Leaving Rome Into the Unknown

May 27, 2012

We awoke on our last morning in Rome realizing we wanted to spend far more time here. However, we accepted the blessing of our short visit and simply knew we had to return. The last morning began with an attempt to experience a Papal Mass at St. Peter’s. However, the time posted the previous evening and the actual time the mass began was off by an hour. So instead of being 45 minutes early to get into line, we reached the Square seeing that the mass was already underway and the Basilica was closed to further entrants. Knowing we still wanted to get to mass we remembered that the Chapel of St. Monica was right off the main plaza. We entered during the opening rite and joined a simple parish mass only steps from the pomp and ceremony of the Basilica. Without question, this fit us better. Even though the mass was completely in Italian, the rhythms of the Catholic mass are so familiar to us that the language barrier proved no problem at all.

After a quick breakfast at the hotel we jumped onto the bus and got off at the Italian capitol building. We joyfully wandered down major boulevards and hidden alleys. We discovered the Pantheon quite by accident after having lunch at a café down at back alley. We ambled onward to the Piaza di Navonne which was an unexpected surprise. Eventually we made it to the Trevi Fountain for the mandatory picture and coin toss for good luck. There was so much to see and far too soon we needed to race back to the hotel to grab our bags and head to the airport. A taxi was called and we knew we would soon be winging our way back home. Or so we thought . . . .

The first problem was with the taxi driver who spoke no or little English. I handed him my itinerary and pointed to the name of the Roman airport. He nodded and quickly drove us to . . . the train station! By the time we corrected this misdirection we were now within an hour and a half of flight time when we reached the airport. We soon discovered the second problem.

My ticket had been canceled! No one can tell me why but while Rosie’s reservation was clearly in place mine showed that it had existed but had been canceled. When I ask who had done such a thing no one could explain it to me. I called our corporate travel assistance phone number and was immediately put on hold . . . for 20 minutes. As the time for departure was drawing closer I grabbed Rosie’s phone and called the number again. I re-explained the problem and was put on hold, again. By the time the phone call was picked up they had closed the flight we were intending to board. As a result, Rosie’s ticket was now cancelled and would need to be rebooked, and paid for again! To say I was furious was an understatement. Eventually, our corporate travel made new arrangements for me but now I had to book new tickets for Rosie, which would ultimately cost over $2000 to get home. Finally, we got her booked onto the first leg of the journey, a flight from Rome to Bucharest, and would only have time to book each segment after we completed the first part of our journey. Vacation was now starting to be more stressful than work.

And the adventure continues . . .