Today is THE day! In a few short hours I will be off to one of my favorite places on earth...Rome. Can't wait to have that first first cup of cappuccino at Sant' Eustachio...ahhh...I can taste it now! :)
Warm wishes for a happy, safe, and healthy holiday.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
It's almost 10am and....
I have 2 more hours at work...ugghhh...I've got all my "ducks in a row" and just one or two things to wrap up and I am ready to hit the door and not look back for 10 days!
I have been obsessing over the weather forecast for the next 10 days in Rome and things are not looking good for the first few days I will be there...I am hoping in the next 24 hours some weather miracle occurs and it will be sunny for the entire time I will be in Rome...a girl can hope can't she? Well, as a co-worker told me this morning..."even if it is rainy and cloudy at least you'll be in Rome"! She does have a point. If all else fails I'm sure I can find a cafe where I can sit and order cappuccino after cappuccino and soak in all that Rome is at Christmas time! :)
Fortunately my flights tomorrow do not connect through any "snow-bound" location in the US. All the way from the Pacific Northwest to the Northeast there is tons of snow falling, even in places that don't usually have the "white stuff"! As long as Atlanta stays blessed by the weather gods I will be a happy traveler!
I have been obsessing over the weather forecast for the next 10 days in Rome and things are not looking good for the first few days I will be there...I am hoping in the next 24 hours some weather miracle occurs and it will be sunny for the entire time I will be in Rome...a girl can hope can't she? Well, as a co-worker told me this morning..."even if it is rainy and cloudy at least you'll be in Rome"! She does have a point. If all else fails I'm sure I can find a cafe where I can sit and order cappuccino after cappuccino and soak in all that Rome is at Christmas time! :)
Fortunately my flights tomorrow do not connect through any "snow-bound" location in the US. All the way from the Pacific Northwest to the Northeast there is tons of snow falling, even in places that don't usually have the "white stuff"! As long as Atlanta stays blessed by the weather gods I will be a happy traveler!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Packing is done...
My bag is packed and I am ready for my Roman Holiday to begin...too bad I have to get through the rest of today and tomorrow before flying the friendly skies.
With the horrible weather pummeling the northern part of the country I am hoping I don't run into any flight delays...but as usual I will approach the "travel day" with flexibility as my mantra.
And the weather forecast for the first 3 days in Rome doesn't look very promising, but weather forecast have been known to be wrong in the past...Let's hope for sunny blue skies!
With the horrible weather pummeling the northern part of the country I am hoping I don't run into any flight delays...but as usual I will approach the "travel day" with flexibility as my mantra.
And the weather forecast for the first 3 days in Rome doesn't look very promising, but weather forecast have been known to be wrong in the past...Let's hope for sunny blue skies!
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
1 week from tonight....
It will not only be Christmas Eve...it will be the night before I leave for Rome! I am sure I will be buzzing around the house doing all the last minute things I usually do before a trip.
Most of what I need to pack is piled up in the guest room, now it's just a matter of finding the time this weekend to pack, with a party Saturday night and tickets to a matinee at the performing arts center finding a few hours in between to pack my bag may be tricky, but I am more laid back then usual about packing for this trip. Maybe because I did it last year, and I have this packing thing down to a science!
Here's looking forward to having a great holiday in Roma!
Most of what I need to pack is piled up in the guest room, now it's just a matter of finding the time this weekend to pack, with a party Saturday night and tickets to a matinee at the performing arts center finding a few hours in between to pack my bag may be tricky, but I am more laid back then usual about packing for this trip. Maybe because I did it last year, and I have this packing thing down to a science!
Here's looking forward to having a great holiday in Roma!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
2 Weeks from today....
I will be on my way to Rome and I am ready for it NOW!
I know, I know, I'm just back from a couple really great trips (France and NYC), but I am ready for another vacation and it can't come soon enough.
I'm trying not to stress over work stuff. Technically I will only be out of the office for 3 working days and those are between Christmas and New Year's when historically things are slow anyway. Let's hope I can relax for a few days and not worry about work while in Rome!
This weekend I will be starting to get organized with packing. I'm remaining very laid back about it this time around, not sure why...maybe because I'm getting better at it and I've done it so many times, it should be snap! I still have my packing list which helps tremendously!
Here's hoping the next 2 weeks go by smoothly and my departure is easy going!
I know, I know, I'm just back from a couple really great trips (France and NYC), but I am ready for another vacation and it can't come soon enough.
I'm trying not to stress over work stuff. Technically I will only be out of the office for 3 working days and those are between Christmas and New Year's when historically things are slow anyway. Let's hope I can relax for a few days and not worry about work while in Rome!
This weekend I will be starting to get organized with packing. I'm remaining very laid back about it this time around, not sure why...maybe because I'm getting better at it and I've done it so many times, it should be snap! I still have my packing list which helps tremendously!
Here's hoping the next 2 weeks go by smoothly and my departure is easy going!
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Spirito di Vino BOOKED!
Well, the first choice restaurant for New Year's Eve dinner (Osteria Romana) in Rome still hadn't replied to my email by earlier this week and it had been almost a week since I had emailed them my request...I know, I can get a bit impatient!
BUT I didn't want to arrive in Rome on December 26th without a New Year's Eve dinner reservation not knowing how easy or difficult it might be to arrange them just days before the holiday. So, a few days ago I started looking through my bookmarked Rome restaurants and hit upon Spirito di Vino in the Trastevere neighborhood, which is within walking distance to our hotel. This was a high priority because I have been told that taxis on New Year's Eve in Rome are VERY hard to come by.
This restaurant also happened to be one featured on a past episode of $40 with Rachel Ray on the Food Network, and I probably did see that episode, but honestly didn't remember the restaurant from that.
