OUR TRIP TO ROME, DAY 1

Wednesday, December 23 we arrived in Rome at about 11am. The airport was covered in Roma Natale signs like this:



We had to take a 30 minute train ride from the airport to Termini, the main metro station. This is Dexter and me on the train:



Luckily the Termini station was just a couple blocks from our hotel. Mahlon was a champ, and carted all our luggage the whole way. Our hotel was the Mecenate Palace Hotel. It was in the beautiful Piazza Maria San Maggiore. There was a FANTASTIC breakfast buffet every morning with Cornetti, fruit, cereal, deli meat and cheese. Plus there were complimentary cappucinos made to order. They served panatone for Christmas too!




















Though our room was small, it was also very nice. The already had a crib set up with fresh sheets in the room for Dexter, though he preferred the big bed.




















Here's the Piazza S. Maggiore. This was right across the street from our hotel.



















Once we checked in we walked around looking for the Hard Rock Cafe (we were craving some good American food!) On the way we stopped for a pic by this fountain.
























Then we made our way to the famous Spanish Steps. Here are some views from the top.




















And Mahlon and Dexter at the bottom of the Spanish Steps looking up. It was pretty annoying down here, as we witnessed for the first time all the shady guys running around pushing items in your face trying to sell them to you. Particularly flowers. Every touristy area was full of them!
























We had dinner at Hard Rock. We split hot wings, then I had a cobb salad with ranch and Mahlon had fajitas. So good but soooooo expensive.



















Dexter with Angus Young's guitar (from ACDC).



















Flea's bass (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
























And Eddie Van Halen's guitar! Poor Dexter knows how Flat Stanley feels now, ha!
























Finally, Mahlon wanted his pic by Andrews tie store. Even though it was only like 8 o'clock we were pooped and ready to crash for the night. We headed back to the hotel and did just that :o)