Arrival in Rome -- March 28th

Well, we made the flight from Munich to Rome with no time to spare -- but United/Lufthansa did spare our luggage. C'est la vie. It should be here by three pm.

Our hotel room overlooks the plaza and the Santa Maria Maggiore bascilica (spelling?).

United had mechanical problems at Dulles, so we took off late. I watched "Rocky Balboa" on the flight (still get goosebumps during the training scenes when "Gonna Fly Now" is playing). Much better flick than expected. The girls watched Happy Feet, and Carol caught "Man of the Year." She describes it as "Robin Williams running amok," so that sounds good to me.

We all slept about 3-4 hours of restless, airplane sleep. When we landed in Munich, the Lufthansa agent gathered us all up and force marched us through the terminal, through customs, and then through security at a walking speed that would qualify for the Olympics. I got patted down at security with typical German efficiency, and we made the flight (the luggage for us and other Dulles to Rome via Munich passengers did not).

Crucially, when I realized the luggage didn't make the flight, I was first in line at the Lufthansa desk to fill out the paperwork (had to pull the agent out of her breakroom, but she was plenty nice about it all).

Our driver to the hotel (Mecenate Palace Hotel) was nice, but not very talkative (him lacking English skills, me lacking Italian skills, and all that). When we met him, we gestured for our bags. I shrugged and said, "Munich." He laughed. After a long drive, we did go past the Circo Massimo (chariot grounds. . .more later), the Colosseum (woke the girls up for the that), and the Roman Forum.

Random observations on the drive from the airport -- it's way out in the countryside. Italian cars mercifully don't have bumperstickers (no "my child is an average student at Benedict Arnold middle school" or "Shoot the illegally-elected President" missives). Graffiti is the same everywhere -- did it spread by osmosis, or just spring up naturally in Rome and New York? Lots of billboards. Being one of four cars squeezed into three lanes is helped keep this jetlagged tourist awake. American Volvo drivers could learn how to drive fast from Italian Volvo drivers.