Train travel...love it! Our hotel room in Rome was pretty much next door to the Rome Termini station. Huge, huge train station which was also our next mode of transportation from Rome to Firenze (Florence).
First things first. Day 3's afternoon was spent at the Roman Coliseum. I pre-purchased our tickets online to "avoid the long lines" only to mis-connect with our tour provider. Not sure if the whole thing was a scam or what as nobody we talked to, including the ticket office, had ever heard of Italy Tours.com. I'll be doing some more investigating on that. Seemed like a legit company. When we called the number the person who answered only spoke Italian so we couldn't lodge a complaint. We ended up walking around for miles and got a couple of great photos of us all flipping off the coliseum. I probably won't be posting those to face book though.
Back to the train. After figuring out how to validate out train pass (one ticket for 3 passengers time stamped in the terminal before boarding) we excitedly got on car three, track 9. Train's leaving at 12:15 pm and we can't seem to find Sara's seat. Since the car wasn't too crowded we picked a random seat for her figuring we would move if needed. At 12:14, Sara reads the ticket and says, "Car 8?"
Hmm, I thought the seats were pretty luxurious for coach and I realize we are sitting in first class. I misread the ticket's passenger number (3 of us) for car number and knew we'd better get ourselves back to coach - which happened to be the same car my sister and her kids were traveling in. So here we are with our stupid heavy bags (see previous 2 blog references to heavy bags), and are literally running from car to car through the train, only to be stopped at the restaurant cart which is locked. Having just witnessed passengers running hurriedly to catch the last train, and being denied access, I had visions of us experiencing the same fate. By now it is 12:15 and we have to haul our bags off the train down several steps, run the length of the restaurant cart and get back on before the doors close for good. Lucky for us we were in time and even managed to find space for our stupid heavy bags, which by-the-way had to be stored overhead. Ugh! So we were sweaty and panting but at last found Sara's seat.
First things first. Day 3's afternoon was spent at the Roman Coliseum. I pre-purchased our tickets online to "avoid the long lines" only to mis-connect with our tour provider. Not sure if the whole thing was a scam or what as nobody we talked to, including the ticket office, had ever heard of Italy Tours.com. I'll be doing some more investigating on that. Seemed like a legit company. When we called the number the person who answered only spoke Italian so we couldn't lodge a complaint. We ended up walking around for miles and got a couple of great photos of us all flipping off the coliseum. I probably won't be posting those to face book though.
Back to the train. After figuring out how to validate out train pass (one ticket for 3 passengers time stamped in the terminal before boarding) we excitedly got on car three, track 9. Train's leaving at 12:15 pm and we can't seem to find Sara's seat. Since the car wasn't too crowded we picked a random seat for her figuring we would move if needed. At 12:14, Sara reads the ticket and says, "Car 8?"
Hmm, I thought the seats were pretty luxurious for coach and I realize we are sitting in first class. I misread the ticket's passenger number (3 of us) for car number and knew we'd better get ourselves back to coach - which happened to be the same car my sister and her kids were traveling in. So here we are with our stupid heavy bags (see previous 2 blog references to heavy bags), and are literally running from car to car through the train, only to be stopped at the restaurant cart which is locked. Having just witnessed passengers running hurriedly to catch the last train, and being denied access, I had visions of us experiencing the same fate. By now it is 12:15 and we have to haul our bags off the train down several steps, run the length of the restaurant cart and get back on before the doors close for good. Lucky for us we were in time and even managed to find space for our stupid heavy bags, which by-the-way had to be stored overhead. Ugh! So we were sweaty and panting but at last found Sara's seat.
sounds like your getting a good workout! Just thought I'd update you. .. do and house doing fine. Garbage picked up Friday no problems. Sadie is so lonely that on Saturday when Storm came win me to feed her she was like "wow! A new person! I love you whoever you are!" Rest assured burglars will be offered scooby snacks an kisses if she has any say in the matter. We are spending time with her every day but I can't find any of her toys. Hoping to take her to a park tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteCiao Bella!