Having arrived at the Leonardo Da Vinci Airport outside of Rome, Dev, the chicken and I waited patiently for our driver (the transportation had been arranged by the Daphne Inn) - A well-dressed older gentleman holding up a sign with “Mr. Stefanitsis” written on it greeted us at the arrival gate … He enthusiastically helped us with our baggage and proceeded to take us to his vehicle. We walked for what seemed an eternity in the mid-day sun to what appeared to be a bus loading zone. Our driver quickly discovered that he had parked in a no-park zone and his vehicle had been towed. He used what can only be described as “international sign language” (as he spoke no English) to describe his, and now our, dilemma. We were told to wait.

And wait we did for about 30 minutes.

Continue reading "Our Arrival In Rome" »

Posted by Xine at 3:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

It’s official: we’ve realized that our little chicken adores the camera - she may be tearful, tired or temperamental - but as soon as we take out the digital camera - she strikes a pose.

She’s efficiently learned to drink water from a glass or bottle. And she continues to explore new cuisine. In Rome, her new favourite vegetable was zucchini - it didn’t matter whether it was grilled, boiled or fried.

Our chicken has also discovered animals - and has even managed to “pet” one or two “Roman” good-natured poodles - so we can only image what she’ll do to our orange tabby Alistair when we return home.

Here are a handful of our favourite photos to date - enjoy!

Continue reading "Life with the Chicken II" »

Posted by Xine at 9:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Our last night in Rome.

We have just come home from a satsifying 3-hour meal at a small restaurant down the street from the Daphne Inn, called “La Corte Dei Leoni”. With our little chicken teething and at the height of her “making strange” stage, we had intended to make our last night in Rome an early one. Our good intentions went by the wayside as soon as we sampled the red wine.

We are happy to return to Athens and the Fresh Hotel which has become our home away from home.

The sights, tastes, and people of Rome will not soon be forgotten — but it is a tiring city. Our feet and backs ache. Dev and I have found negotiating the cobblestone streets and pavements exhausting. Many of the museums and sites in Rome are not stroller friendly, so we have taken turns holding the chicken throughout the day - causing additional strain on our backs (in spite of using a hip hammock).It is strange to write this — but — we are looking forward to spending some “down” time in Athens.

Continue reading "Dispatches from Roma II" »

Posted by Xine at 1:57 PM | Permalink

Today is our second full day in Rome and we are finally getting used to the streets and all the people. We have successfully taken the Metro (and avoided the pick-pockets) and walked an average of 8 hours a day. Dev has become an expert map-reader/navigator. The chicken, however, seems to be somewhat overwhelmed by all the crowds (as are we at times).

Our bed and breakfast is located in the heart of district known as “La Dolce Vita” — and like our experience at the Fresh Hotel in Athens, we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the Daphne Inn http://www.daphne-rome.com to anyone who is travelling to Rome. The staff are very helpful, patient and have a great sense of humour. Without them to help us plan our itineraries, we would be wandering the streets aimlessly.

Like the Athenians, the Romans spend a great deal of their time in cafès, and, naturally, so have we. Cappucinos are the drink of choice. And the gelato is fabulous. On our way home from the Trevi Fountain yesterday afternoon, we indulged in a large cone of deliciously dark chocolate gelato.

We have discovered that it is very, very easy to spend money in Rome. With cafès, wine bars, and shops around every corner, we have been drinking, eating and shopping our way through the city. We have a collection of business cards from restaurants and wine bars that we’d like to visit again … but in a city the size of Rome - there is always another such establishment within a stone’s throw to help us part with our euros.

Continue reading "Dispatches from Roma" »

Posted by Xine at 7:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)