Rome, Capri and Amalfi

April 14-25 2009

Who's itching for an Italian adventure?  Marian, Maritza, Maritza's mom and me, that's who!  (I guess that makes us the 4M's, doesn't it?).  Our itinerary: one night in Rome, three nights on Capri, four nights in Amalfi, and three nights back in Rome (four nights for me).  Click HERE to skip to Capri, click HERE to skip to Amalfi and click HERE to skip to Rome (end of trip).

Day 1 Rome:

This was a lazy day to get over jetlag.  Fortunately, our rooms were ready when we arrived early in the day and we settled in to the Best Western Hotel Canada.  We stopped for lunch near the hotel (a sad excuse for Italian food) and then took the metro to the top of the Spanish Steps and walked down.  From there we walked to the Trevi Fountain, and from there to the Pantheon, the best preserved of all Roman buildings -- unfortunately the Pantheon was closed.  Fading, the ladies took a taxi back to the hotel and I wandered over to the Piazza Navona.  The Piazza became one of my favorite spots in Rome.  It was so full of life with outdoor restaurants, fountains and street performers.

Hotel Canada is located close to Termini Train Station.  We booked and paid a month in advance for superior category rooms at 169 euros ($220) per twin room.  Our rooms were spacious and well decorated.  The beds were comfortable with nice pillows and linens, and they supplied us with terrycloth slippers and robes.  Breakfast was excellent and included buffalo mozzarella.  The location is a bit out of the way for Rome's tourist attractions, but is near many bus routes and a metro stop.  www.hotelcanadaroma.com or www.bestwestern.com

Trevi Fountain

The Pantheon, Temple of the Gods

Piazza Navona

Hotel Canada

The Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi) is the largest and most famous Baroque fountain in Rome.  One of the central figures is Neptune, God of the Sea.  The fountain has been featured in Three Coins in a Fountain, Roman Holiday, La Dolce Vita and Gidget Goes to Rome.  Tradition has it that tossing a coin (using your right hand over your left shoulder) into the fountain will guarantee a return visit to Rome.