Russert in Rome

I want to take a moment to recognize the life and passing of one of my all-time favorite TV personalities, Tim Russert. A week ago, Russert, his wife Maureen Orth and their son, Luke, had been celebrating Luke’s graduation from Boston College with a family trip to Italy. Russert left his family in Rome and returned to Washington DC on Thursday night. He died at the NBC studios on Friday afternoon. Tonight on Countdown, Keith Olbermann briefly showed a picture of the Russert family standing and smiling together in a corridor of the Vatican Museum. I gasped out loud when I saw it. I have stood there before, and shortly, I may stand there again. But, for me, it will never be the same. For ten days, I will wonder if I am walking in the Russerts’ footsteps, if I am taking as much pleasure from the sights and sounds as they did, if they know I’m thinking about and grieving with them. Probably not, but that’s the kind of sentimental sap I am. Rome, Russert. Just had to say it.

Picture taken from The Huffington Post.

Testing video attachments

Wow, I am thrilled with the way the photos uploaded. I will tweak the relationship of the caption to the photo, but that's just a matter of preference.

Here's my first attempt at uploading a video. My digital camera allows me to take short bursts of video, so, although I have the capability, I may not always have the memory or battery power to do so. Don't expect a minute by minute documentary, but do expect short, video headlines. Technology is SO COOL!!

I shot this in the same park as I shot the still photo of the two men on the bench. The little boys are playing Gladiator in the shadow of the Coliseum. How could I NOT capture the irony for posterity? When the little boy in red sees me, he runs away.

Testing photo attachments

Because I am taking my laptop, I will be blogging throughout our trip to Italy. I've never posted photographs to a blog before, so this is a test. These are pictures from my last trip. I will try to post video separately.

This is a picture I snapped while wandering through a residential neighborhood between our B&B and the Coliseum. I am repeatedly drawn to this color Mediterranean blue. It always seems so fresh and vital.

This photo was taken as I approached the Coliseum through the park behind it--not the standard touristy perspective. I felt as if I was eavesdropping on a private moment here, but the mood of the shot captured a peacefulness that I have never personally felt in Rome because it is such a giant, pulsing metropolis.

Maryelen, our B&B in Rome

I decided to book us into the same location where I stayed with my father, stepmother and sister in January 2006. Although it is located in a busy, urban street near the train station, the building has a lovely courtyard which offers privacy and respite from modern Rome.

The website says is modest about its amenities:

"Maryelen Bed and Breakfast is located in the historical centre of Rome, between Termini railway station and the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. It is near the Coliseum, the Forum and Piazza Venezia and the whole of central Rome.

You will find a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The rooms are spacious and comfortable, all with en-suite bathroom and air conditioning.

The building also includes an internal courtyard with a beautiful garden offering an atmosphere of calm and serenity."

Upon our return from Italy two years ago, I posted this review to an independent B&B booking and reviewing site (venere.com):

“My family (two parents 60+ and two adult daughters) made Rome our first stop in Italy this month (1/06) and were delighted to find such a comfortable location near the train station. The web site description accurately detailed the room and surroundings (hairdryers in room, elevator in building, within walking distance to sights and public transportation), but didn’t come close to describing the warm, enveloping hospitality we were offered by Loredana and her teenage daughters Mary & Elen. With travelers of all nations staying in the B&B, breakfasts were a time full of helpful information and heartfelt laughter as our families shared stories of childhoods, pets and travels. A surprising bonus was the small restaurant Loredana and her husband opened across the street on Jan. 1 allowing a good meal in close proximity to our rooms after long days of touring. The rooms and hallways were quiet at night. When my sister had her wallet stolen late on a Sunday, Loredana was an invaluable help contacting the police and allowing access to her fax machine in order to contact credit card companies and other security agencies. We hope to return to the Maryelen not just as visitors, but as friends. If you are looking for an affordable, clean, comfortable, homey B&B, this is your place.”

I can't wait to see Loredana again and we have been emailing sporadically during the planning of this trip.

Our itinerary has taken shape

While we will be staying in the larger cities in the north of Italy, we will be taking day trips into the countryside in order to see as much as we can. I have been to Italy twice before, but my mother never has. She doesn’t want to spend a lot of time in churches or museums, but would rather see houses and gardens. That works well because I’ve done the church/museum thing--although I do want to take her to the museum of science in Florence right around the corner from the Uffizi with no line to get in.

Our rough itinerary, including B&Bs and proprietors, looks like this:

Sunday, July 6-Monday, July 7
Pompeii

Certe Notti
(Antonio & Ione)
Via Nolana 128
Pompei IT 80045
+39-081-8636667


Monday, July 8 through Thursday, July 10
Rome

Maryelen B&B
(Loredana)
Via Principe Amedeo 85/A
Roma, IT 00185
+39-06-4460626


Friday, July 11-Sunday, July 13
Florence

Il Salotto di Firenze
Via Roma 6
Firenze, Italia 50123
+39-055-218347

Monday, July 14-Tuesday, July 15
Venice

Al Campaniel Venezia
San Polo n. 2889
(Marcos)
Calle del Campaniel-San Toma
Venezia 30125
+39-041-2750-749
Fax +39-02-700-539-748

I’ve stayed with the same hosts in Rome and Venice before, and can highly recommend them, so I feel comfortable going back.