OK, just typed about 20 minutes of anecdotes about my adventures here and this hotel computer decided to log off. All my stories are gone! Well, its late so a cliff notes version now:

Here are my impressions:

Drivers: crazy but amazingly good. All you see here is vespas, motorcycles and TONS of smart cars. No fiats surprisingly.

Food: Amazing. Dinners are two hours....at least. They love the ritual.

People: also amazing, Italians really do love the good life. Have met people from everywhere: been invited to visit Norway by this couple I met in the hotel. Met a lady from Australia who was overjoyed being in Rome for the first time in 37 years, since she was 10. Had dinner next to a couple from France the first night. We managed to have a converstation though he spoke little English, she spoke none. Mike Schell: where is Belton, MO? Just met a guy at our bar from there today. Met a guy today who is doing almost the same thing I am doing: saved up for years to take a trip to Italy (and Paris). He was from a small town in Brazil. Met a couple young ladies from a small town in Northern Italy who were in Rome for the first time, as wide eyed as me.

Gelato: like the worst addictive drug you can think of. OMG| Its a daily fix i need.

So far, Ive been to the Coliseum, the Forum, Palatine Hill, the Pantheon, Circus Maximus (where they had the chariot races), Ostia Antica, similar to Pompei that was at the mouth of the Tiber that vanished 1500 years ago when the river changed course.

SO many other little sights that i just run into wandering the city. Tomorrow its off to Naples and Sorrento. Only bad part of the trip is Sprint. No service, can.t post pics or send texts. Have taken lots of pics but not sure you guys will see them until i get back. Oh, the blog pics are from Off Exploring site. They make you choose a pic and if you don.t have one, it gives you options of where you are visiting. Ciao for now.