It is too soon to be leaving Rome. I just got here! Leaving this city is
like prying fingers off a ledge… but I must continue my journey. I woke up at
6 am, before dawn, (very painful after the late dinner with the Quilt Italia
ladies!) and packed up. Made myself some tea and went downstairs at 7 am for my
taxi.
like prying fingers off a ledge… but I must continue my journey. I woke up at
6 am, before dawn, (very painful after the late dinner with the Quilt Italia
ladies!) and packed up. Made myself some tea and went downstairs at 7 am for my
taxi.
As we drove through town past so many landmarks, I tried not to moan and
sigh as we passed Piazza Venezia, The Forum, and then we literally drove in a
loop around the Colosseum! Arrivaderci Bella Roma!
sigh as we passed Piazza Venezia, The Forum, and then we literally drove in a
loop around the Colosseum! Arrivaderci Bella Roma!
The airport taxi situation in Rome is very interesting. There is a fixed
price of 40 euro from Fiumicino airport to the center of Rome, but they add on 8
euro for the luggage so it is 48 euro plus tip if you like. 50 euro for a
private car to the airport sounds like a lot – but it is basically the same as a
taxi but much nicer. Neither is cheap, but you get more for your money with a
private car which is booked by the hotel.
price of 40 euro from Fiumicino airport to the center of Rome, but they add on 8
euro for the luggage so it is 48 euro plus tip if you like. 50 euro for a
private car to the airport sounds like a lot – but it is basically the same as a
taxi but much nicer. Neither is cheap, but you get more for your money with a
private car which is booked by the hotel.
So… off to Moscow!
I flew Lufthansa to Moscow, with a short layover in Frankfurt. Layovers in
Frankfurt are always stressful unless they are very long. It is such a huge
airport. You get off the plane on the tarmac, go down the stairs and climb on a
bus. No hurry because the bus isn't going anywhere til ALL the passengers are
off the plane and onto the bus. Then it takes forever for the bus to drive all
over the airport and finally get to a terminal. Then you usually have to run to
a different terminal to catch your connecting flight. By the time I got to my
connecting flight it was last call for the flight to Moscow.
Frankfurt are always stressful unless they are very long. It is such a huge
airport. You get off the plane on the tarmac, go down the stairs and climb on a
bus. No hurry because the bus isn't going anywhere til ALL the passengers are
off the plane and onto the bus. Then it takes forever for the bus to drive all
over the airport and finally get to a terminal. Then you usually have to run to
a different terminal to catch your connecting flight. By the time I got to my
connecting flight it was last call for the flight to Moscow.
So I jumped on another bus and we all rode out to the airplane. The
previous plane was full of Germans and Italians. This plane was full of Germans
and Russians, naturally. I'd been warned that the Russians have a different idea
of personal space. The large Russian lady next to me elbowed me, kicked me, and
even handed me her lunch tray to hold while she rummaged through her big purse.
I thought to myself – "this is preparing me for my time in Russia" – and just
kept smiling at her. She kept yelling at someone behind us so I just kept my
head down.
previous plane was full of Germans and Italians. This plane was full of Germans
and Russians, naturally. I'd been warned that the Russians have a different idea
of personal space. The large Russian lady next to me elbowed me, kicked me, and
even handed me her lunch tray to hold while she rummaged through her big purse.
I thought to myself – "this is preparing me for my time in Russia" – and just
kept smiling at her. She kept yelling at someone behind us so I just kept my
head down.
Upon arrival at the Moscow Airport, we all got out of the plane and walked
10 yards in a glass corridor, and had to stop at a locked glass door. After 10
minutes a customs agent with a bright red bob and pencil skirt unlocked the door
and we all followed her to Customs. It took awhile to get luggage and get out
the door, and someone from the hotel was waiting to pick me up. He grabbed one
of my bags, turned and walked off without a word! I grabbed my other bags and
ran after him through the airport, across the road, and into a parking
structure. After 1 1/2 hrs in traffic, we arrived at my hotel.
10 yards in a glass corridor, and had to stop at a locked glass door. After 10
minutes a customs agent with a bright red bob and pencil skirt unlocked the door
and we all followed her to Customs. It took awhile to get luggage and get out
the door, and someone from the hotel was waiting to pick me up. He grabbed one
of my bags, turned and walked off without a word! I grabbed my other bags and
ran after him through the airport, across the road, and into a parking
structure. After 1 1/2 hrs in traffic, we arrived at my hotel.
I always request a room with a bathtub when I travel. This is one thing I
just can't live without when I am on the road. So of course they put me in a
room with only a shower. I had a spectacular view, but no bath. So I will have
to pack up all my things in the morning so they can move my luggage to a room
with a tub.
just can't live without when I am on the road. So of course they put me in a
room with only a shower. I had a spectacular view, but no bath. So I will have
to pack up all my things in the morning so they can move my luggage to a room
with a tub.
