuliana--Arrival in Rome

May 25 and 26.  On Wednesday, May 25, LT and Eli took a 7:00AM US Air flight out of LAX.  They got to Charlotte, North Carolina in 4 hours, had a 3 hour layover, then tucked in for a 9 hour flight to Rome.  When they arrived at the Leonardo Da Vinci Airport in Rome on May 26, the temperature was in the high 80's.  After arriving at the crowded Termini train station, they wheeled their suitcases 5 blocks down Via Cavour, and after a bit of "orienteering" and heading in the wrong direction, they located Hotel Giuliana 3 blocks from Santa Maria Maggiore on a street called Augostino De Pretis.  It is run by a wonderful Indian woman named Giuliana who reminded them of Happy Juma who owned the pre-school where Hillary and Allie spent so many happy years.  They have a quiet room # 20, with a high ceiling and air-conditioning. 

LT and Eli grabbed a quick lunch at a small place around the corner--"Turn right and right and right again," said Giuliana.  LT opted for spaghetti carbonara while Eli toyed with un insalata mista.   They then napped for 2 hours, had the hotel ring them up and at 5:00PM headed for the train station where they hoped to meet Allie when she completed her connections from London Heathrow.  She had just finished her junior year studying at the University of Kent in Canterbury.  The trip to Rome and the cruise to Sicily, Crete, Athens, and Ephesus was a sort of graduation present for the student and the proud parents. 

At the Termini Station LT and Eli carefully studied the faces of each passenger who arrived at Gate 28.  No Allie on the 5:30PM.  So they  were a little worried  No Allie on the 6:00PM.   And they thought maybe she missed the "Leonardo Express" train connection.   But Allie did arrive on the 6:30PM and her happy parents gleefully took over their daughter's suitcase and led her down the long corridor from Gate 28 to the main station concourse and out onto  Via Cavour toward our Hotel.

For dinner, the threesome took a taxi ride (9 Euros) to the Pantheon and again wandered around a bit until they found "L'eau de Vive" recommended in the Frommer Guide.The speedy taxi ride was entertaining itself and provided an adrenalin rush as we marveled how the driver could thread the car between buses and motorscooters over cobblestone and winding alleys.  Walking around the outside of the Pantheon, they marveled at the small long bricks out of which it is composed.   Built in 27 BC by Agrippa, then improved in the 2nd Century AD by Hadrian, it is one of the most impressive and best preserved ancient buildings in Rome.  The "Eau de Vive" restaurant is run by a lay order of Franciscans and offers wonderful food.  After entering on the ground floor and walking through the "ordinary" dining area, they climbed up a winding staircase to the real showcase dining room--with high painted ceilings--not exactly by Tiepolo, but very nice and sort of like Tiepolo--and had a wonderful meal. The lay missionary nuns from different countries and dressed in floor length colorful robes provided an impeccable service to the 80 or so lucky customers. We began with salad and vegetable crepes, then had chicken or lamb chops, finished off by a great bowl of sorbet or vanilla ice cream with applesauce. Just before the dessert course, there was a pause and prayer reading followed by chorus of Ave Maria in which all were invited to participate. The taxi ride home through the nearly empty Roman streets was quite an adventure, as the driver weaved and swerved through the traffic lanes.