This was an adventure in itself. We left via termini as planned to go to the airport and pick up our car. We were to go to ‘Terminal 2’ and ring them once there and they would come and get us. Well there is no ‘Terminal 2’, only A, B, C, D and 5! Went to the rental car area and tried to ring the number that we had been given (we had already rung a few days earlier as arranged). We were to meet at 1200 hrs and they would only wait for 30 minutes. No coin phones, phones wouldn’t take credit cards so after running back 300 m to buy a phone card that would work, tried to ring, no answer. Went into the office to confirm that it was a valid number, tried another number still no answer. Buried in our papers found another number which was the Paris number. Rang that, and they used up our entire credit whilst they put us on hold. Ran back to get another card. Came back, tried the Rome number again, still no answer. Rang Paris again and after discussion they decided that they would help us out as their normal phone lines were down (exceptional circumstances) and gave us another number. It is now 1250 hrs and I am in a sweat thinking that we are at the airport with our bags, no where to sleep and no transport. Managed to get through to Rome and they gave us 10 minutes to meet them outside the café at Terminal B. I just hoped that there wasn’t more than one café! Phew! There he is.
We picked up our car and started our exit from Rome. All I can say is thank God for GPS. But I think that perhaps the GPS voice lady may think that she drew the short straw. We became very familiar with her saying "Do a U turn now" or "Recalculating", so many missed turns. Thank God for GPS.
Headed north through Cititvecchia and Grosseto. Went through two toll booths before we figured out how to set the GPS to avoid the toll roads. Then it became more interesting wandering through back roads and detours to the sound of "Recalculating" and absorbing the landscape.
Started looking for somewhere to sleep. Of course when you are looking for somewhere to sleep all you see is places to eat and when you are looking for somewhere to eat all you see is places to sleep. As we were driving along we saw this fantastic little hilltop town, it looked like it had been an old medieval fort.
Finally found a sign pointing towards a B&B, it is now 7pm. Drove down some long dirt roads and arrived at this fantastic farmhouse B&B. The sort that you see in picture books, with a private bathroom, and a big soft bed. They also ran a restaurant but we decided to do cheap and find somewhere else. We drove down the road and followed the sign to a Osteria, and what do you know we ended up at the same hilltop town that we had seen earlier. Skinny little steep streets, and a fantastic meal.
Despite the way the day started, it couldn’t have ended better. So close to Rome and yet a world away.
The next morning, breakfast. The food just kept coming. Toasted brioche, blood grapefruit juice, coffee, yoghurt, cake, biscuits, prosciutto, cheese, apple pie, … We shared breakfast with a couple from Belgium and another couple from Switzerland (her parents also have a house in Sicily!). So we discussed the merits of Belgium and Swiss chocolate. It’s interesting the people you meet.
We picked up our car and started our exit from Rome. All I can say is thank God for GPS. But I think that perhaps the GPS voice lady may think that she drew the short straw. We became very familiar with her saying "Do a U turn now" or "Recalculating", so many missed turns. Thank God for GPS.
Headed north through Cititvecchia and Grosseto. Went through two toll booths before we figured out how to set the GPS to avoid the toll roads. Then it became more interesting wandering through back roads and detours to the sound of "Recalculating" and absorbing the landscape.
Started looking for somewhere to sleep. Of course when you are looking for somewhere to sleep all you see is places to eat and when you are looking for somewhere to eat all you see is places to sleep. As we were driving along we saw this fantastic little hilltop town, it looked like it had been an old medieval fort.
Finally found a sign pointing towards a B&B, it is now 7pm. Drove down some long dirt roads and arrived at this fantastic farmhouse B&B. The sort that you see in picture books, with a private bathroom, and a big soft bed. They also ran a restaurant but we decided to do cheap and find somewhere else. We drove down the road and followed the sign to a Osteria, and what do you know we ended up at the same hilltop town that we had seen earlier. Skinny little steep streets, and a fantastic meal.
Despite the way the day started, it couldn’t have ended better. So close to Rome and yet a world away.
The next morning, breakfast. The food just kept coming. Toasted brioche, blood grapefruit juice, coffee, yoghurt, cake, biscuits, prosciutto, cheese, apple pie, … We shared breakfast with a couple from Belgium and another couple from Switzerland (her parents also have a house in Sicily!). So we discussed the merits of Belgium and Swiss chocolate. It’s interesting the people you meet.
No comments:
Post a Comment