My tweets

[nlbarber]

• Sun, 16:33: Breakfast spread is nice at the Hotel Mascagni--I had scrambled eggs w mushrooms, eggplant in tomato sauce, cream-filled sfogliatelle.
• Sun, 16:33: Energy conservation measure: dongle on ring w room key goes in slot near door. If not in place, room lights don't work.
• Sun, 16:36: Bought day passes for bus/Metro, caught 64 bus to Castel San'Angelo. Paused to look at Tiber, turbid from yesterday's rain.
• Sun, 16:36: Only got to 3rd level of 5 at Castel San'Angelo, even skipping lots. Must come back some day. Walked to Metro via St. Peter's.
• Sun, 16:39: Lunch at Cafe Leonardo pizzeria near Spanish Steps after meeting up with L 30 min late. Bruschettoni with prosciutto, arugula, Parmesan.
• Sun, 16:41: Now a group of 7, off to Colosseum via Metro. Waiting in ticket line, heard offer of spaces on tour that includes lower level. Yes!
• Sun, 16:41: Tour led by archeologist in English, handsets provided so you can hear w/o clustering around guide. Great tour fr lower level to 3rd.
• Sun, 16:46: Went fr Colosseum to hotel, 5 of us went on to L's pick for best gelato in Rome, I Caruso. Small cup almond & dk chocolate, w cream. Yum!
• Sun, 17:11: Found @ gelato place that my wallet is gone, prob lost @ Colosseum. Credit card not used yet, Chase sending new one to next hotel.
• Sun, 17:12: Rest of wallet: cash is a loss, assume debit card is unusable, also lost drivers license & health ins card. A hassle, not a disaster.

• Sun, 17:14: Headed to Piazza Navone, Christmas market, dinner @ Tre Scallini.
• Sun, 17:14: Almost lost 2 wallets in 1 day-Brian felt wallet being removed fr his front pocket on packed bus, grabbed thief's arm, wallet was dropped.
• Sun, 17:16: Pasta dinner @ Tre Scallini was good--prosciutto w melon, rigatoni amatriciana, shared signature tartufo for dessert.
• Sun, 17:17: Fun Christmas market: candies, Christmas witches, candies, other gift items. Group singing carols near fountain. We walked back to hotel. :)
• Sun, 17:23: Sunday 12/23: Breakfast @ hotel again was good--my sfogliatelle was filled with Nutella today. :)
• Sun, 17:23: Off to Colosseum via Metro, to see Forum/Palatine Hill.
• Sun, 17:25: On Metro: Another encounter w pickpockets, gang of 12-y-o girls crowding & pushing, hands hidden under messenger bags. No losses.
• Sun, 17:27: Saw only part of Palantine Hill before leaving to meet up w 2 of L's friends for lunch near Pubblica Metro station near our hotel.
• Sun, 17:29: OK lunch of sandwiches/salad, then to hotel for luggage, took 2 taxis (7 people w luggage) to Trastevere train station. Off to Viterbo!
• Sun, 17:30: Local train to Viterbo, stops at every station. Nice to see some countryside, sun is setting @ 4:30. Dinner w L's host family tonight.

• Sun, 17:32: Third level of Colosseum, Rome. http://t.co/0qFNGMw7
• Sun, 17:35: All checked in to Hotel Nibbio, Viterbo, with free wifi. Can you tell?
• Sun, 22:15: L walked us to host family's apartment, then all went to La Chimera pizzeria http://t.co/iRZknbmo . Parents, Nonna, girls 13 & 9.
• Sun, 22:19: 13 yo has some English, L some Italian. I chatted w the girls using Disney & other pictures on iPad: Minnie Mouse, princesses, pets, etc.
• Sun, 22:21: Evening had lots of smiling silences, but we did OK. Tomorrow we have Xmas Eve dinner at their home, will be a party of 25.
• Sun, 22:28: Keeping Italian hours: reservation was 8:30 pm, back @ hotel 10:30. L says it may be 1:30 am or later tomorrow, w the Xmas Eve party.

Comments

[navhelowife.livejournal.com]

I can't believe I forgot to warn you about the buses!!! Notorious for pickpockets. I hope your bank took care of the debit and credit card.
We took to taking only a limited amount of cash each day, and gave our kids five euro to stick in the bottom of their shoe just in case all else failed :)

[nlbarber]

We were warned in general, though not about busses specifically. My brother did reduce what he carries around after that, and most of us are using waist or neck travel purses now. In retrospect, pushing onto the crowdede bus was the mistake.