The plane ride from EWR was fairly uneventful. The average age of our section of the plane was close to deceased, quite jovial and full of pranks with each other, and most headed to one cruise or another from Civitavecchia including our trip on the Carnival Freedom… destined to soon become the INFAMOUS Carnival Freedom if NOWAT has anything to do with it.
Around 8:15 AM, half an hour late, our pilot found Roma-Fiumicino, [FCO] better known as Leonardo da Vinci Aeroporti di Roma without illy’s help, [Thank Heaven as many will recall her navigational skills or lack thereof, the last time in Italy]
Around 8:15 AM, half an hour late, our pilot found Roma-Fiumicino, [FCO] better known as Leonardo da Vinci Aeroporti di Roma without illy’s help, [Thank Heaven as many will recall her navigational skills or lack thereof, the last time in Italy]
Even with lots of new construction at FCO the signage was good, going through customs was fast, and the access to the retrivo bagagli [baggage claim] area was fairly easy. Getting the bagagli was not so easy. There must have been a porter mini-strike [I hear that happens often] as it took about 45 minutes to get our bags. Then the fun began.
We chose the Leonardo Express Treno [lots of stuff named after Lenny boy, all over Italy] for
our trip to Roma Termini [the main train station in Rome] On the surface this looks easy, except that the railway station is 2 floors up from retrivo bagagli, which again wouldn’t be too much except… the escalator to the 2nd level was not working and it was a loooooonnnnnngggg way up the stairs with 2-50LB bags and the carry-ons. Dragon Lady was a “Draggin’ Lady” by the time we reached the ticket window.
The Leonardo runs every half hour and our wait was short. Then
we had to wrestle the bags up the narrow train steps to a crowded compartment [seats 6] with just enough room to block the aisle with our bagagli leaving only one seat open for a scruffy young man with cute leather pants. No AC and the morning sun beating down 
on Illy made for a hot ride which we were happy when it ended on time at Termini. After a short look-around in the train station for a computer store, to solve our latest challenge and since the weather was great, not raining as the weather report had predicted, we felt optimistic & headed out the front door, waiving off the beckoning calls of the taxi drivers, thinking we'll walk to our Hotel.
We chose the Leonardo Express Treno [lots of stuff named after Lenny boy, all over Italy] for
our trip to Roma Termini [the main train station in Rome] On the surface this looks easy, except that the railway station is 2 floors up from retrivo bagagli, which again wouldn’t be too much except… the escalator to the 2nd level was not working and it was a loooooonnnnnngggg way up the stairs with 2-50LB bags and the carry-ons. Dragon Lady was a “Draggin’ Lady” by the time we reached the ticket window.The Leonardo runs every half hour and our wait was short. Then
we had to wrestle the bags up the narrow train steps to a crowded compartment [seats 6] with just enough room to block the aisle with our bagagli leaving only one seat open for a scruffy young man with cute leather pants. No AC and the morning sun beating down 
on Illy made for a hot ride which we were happy when it ended on time at Termini. After a short look-around in the train station for a computer store, to solve our latest challenge and since the weather was great, not raining as the weather report had predicted, we felt optimistic & headed out the front door, waiving off the beckoning calls of the taxi drivers, thinking we'll walk to our Hotel. WHAT WERE WE THINKING????
Google Maps makes it look close and it would have been even closer if Chuckie had remembered the side exit through the Alitalia office. So after walking 1/2 mile to get around the fence at the Piazza Cinquecento in front of Termini we wound up near the taxi stand at the side entrance. Pulling the bagaglio across the cobblestoned sidewalks and streets was becoming futile so we flagged a Taxi for a quick trip to the Best Western Hotel Globus located in the University area. I had forgotten the €2 surcharge for pickup at Termini as well a €1 per bag. What I thought was a €5 trip turned out to be double. …Still better than hauling bags that far.
We arrived at the hotel at 10:30 AM, Check in was smoothly handled by
Cristiano Sandrecchi, a pleasant young man who brought us coffee while we waited for the room to become ready, and got us set up with internet access etc. Also on hand with a fabulous smile was Simona Scunca who made us feel very welcomed. Fortunately there is a data port in the room in addition to the wireless access throughout the hotel so downloading the wireless driver we need should be a cinch. WRROOONNNG!
Once settled in the room I tried to get online…wellll… “tried” is the operative word here. The
hardwire connection showing as unplugged on the network monitor and nothing I did could find the connection.
“Hello Cristiano, is there a problem with the hard wired data port to the rooms?”
“No Signore Mercurio, but maybe your port is no good, I'll send someone up to check it.”
10 minutes later, not one but two maintenance guys show up and proceed to plug in testers, flip switches and “apropio Li”[there it is] we’re Hot.. Now to get online for the download.
Terry warned me not to be surprised if the ship wireless was slow… well it can’t be any slower than Hotel Globus!!! While it took 20 minutes to download the 64meg drive at 64kb per sec. at FLL, the “High Speed Internet” at Hotel Globus raced along at 16kb per sec! Slower than Dial up!!! This was gonna take 2+ hours so we figure we'll go to lunch and leave the laptop running. An excellent plan since we were feeling serious hunger pangs and were anxious to get to the city.
WRROONNG Again! In European as well as Asian hotels your room key must be left in a slot by the door which controls the AC, lights & all outlets. Of course when you leave the room, you need to take the key and the power shuts off to conserve electricity. So now to plan B.
We arrange with Cristiano to leave the laptop at the front desk on their connection so the download can run while we’re out and we headed for lunch.
