Because of Tammy's status at the Hilton we had 2 rooms on the Executive floor which meant the lounge floor with breakfast included.  We dropped our luggage in the room, cleaned up a little bit--I always want to brush my teeth and wash my face and hands.  I don't know about you but I just feel grimy after a long flight and the water and clean feeling wakes me up.  So then downstairs we went to find the shuttle to the Old part of Rome.  It was actually a huge bus that the Hilton runs on the hour for its guests--nice!  If you are going to stay this far away from everything you need some form of transportation--and definitely not a car!  It would be scary to drive here in Italy and also would be extremely difficult if not impossible to find parking.

We were delivered to the side of the Teatro di Marcello.  We decided that tonight we could see one monument and then dinner.  So following the advice of Guilia, the very nice concierge, we headed for the Pantheon (Mike's favorite monument he said).  It took us many twists and turns--in these ancient cities, streets are not laid out in grids so part of the fun is heading in what you hope is the correct direction and then just seeing what you will find!  This is an amazing building!  Pantheon means All the Gods and it has been used as a religious site since it was built.  The Emperor Hadrian designed the building in AD 118-125 to replace an earlier building built by Marcus Agrippa, the son-in-law of Augustus.  It has survived the ages because in the Middle Ages it was turned into a church.  As a result it was not looted for its marble, columns, etc.  Some just amazing facts about the building are: the rotunda's height and diameter are equal--142 ft., the hole at the top known as the oculus provides the only light, and the rectangular portico screens the hemispherical dome so that only from the inside can the true scale and beauty of the place be seen.  Words do not describe how amazing this place is!  Truly when one comes to Rome it is a must see. 

So after this first awestruck time, we headed to an area of Rome known as Trastevere--We considered going to the Piazza Navona but decided we don't have the stamina for that.  Trastevere means Across the Tiber.  It is considered to be one of the most picturesque old quarters of the city and the alleyways and houses give one glimpses into an older, some say more authentic, part of Rome.  We decided to head away from the main square that one enters after crossing the Tiber on the Ponte Sisto, heading down one of the by-ways that are filling with people walking and talking and stopping at coffee shops and restaurants.  In a narrow roadway, barely wide enough for one car with tables set out on both sides of the street we found the Hosteria Pizzeria a Vicolo Caruso.  What a fun place!  The wait staff was friendly, there was music playing further down the road, the aroma of pasta and pizza was wafting through the air!  Oh my!  This is Roma!

Once we sat down our waiter arrived with hot bread and olive oil and balsamic vinegar for dipping.  Yum!  We chose a bottle of white house wine (bianco casa) to drink.  For dinner, Tammy had insalata caprese and pizza funghi (caprese salad and pizza with mushrooms), Mike had insalata mista and spaghetti scoglio (house side salad and spaghetti with seafood), and I had insalata caprese and fettucini porcini (caprese salad and fettucini with porcini mushrooms).  The food was amazing!

Once we finished we decided to head back to the bus pick up as we are getting very tired--well fed and a bottle of wine after 2 days of flying will do that to you!  On the way back we stopped for gelato at the Caffe del Teatro Marcello--there's always room for gelato isn't there?  We also looked at some amazing ruins nearby that we didn't know what they were--except they had apartments in the top portion which was so fascinating!  We will find out about them when we come back after Cyprus.  We got back on the bus and to the room where we just crashed--tomorrow we are off to Cyprus!  Yay!