Woke up at 11 am just as we were flying over Ireland. After a quick breakfast of yogurt and a sweet bun it was time to land.

We arrived in Rome 40 minutes early which cut about an hour of flying time. Deplaning onto a shuttle, it was off to the terminal in overcast but 16 degree weather. Through customs so quick we hardly even paused when the agent stamped our passports with not a word said. Our luggage arrived on the carousel after twenty minutes or so. With luggage in tow, we subjected ourselves to the final hurdle for entry into Italy. Green door with nothing to declare, red door otherwise. Through the green door and we were officially in Italy.

Our next task was to find the train terminal. Directions were clearly marked and after a five minute walk we were at the tracks. Bought our tickets on the Leonardo Express for 14 euros each. The train arrived 10 minutes later, we boarded and found our seats. It was a pleasant 30 minute non-stop trip to the Rome Termini where we had made arrangements to meet up with Carole and LeVerne at 3pm in front of the station’s McDonald’s. We arrived at our meeting spot 45 minutes early because of our early flight. After about 10 minutes of waiting, Lee decided she needed a bathroom break so off she went. Not even five minutes later Carole and LeVerne showed up. Happy reunion! Carole asked where Lee was and when I told her she went in search of a biffy, Carole’s comment was, “Well, I hope she has some euro”. When I said no, off Carole went to rescue Lee. One euro bailed her out of the loo and they rejoined us a few minutes later.

We left the station with luggage in tow and made it to our hotel within a 15 minute walk. It took Carole and LeVerne a half hour or more the night before but that was in the dark and not following the instructions I had provided.

Checked into the Oceania Hotel at around 3:30. The lobby, hallways, sitting rooms and guest rooms all featured beautiful woodwork and ceiling detail. We freshened up a bit, then into Carole and LeVerne’s room for a welcome to Rome/Europe bottle of wine they purchased earlier in the day.

    
    
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At around 5 o’clock we ventured out to the Barocco Ristorante pizzeria restaurant for a very nice dinner and a bottle of Sicilian wine, recommended to us by our Sicilian waitress. Finished dinner by 6:30, back to the hotel by 7 and off to bed by 7:30. Long day but we finished up our second travel day in pretty good shape.

      
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