Tel Aviv - Rome March 12, 2010

Via del Babuino - lovely street

peering into windows of Bottega Veneta

rooftops of Rome

typical street scene - Rome

While I ate breakfast this morning, I decided to check airline fares to various cities in Europe. Israel is just a few hours away from most major European cities and I was hoping to find a special last-minute fare to Paris, Rome, or even London. I checked the weather in those cities and decided that Rome would be the most temperate of the three. While checking Alitalia's fares and their schedules (Rome is only a short 3 hour flight away), I decided to take advantage of their $250 roundtrip fare and spend the weekend in Rome. I packed a small carry-on bag with just the basics and within a few hours I was waiting for my flight at Ben Gurion airport. I love the idea of just getting on a plane and landing in a city with no pre-planning. After the very short flight, I landed at Fiumicino and walked to the train station where I boarded a train into the city. While on the train, I checked various hotel sites and found a small, new boutique style hotel located between the Spanish Steps and the Piazza del Populo. I had stayed at the very lovely but expensive Hotel de Russie a few years ago, but I preferred something smaller and less costly but still in the same location. After reaching the center of town, I hailed a cab to take me to my hotel for the next few nights. I was pleasantly surprised when I was dropped off at Babuino 181 (the name of the hotel as well as the address located at 181 via del Babuino http://www.romeluxurysuites.com/babuino/. I walked into a small but very contemporary lobby and was greeted by reception. My double room wasn't inexpensive by any means but it was reasonable given the location and the room size. The room itself was large with a king size bed, flat screen TV, large closet, brand new bathroom with a wonderful shower and tub and lovely Italian amenities. My favorite part of the room was the Nespresso machine and various types of coffee available....what a lovely way to start my mornings. I settled in for a good night's sleep with images of what I would plan for the next few days. When in Rome, do as the Romans do!!