Decisions, decisions, decisions......

I had always wanted to go to Italy but really............I had always wanted to go to the Tuscany area of Italy and found that impossible without renting a car and having to drive sooooooo the next best thing was to fly to Rome and take some tours from there or at least that was my plan.



 This is how I began, by studying this map. I wanted to find a hotel that was centrally located so you see that blurred spot in the center of the page that says Parliament?  It seemed to me that was sort of  a central spot  from most everything. The problem is that this area is old and so are the hotels. It is my understanding that most rooms are quite small and many do not have AC. Besides wanting a nice to place to stay we also prefer to have a hotel that has a restaurant and bar so that cut down several choices and so where did we end up?

http://www.hotelnazionale.it/

It was hard for the shuttle driver to find because it is directly across from the Parliament and limited traffic is permitted. Right off the bat we were so fortunate that the check in person could speak English and  he began getting all the info needed and making calls so we could cancel the two credit cards that were lost. It may not look like much outside but it is lovely inside......

A small area in the hotel lobby and fresh flowers everywhere.

We requested twin beds and they push them together:) You can see the little entrance area there to the left. You have to put your key in this slot to access electricity and of course you take your key with you when you leave. Keeps people from leaving the lights and tv on.

There was a full size sofa that made out into a bed with a table in front over the to right of this

 table with two chair in front of the window that opened out to the Parliament plaza.


There was always a wonderful breeze even though sometimes it was noisy. I had hubby go down and take a picture of me pretending to be the Pope:)

I surely felt like Royalty with a bidet and a square toilet!!!

The other interesing toilet tidbit is that it was like a old time toilet with the water storage up top

and see that knob looking thing on the wall? You push it to flush the toilet. Interesting thing in Rome........trying to figure out where or what to push to flush.


Our room included a breakfast buffet and what a spread.........

 first display

 second display

 Pastries and cereals

Coffee and juices and two types of bottles water

cappuccino to your liking (this is very popular in Rome)

Care for fresh carrot juice? I saw one lady make a drink from apples and carrots. an then there was this........

A machine with constant boiling water to make a soft (five minutes) or hard (ten minutes) boiled egg and notice how all the eggs are brown? Just above this was a toaster machine with a couple of different breads.

We so enjoyed the buffet to begin our days. By the way....the coffee there is MAGNIFICO!! So much so that I even had a couple of cups in the afternoons which I never do.

Well, I thought I went prepared with my books and maps but can you ever be prepared for this????

Welcome to Rome, where pedestrians versus smart cars, versus buses, verses mopeds.

This is not what I expected but you know the saying......"When in Rome do as the Romans do".

Yep, I got just as tricky as the next person but only on foot. You have to be crazy to drive there.

Any little space can be captured for parking...

Typical parking lot between streets

This is a intersection with no light...just whoever gets there first and watch out for the mopeds/bicycles that slip in-between!

Had to take a picture of this.....Only a finger's worth apart! Believe it or not we didn't see any wrecks while we were there and most cars were in pretty good shape. The smart cars were the most popular and next the mopeds....haven't lived until you see one flying by with a woman in a short skirt and high heels, a helmet and hair flying as she speeds by hell bent for an election.
What didn't I see? Stray dogs. Really only dogs on leashes and only one stray cat did I see and we walked this whole city.

For anyone that has traveled overseas you already know the endurance of the travel time required to get there. For us it was a flight from Ariz. to Texas then to Spain and then to Rome. After about 18 hours fly time and going through many time zones you land in a whole new world and just have to trust that it is time for dinner:)
We started out pretty rough as hubby's glasses broke (the little screw came out) we were able to save the screw (in the chap stick) and tie them together with the earphone wire from the plane. Then.......almost to the Hotel via the shuttle Hubby realizes he left his wallet in the plane seat. Had set it there after paying for some food and then forgot it. YIKES!!!! Well, fortunately he carries most of his money in front pockets as well as his passport so after getting the credit cards blocked that he had and me carrying a different one we were okay.


 Big tip!! Always make a copy of the cards you are carrying with you and make note of the phone numbers on the back...leave one copy home and take one with you. Read this...did this....saved our butt.

I'll show you our hotel next time.............

