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.