First we head to the Metro station, 2 long, uphill blocks away, and decide to stop at Risto Bar Tavalo Calda for a quick bite at the counter
, a Panini for her and Ravioli en Spinachi Bechamel for me. Not bad… a 3 on the Chuckie Food Rating scale. We then head to the Metro stop intending to go to Piazza di Spagna with a stop on the way at Fontana di Trevi. Unh uh… Dragon Lady gets side tracked by a street bazaar directly across the street so by the time we head back to the Metro, to by tickets at a vending machine, jet lag set in big time. It was now 2PM Friday and we have been ‘up’ since 7AM Thursday morning. [Chuckie only got 3 hours sleep the night before because of the DELL 
techie call]. We looked at each other and elected to go back to the hotel to retrieve the laptop, load the driver, and grab a 2 hour power nap. But not before she decides we just HAVE TO go a half mile past the hotel to the Basilica San Lorenzo, expecting to find a big cathedral.
Google Maps makes it look close and it would have been even closer if Chuckie had remembered the side exit through the Alitalia office. So after walking 1/2 mile to get around the fence at the Piazza Cinquecento in front of Termini we wound up near the taxi stand at the side entrance. Pulling the bagaglio across the cobblestoned sidewalks and streets was becoming futile so we flagged a Taxi for a quick trip to the Best Western Hotel Globus located in the University area. I had forgotten the €2 surcharge for pickup at Termini as well a €1 per bag. What I thought was a €5 trip turned out to be double. …Still better than hauling bags that far.
We arrived at the hotel at 10:30 AM, Check in was smoothly handled by
Cristiano Sandrecchi, a pleasant young man who brought us coffee while we waited for the room to become ready, and got us set up with internet access etc. Also on hand with a fabulous smile was Simona Scunca who made us feel very welcomed. Fortunately there is a data port in the room in addition to the wireless access throughout the hotel so downloading the wireless driver we need should be a cinch. WRROOONNNG!Once settled in the room I tried to get online…wellll… “tried” is the operative word here. The
hardwire connection showing as unplugged on the network monitor and nothing I did could find the connection.“Hello Cristiano, is there a problem with the hard wired data port to the rooms?”
“No Signore Mercurio, but maybe your port is no good, I'll send someone up to check it.”
10 minutes later, not one but two maintenance guys show up and proceed to plug in testers, flip switches and “apropio Li”[there it is] we’re Hot.. Now to get online for the download.
Terry warned me not to be surprised if the ship wireless was slow… well it can’t be any slower than Hotel Globus!!! While it took 20 minutes to download the 64meg drive at 64kb per sec. at FLL, the “High Speed Internet” at Hotel Globus raced along at 16kb per sec! Slower than Dial up!!! This was gonna take 2+ hours so we figure we'll go to lunch and leave the laptop running. An excellent plan since we were feeling serious hunger pangs and were anxious to get to the city.
WRROONNG Again! In European as well as Asian hotels your room key must be left in a slot by the door which controls the AC, lights & all outlets. Of course when you leave the room, you need to take the key and the power shuts off to conserve electricity. So now to plan B.
We arrange with Cristiano to leave the laptop at the front desk on their connection so the download can run while we’re out and we headed for lunch.First we head to the Metro station, 2 long, uphill blocks away, and decide to stop at Risto Bar Tavalo Calda for a quick bite at the counter
, a Panini for her and Ravioli en Spinachi Bechamel for me. Not bad… a 3 on the Chuckie Food Rating scale. We then head to the Metro stop intending to go to Piazza di Spagna with a stop on the way at Fontana di Trevi. Unh uh… Dragon Lady gets side tracked by a street bazaar directly across the street so by the time we head back to the Metro, to by tickets at a vending machine, jet lag set in big time. It was now 2PM Friday and we have been ‘up’ since 7AM Thursday morning. [Chuckie only got 3 hours sleep the night before because of the DELL 
techie call]. We looked at each other and elected to go back to the hotel to retrieve the laptop, load the driver, and grab a 2 hour power nap. But not before she decides we just HAVE TO go a half mile past the hotel to the Basilica San Lorenzo, expecting to find a big cathedral. 
WRROOONG for the 3rd time today. The “Basilica” is just a small church being renovated adjacent to the ancient community cemetery. What a place, the tombs and memorials were unbelievable. The cemetery was established in 258AD and after wandering around and taking a few pictures for NOWAT… we get chased out by the 
Carbinari who tell us “Foto’s se Prohibitivo”.
Back at the hotel, we find the downloaded driver had tried to load itself and had frozen. I took it to the room and after several attempts to square it away... HOUSTON… WE GOT WIRELESS!!!!
I was so excited, I tried to email Terry but of course I had the old BellSouth address, so I just called and told him the good news. He heaved a heavy sigh of relief, congratulated me on sticking with it and looked forward to getting his next NOWAT episode.
Hey…. No other major Chaos so far, after a quick cat-nap and dinner near Piazza I Spagna, we'll continue our Friday in Rome in the next episode.
Carbinari who tell us “Foto’s se Prohibitivo”.Back at the hotel, we find the downloaded driver had tried to load itself and had frozen. I took it to the room and after several attempts to square it away... HOUSTON… WE GOT WIRELESS!!!!
I was so excited, I tried to email Terry but of course I had the old BellSouth address, so I just called and told him the good news. He heaved a heavy sigh of relief, congratulated me on sticking with it and looked forward to getting his next NOWAT episode.
Hey…. No other major Chaos so far, after a quick cat-nap and dinner near Piazza I Spagna, we'll continue our Friday in Rome in the next episode.
This post was made while onboard the Freedom after dinner. some technical difficulties are keeping us from uploading and Photos. Hopefully the onboard internet manager can solve this hiccup. [N.B.: photos uploaded on return]
Ciao 4 Now,’
Chuck and the seriously jet lagged and now REALLY Draggin’, Dragon Lady.
Chuck and the seriously jet lagged and now REALLY Draggin’, Dragon Lady.
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