As I perused the restaurant's website it really appealed to me, an interesting building, looks like interesting decor, cool looking wine cellar and a pretty appetizing menu.
I emailed them with my request and in less then 24 hours had a reply back that I had a confirmed reservation for New Year's Eve! I thought that was a good sign...very prompt!
Once I had the reservation I started doing some google research and found a UK dining review website that had some really terrific reviews of this restaurant...another good sign! Needless to say I am pleased that I may have another gem of a restaurant to experience and now I can rest easy that we will not be sitting on the curb on a Roman street on New Year's Eve eating Pizza Bianca....although, that doesn't sound like a bad option either!
If you want to check out Ristorante Spirito di Vino here is their website:
http://www.spiritodivino.com/
Now all the little "loose ends" for reservations are tied up...just need to confirm the hotel next week and in 16 days we will be on our way to the Eternal City...
Ciao Roma!
BUT I didn't want to arrive in Rome on December 26th without a New Year's Eve dinner reservation not knowing how easy or difficult it might be to arrange them just days before the holiday. So, a few days ago I started looking through my bookmarked Rome restaurants and hit upon Spirito di Vino in the Trastevere neighborhood, which is within walking distance to our hotel. This was a high priority because I have been told that taxis on New Year's Eve in Rome are VERY hard to come by.
This restaurant also happened to be one featured on a past episode of $40 with Rachel Ray on the Food Network, and I probably did see that episode, but honestly didn't remember the restaurant from that.
As I perused the restaurant's website it really appealed to me, an interesting building, looks like interesting decor, cool looking wine cellar and a pretty appetizing menu.
I emailed them with my request and in less then 24 hours had a reply back that I had a confirmed reservation for New Year's Eve! I thought that was a good sign...very prompt!
Once I had the reservation I started doing some google research and found a UK dining review website that had some really terrific reviews of this restaurant...another good sign! Needless to say I am pleased that I may have another gem of a restaurant to experience and now I can rest easy that we will not be sitting on the curb on a Roman street on New Year's Eve eating Pizza Bianca....although, that doesn't sound like a bad option either!
If you want to check out Ristorante Spirito di Vino here is their website:
http://www.spiritodivino.com/
Now all the little "loose ends" for reservations are tied up...just need to confirm the hotel next week and in 16 days we will be on our way to the Eternal City...
Ciao Roma!
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Awesome Rome guide booked!
I could not be more ecstatic....
Last year when in Rome we had a terrific guide for the Borghese Gallery and Ancient Rome walking tours. Her name, Francesca Caruso.
Last spring when I started booking reservations for this year's trip to Rome I emailed her to see if she would be available for a walking tour in the Trastevere neighborhood. She was quick to respond but unfortunately she said she may not be in Rome over the Christmas holidays, but to contact her closer to when I would be in Rome and if her plans had changed we could possibly set up a tour.
Yesterday I emailed her and to my great pleasure she replied to me today...and YES! She will be in Rome this year at Christmas and I booked a walking tour with her for Dec. 29th. We are THRILLED to book this tour with Francesca...she has such an infectious enthusiasm for the city of Rome I can't wait to spend time with her!
And my airport transfers are set too. We will be whisked away to our hotel from the airport by Rome Cabs...we had such great service with them last year it was a no-brainer to book them again this year!
Last year when in Rome we had a terrific guide for the Borghese Gallery and Ancient Rome walking tours. Her name, Francesca Caruso.
Last spring when I started booking reservations for this year's trip to Rome I emailed her to see if she would be available for a walking tour in the Trastevere neighborhood. She was quick to respond but unfortunately she said she may not be in Rome over the Christmas holidays, but to contact her closer to when I would be in Rome and if her plans had changed we could possibly set up a tour.
Yesterday I emailed her and to my great pleasure she replied to me today...and YES! She will be in Rome this year at Christmas and I booked a walking tour with her for Dec. 29th. We are THRILLED to book this tour with Francesca...she has such an infectious enthusiasm for the city of Rome I can't wait to spend time with her!
And my airport transfers are set too. We will be whisked away to our hotel from the airport by Rome Cabs...we had such great service with them last year it was a no-brainer to book them again this year!
Monday, December 01, 2008
Holy Smokes....only 24 more days...
Until Rome! Ok, until Christmas too, but I'm flying to Rome on Christmas day, so in my book it's both! What a way to spend the holiday...flying through the air to one of my favorite destinations.
With just returning from France in mid-October, then a 4 day trip to NYC in mid-November, friends in town over Thanksgiving I'm feeling a bit unorganized for this Rome trip. All the "biggies" are taken care of , but I need to buckle down and make a few more arrangements plus keep things at work on course...ahhh...there's no rest for the weary! :)
This week I need to find a restaurant for New Year's Eve dinner and book our transportation to and from the airport in Rome, and everything else will be in a "play it by ear" mode for our 8 days in the Eternal City.
Of course I did buy another Rome guide book a couple weeks ago and haven't even cracked it open yet, it could be good reading for the next few weekends!
With just returning from France in mid-October, then a 4 day trip to NYC in mid-November, friends in town over Thanksgiving I'm feeling a bit unorganized for this Rome trip. All the "biggies" are taken care of , but I need to buckle down and make a few more arrangements plus keep things at work on course...ahhh...there's no rest for the weary! :)
This week I need to find a restaurant for New Year's Eve dinner and book our transportation to and from the airport in Rome, and everything else will be in a "play it by ear" mode for our 8 days in the Eternal City.
Of course I did buy another Rome guide book a couple weeks ago and haven't even cracked it open yet, it could be good reading for the next few weekends!
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