I was first out of the aircraft, well apart from the Business Class passengers and that horrid child. (click)
I had a train to catch from Rome’s Fiumicino Aeroporto (airport), on the Leonardo Express to Roma Termini railway station. It is a fastish service running every 30 minutes and taking just over 30 minutes for 11 Euro. Better than a taxi which will cost 50 Euro.
The journey on the train was pleasant, only because an Italian sitting opposite to me insisted on talking and telling me his life story of how Italy had changed so much, and that he had moved to Australia, but still wanted to be with his family near Naples. On and on he went, Please let me look at the countryside.
Peace at last, as I got a taxi to the Jolly Hotel, Leonardo Da Vinci, where I was to stay and give the NLP Practitioner course.
Elena my translator and friend contacted me to say she would be in my hotel reception at 8:30pm so that we can go and have a meal. I had just a few minutes to wait for a welcome real Italian pizza.
It was during the evening when I asked what time do we start that I found that the course did not start at 9am Saturday morning as I presupposed (see definition English or Italian), but 2pm in the afternoon.
Oh Poo Poo I could have flown Saturday morning and saved one night in the hotel.
Still, I can rest Saturday morning, and perhaps go for a walk.
The evening meal, the pizza, was not the best, but certainly welcomed, as we sat at the tables on the street outside the restaurant, a practice most restaurants employ. It was the ice cream that followed that I enjoyed.
Oh how I love Italian ice cream, Sicilian the most, with all their exotic flavours, coconut being my favourite, full of real coconut.
Perhaps I can work on the internet Saturday morning?
No way. The Jolly Hotel chain as many in around the world, but not Turkey, charge extra for access to the internet. In this case 5 Euro (£4) for half an hour. Robbery.
Then Elena told me, in her hotel, which is much cheaper than mine, she has free access.
Oh Poo Poo I will have to watch BBC World Service or CNN all night.