By Sunny Latta

Travel Talk

There were 15 of us travel agents off to see Rome and Florence last year, hosted by Bettoja Hotels. We had two in our group whose last names were Buongiorno and Fortunato, which seemed to bode well for our trip.

The first night in Rome, as we went to our hotel inspections, the swallows flew overhead in the twilight, and I felt like I was on a Hollywood movie set. The Hotel Massimo d’Azeglio had the warmest setting and friendliest front desk staff. The next morning, we left for Florence on the Eurostar train a little ahead of schedule, as there was a rumor of a train strike. The trip was relaxing and we settled in to watch the rolling hills and lovely farmhouses.

Upon our arrival in Florence, we were driven to the Relais Certosa Hotel. I recommend staying at a location outside of the city. It is refreshing after a busy shopping and touring day. We were greeted on the patio by the general manager, Umberto Giordano, and we settled into our individual rooms. It was a charming hotel with a country feeling, nestled under the monastery on the hill above. The grounds were lovely, and large clay pots of greenery dotted the patio entrance. We had a wonderful lunch as the maitre’d charmed us with delicious descriptions of each dish.

The afternoon and early evening were spent in the city of Florence, and we arrived in comfort in the free hotel shuttle van. The elegant shops caught our eyes, but we dutifully trekked to the Santa Croce Basilica. Remember your good walking shoes for the cobblestones. We were very anxious to see the statue of David, so we made our way to the Academy of Art. It was a lovely experience, and offered rooms and rooms of beautiful marble busts and striking paintings.

Back on the train to Rome the next morning with three days to see the sights. The best way to discover the city is on foot, but it doesn’t hurt to have a guided tour first to get a feel for where things are. We whizzed by the Via Veneto, spent time in the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel. We mailed our postcards from the Vatican post office as we had been told it gets to its destination a lot faster, and headed out of there. After lunch topped by a gelato, we had a fun time taking pictures of each other throwing coins in the Trevi Fountain. Next we saw the Pantheon, the Forum, the Colosseum. How breathtakingly beautiful everything was! I especially enjoyed listening to a man playing his accordion and painters at their easels beneath the shadows of Hadrian’s Column.

It was most amazing to see the recent excavations all over the city. Pretending to be part of the Italian scene, we enjoyed a Princess Margarita pizza at an outdoor cafe at the Piazza Navona. The bus transportation was very easy, and we took it back to our hotel. Our farewell dinner was hosted by Roberto Bettoja amid candlelight in the wine cellar of the Hotel Massimo d’Azeglio. I even found a bottle of wine from the year of my birth. It made me feel young, as I’m not that dusty! The white truffles were mouth-watering and the service superb. We are all eager to return to Italy when we have more leisure, and perhaps even include a stint at a cooking school in Tuscany.

Sunny Latta is a certified travel consultant with All Horizons Rancho Travel, in the Rancho Shopping Center, Los Altos. For more information, call 949-5810.