They dined at table 275 in the Nutcracker Dining room, with Branko and Jeffers serving them coq au vin, Tuscan white bean soup, and chocolate/hazelnut cake. They were able to "talk" with the two sisters from Argentina and the newly wedded couple from Ecuador because the husband was bilingual. One of the sisters had gone snorkeling in Xania. After taking some pictures and saying "Vaya con Dios" to their South American friends, they went back to their room. The wake-up call was set for 5:30AM.
They awoke, showered, went to the Windjammer for their final breakfast on the Navigator. At just after 7:00AM, they wheeled their suitcases off the boat, and after some questions and checking around, found the shuttle bus that would take them out of the port. Once on and off this shuttle, they walked 1/4 mile to the train station and found that a train was leaving for Rome-Termini in 20 minutes. They got good seats and waited for the train to take off.
Back in Rome, they used the ancient elevator to raise their suitcases to the first floor, drank some water thanks to the maid Dena, and then hit the city. They have been doing so much traveling and have seen so many wonderful cities, that returning to Rome seemed like coming home.
They walked to "la Fontana de Trevi" and threw in 3 pennies each, which Eli had set aside for the gesture. Then they walked to the Pantheon, but couldn't get in because it was Sunday and there were services inside.
They then walked back to Melo by the Trajan agora, but it was closed for Sunday, so they crossed Via Nazionale and discovered "Ristorante Cesar" -- nothing much on the outside, but serving great food inside. Insalata mista, carbonara, rigatoni, seafood misto, foccacia instead of bread, two 1/2 litres of vino bianco, two litres of water.
They walked back to Hotel Giuliana. At 2:30, they took a taxi to Galleria Borghese to see the Bernini statues and the Caravaggio paintings. It was just beginning to rain as they showed their 3:00PM reservation tickets at the door. After enjoying the splendid rooms--huge paintings on the ceilings and tremendous statues--on the first floor--and paintings--on the second floor--they caught another taxi back to their hotel.
Tomorrow they plan to get up early again, and get to the Termini train station in time to take the 7:22AM "Leonardo Express" train to the airport.
It has been a great trip.
