Make that eventually, maybe.
We arrived back in Orly just past midnight after a much delayed flight and as we wondered how to get to our hotel (it was just past the last shuttle departure time) we were surprised to see the hotel shuttle arrive. We happily approached the rear of the van with our cases, but the driver said no, he was there for the air-crew only. The look on our faces must have been pathetic because he took pity on us and agreed to take us along. We threw the bags in and waited for the air-crew to arrive. Within minutes they were all there--we were a couple of seats short! The driver also had a friend with him which complicated matters but we were all soon squeezed in--as Art said to the Captain, just like tourist class.
Ten minutes later we were at the hotel desk and checked in, looking for food, to find the restaurant and bar kitchen closed! We settled for a couple of half litres of beer and the waiter supplied a large bowl of nuts and snacks. Again, rather than stumble along with our than adequate French, we conversed with the bartender in Spanish! It appears that he is originally from El Salvador. A bit later four business men arrived wanting drinks--by this time it was after closing and they were refused at first but eventually the manager relented and allowed them to be served. The one doing all the coaxing was doing it in Spanish--he was a Mexican! We all spent the next while conversing, laughing and telling jokes in Spanish!
We eventually got to our room, having picked up the bag we had left last week (intentionally) and the room was very pleasant. Shower, set the alarm and sleep followed in quick succession.
Morning came early but we woke quite refreshed in spite of the long yesterday and short sleep and were soon in the dining room to catch up on lost meals and prepare for our journey to Rome. The hotel served an excellent breakfast buffet--Gillian was amazed that the scrambled eggs remained so soft and fluffy. Pancakes, bacon, sausage, eggs, steak (if you wished) cereals, fruit, cold meats, cheeses, etc. etc.
We returned to the front desk at 8:39 to find that the 8:40 shuttle to Orly airport had already left! We made the 9:00 with out trouble, planning on taking the train to Charles de Gaule Airport for our Rome flight but the shuttle driver told us the bus was better.
There was a long line at the bus, lots of people jostling and arguing about getting their suitcases stored, but we were eventually rolling. But only after another 30 minute wait for another bus--after the one we were lined up for drove off full! We had a nice drive through Paris and as we approached Charles de Gaule we told our driver which flight we wanted and when everyone else got off, he told us to stay put while he chauffeured us (the only two passengers remaining) around to the other terminal and dropped us off at exactly the right spot, in front of the Lufthansa counters.
As we entered the Departures area and headed for the Lufthansa check-in we were approached by a Lufthansa agent who directed us to the automatic check in and, spotting Art's cane, asked if we needed a wheelchair. Art said that he had done too many stairs in the Paris Metro, she laughed knowingly and told us to see her colleague after we had our boarding passes. This young lady asked if Art could manage the escalator and moving walkway, which he could of course, but told her that our biggest concern was the 30 minute connection we had in Munich, so a ride between gates at Munich was arranged.
The flight was late departing but we were met as promised and made the flight with 5 minutes to spare. The Lufthansa flights were excellent, we had reasonable legroom and actually got fed. Nothing exciting, but edible food as airline food goes.
Our arrival in Rome was again uneventful, a passing glance at our British Passports and we were waved through. We followed the signs for the train--there is a direct express from the airport to the centre of Rome, the station in town only five or six blocks from our hotel.
At the airport station we purchased train tickets and also a three day transit pass which included entrance to the first two museums (more or less of our choice) and reduced entrance for the rest. These turned out to be a good deal except:
Art had his wallet go missing somewhere between the train ticket window at the Rome Airport station and our hotel. Gone were about 130 Euros, Master Card, Bank card, driver's license, Care Card etc etc etc. Phone calls got the cards cancelled and he still has a VISA card and another bank card and Gillian's are of course fine, but very annoying to say the least.
We got into the hotel eventually. Having walked the wrong way first, we did about 4 blocks too many. As we wandered through what looked to be a not too good part of town we passed a small sidewalk cafe that was busy with an interesting menu. A block further along we found our hotel.
After checking in we called MasterCard and the bank--free calls from our room!!!! and arranged for Art's cards to be cancelled. We quickly unpacked, showered, changed and went out looking for supper. We wandered back down the street and encountered a few places that weren't too appealing, then crossed to the one we had seen on our way up. There must have been an angel looking over our shoulders, as the food was heavenly! Art moaned over his melt-in-your-mouth fresh lasagna, Gillian pronounced her seafood pasta as "excellent", accompanied by a very good local red wine.
After they threw us out--they were closing! we wandered up to the other end of the street to the Piazza and a church which we later decided was the most beautiful in Rome. On the corner we discovered a restaurant bar that looked interesting and over the next few days spent enough time there to be recognised by the waiter--who a few days later joked that our regular table was occupied, would the one next to it be OK?
Saturday
Coliseum, way too much walking and too much food.
Sunday, see the e-mails, more to come later, probably a month or so after we get home!
Will stick in a few pictures and update the text as we get around to it.
Our Last Day, June 22nd
Another day enjoying the architecture and many piazzas of Rome. Much more walking! The streets are getting harder to walk on.
Art was taken (figuratively) with the police cars. (Many years ago he owned an Alfa Romeo. In fact he traded in Gillian's VW fastback on it--but that is another story probably best left forgotten!)
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