Oh Pricsilla, how I wish I could be on CLEO with all of you. As a consolation though I do get to go to Denver with Marc where he is going for a week long conference. So I will get to see my sister and some other family. It isn't a cruise with all my buddies but at least I won't be sitting at home daydreaming about being with all of you.

Susan & Russ arrived safely in Rome & called me around 6 pm last night. It was so great to see them. I had walked around earlier in the day to try & find a place for dinner, so we ventured out. The restaurant didn't start serving until 7:30 so we stopped at a cafe for a bit. The restaurant was very good - Gaudi Pizzeria. We started with an appetizer of fried specialties - arancini, mozzarella, etc. Russ & I had a delicious pasta with ham & cheese & Susan had pizza. It was very good, but by the end of the meal Susan was fading fast. The little wine we had may have helped! We were back at the hotel around 9:15.

We are meeting this morning & having breakfast at the little cafe we found last night. Then we're off to the Vatican for the day. We have the Scavi tour that Arlene told us about which first got us interested, & this evening we have the Vatican After Dark tour. This is a small group tour that I had heard about which is suppposed to be amazing since you get to see everything without huge crowds of people around you. We will let you know if it's worth the $$!

Olivia - yes, I'm back to Rome on the 16th as I'm sailing on the RCL Mariner. It's a Seminar at Sea offered by NACTA, a travel agent organization that I joined. The cruise spends 2 days in Israel which was a big selling point, & the price was great. I'm on my own version of CLEO!

Andrea, Susan and Russ,

Hope you are having a great time. Can't wait to hear your comments about the scavi tour and your after dark tour. Please post when you have time

Hey! I didn't know any of you were doing a "pre-CLEO". Our best friends are on this cruise. Susan/Russ/JoAnn/Frank: hope you get to meet them - Scott & Shannon - he is very tall, silver and handsome; she is a drop-dead gorgeous brunette with piercing blue eyes. They are from Scottsdale. I am thinking they will spend a lot of time in the casino... :D

Regardless, we will be anxiously awaiting your seamail!!! :bv:

Bonjouno from Rome -

Frank and I arrived yesterday after an uneventful flight from Washington. Room wasn't ready so we headed over to the Campo di Fiori to the saturday market and some cappucino - didn't sleep much on the plane. Wandered around and by the time we got back around 12:30 our room was ready. Tried to nap, didn't work, but we rested, then headed back over the Campo di Fiori for a little pizza and walking around- Joanna we walked right by the little restaurant you took the tour group on B2B to fo lunch. Came back, showered and had some wine on our little terrace, then headed out for some walking and dineer, a great little place recommended by the hotel, Pierluigi, great dinner and wine, and lots of nice people to chat with. Finally dropped into bed around 11 and slept soundly until 8 this morning.

Had some breakfast and headed out to walk around the Jewish ghetto area, then across the river to Trastavere where we wandered around somemore. Our hotel is the Ponte Sisto, right at the Ponte Sisto bridge and across from Trastavere. Back at the hotel taking a break, we will go back to the Jewish ghetto for some lunch in awhile. Tonight we again have reservations at a place recommended by the hotel. Tomorrw is the Sistine Chapel and later we will meet Andrea, Russ and Susan for dinner.

Kristin - give your friends our name and we will try to hunt them down, in fact if you want try to email them our room number 1002 and tell them to give us a call and we will meet up for drinks.

More later. Ciao!

JoAnn, Strolling around Rome taking in the sights (and sites) and eating great food sounds like a wonderful way to begin a vacation.

JoAnn you bring back great memories! Oh how we love Rome and your reports! Love the areas you are visiting! Our best to all you lucky LCTers :hug: :hug:

Sounds like you all are off to a great start in Rome! I too am anxious to hear about the Scavi tour. We Love Rome!

Just had a great lunch in the Jewish Ghetto at Trattoria da Giggetto, shared several stuffed zucchini blossoms stuffed with cheese and anchovies and fried, one deep fried artichock heart and one piece of deep fried cod - oh gosh heart attack city, but soooooo yummy. Raining as we walked back and now rest time and another jacuzzi bath with wonderful "salt bath minerals" and maybe a short nap before dinner tonight.

JoAnn, that sounds SO good! I am glad you are off to a good start!

Hi JoAnn,

I'm so envious, you're in my favorite city in the world. Funny that you're at the Ponte Sisto, we stayed there a few years ago and have also enjoyed dinner (and lunch) at Pierluigi(which is now our favorite rest in Rome). That's a great area.

Enjoy!!

JoAnn, sounds like a wonderful start to your vacation! What better place than Rome to relax and eat well. Enjoy!