Sono qui in vacanza

Translated.................................................................I am here in Italy!

and today is hubby and I 45th wedding anniversary 


Hopefully all my plans have been successful and I can read the signs

and the pictures

and my two books

have helped us along.

Be back soon with pictures:)

Spots

Look at this picture of  the Diga del Cingino dam in Italy.....

See those spots?

Well you will never in a million years guess what they are!!!!

Sheep!!!

They are European Ibex and they like to eat the moss and lichen growing on the wall.

Now that is what you call "sure footed"

Changes

Well like most folks at this age....I don't like changes, but.........I have made this one willingly!

 My past........

 My future.....

I broke down and bought this little kindle and I think........I am in love. Oh my gosh it weights nothing and holds over 50000 books!!!! This one can be turned into an auto book which is my favorite of all and if you want to do a Bible study...this is the way to go. Every verse has references and you can get them by just touching the screen. Come up on a word your not sure of? Just hold it and a dictionary with the meaning pops right up. It is new to me yet and I am just learning but think we are going to become fast friends....who said you can't teach old dogs new tricks?

The Lucky One

Daughter took me to brunch and the movie (The Lucky One) for my Mother's Day.....great time and good movie.






May you have a wonderful Mother's Day that pleases just you!!!

What were you thinking cont.

Remember when I posted some of those architectural mishaps that could not really be explained?
Well here  are a few more.....

Notice the notch in the door as the fix for the problem.

This gardener must have a big following......

Now you just have to laugh at this one..........

Don't take this train

Can't you just see the crew painting this........

 

To Contemplate

A while back a friend gave me this book to read....

No, I am not Amish nor do I intend to become Amish but there were so many of their traditions that made me just sit and contemplate. So, I thought I would from time to time, share some with you.

 The Amish wear very simple, conservative,  practical clothing and they all dress alike.

There are many benefits to this if you think about it. You never have to worry if you  are dressed appropriately for an occasion. You never have to stand in front of your closet wondering what to wear. You never have to worry if you look outdated in your style. There will never be any jealousy over what one has and another doesn't. Brand names would be obsolete. There would be no gang recognitions on sight and lusting would be much less I would guess without low cut blouses and short shorts and bling would not be of any interest nor designer handbags and sunglasses.

Much like a uniform their clothing promotes quality rather than status.

If you sit and just look at people you will be amazed at how we all desire to stand out in some way and how we try to cover up those not so attractive things we all have...drooping boobs, fat gut , thinning hair, wrinkles and etc.

 Well maybe all dressing the same isn't the total answer but this Amish Proverb is.....

The most beautiful attire is a smile.

No expense, readily available and rarely seen these days.

Going backwards?

Most older people are doing this........

but I find myself doing a lot more of this......

That is the reason I moved my playlist to the very top of my blog so I can turn it off because it is bothering me. Anyone else experiencing this?

Also if I add any video and need to turn off the music not have to scroll all the way down to the bottom.

Mile Marker

Yesterday was hubby's 70th birthday...well of course he didn't want a fuss............. Ha.

Arranged for a cake to be served at the restaurant we go to, to sing karaoke on Monday nights.

I know the owner and just gave her some money and said do what ever you think best.....

Well did she ever do great!!!!!This was the middle section of the half sheet of cake. She took a picture from his web site www.jamesguns.com and had them put it on the cake. What a hoot and it was delicious and the best part.....we served all the people in the restaurant  cake and they loved it. What a fun time and of course we will be having a party here at the house for all the GOBS (Good Old Boys) this week-end...... you only turn 70 one time.

Z - Zettler

What is a Zettler you say?

A group of people that immigrated here from Germany many, many, years ago and one of them had a little girl.....

Me............... until hubby came along and gave me a new name

My Dad said it wasn't a name you said but rather one you sneezed......

Well, not only was it hard to learn to spell but it also put me at the end of the line which was awful if we were getting shots at school but not so bad for a competiton were I could scope out all the players.

This ends the A - Z challenge and I want to thank all of those who have encouraged me along the way. It has been an interesting experience and in some ways I think I shall miss it.

One of the rules was to also visit as many other people that were participating and comment. I found that the majority of those that chose to join were writers or want to be writers and even though I've written and published a book, I had a hard time relating. Maybe that shouldn't surprise me because a lot of my book was based around pictures and not just words and you all know.....I LIKE PICTURES!