We left San Diego on Monday and Judy from Minneapolis arriving within minutes of each other at JFK. Easy ride into the city checked in at our time share at the Hilton at Rockefeller Center for a couple of days because we love the city and thought this plan would provide a more gradual time change adjustment. Our first night we just strolled around a bit then John surprised us with a twilight carraige ride in Central Park. We closed the evening with light dinner at RUE 57 right near the park and our hotel. It was a great beautiful evening in New York

Tuesday was a slow relaxing day because I was feeling quite sick. I could not convince my traveling team to go out and about without me so the we got no further than the Stage Deli for my chicken matzo ball soup. Ummmm, nothing like that soup!

By far the highlight of our short time in NYC was seeing “A Little Night Music” starring Katherine Zeta Jones and Angela Lansbury. If you are unfamiliar with the show you will remember it by the song, ‘Send in the Clowns’. A revival of the Steven Sondheim musical of the 1970’s it was ‘tastefully’ naughty and funny. We all loved the show! Although I was sick with some kind of flu I was not going to give up my ticket and so glad I hung in there. The following day we flew out of JFK at 10:30 p.m. The plan of leaving at that hour made for a fairly normal sleep as we had hoped. We flew British Air so arrived at Heathrow for a two hour layover just in time for breakfast on Thursday and to Rome prior to dinner. The two days in New York coupled with the timing of our flights eliminated most signs of jet lag!

The Hilton Cavalieri, although on the hillside and a cab ride away from ‘the thick of things’ is a real jewel and likely one of their top properties. We were given a real VIP greeting with private check in and escort to our room which is absolutely beautiful. From our balcony you can see across all of Rome and it is breathtaking! They are serving wine and a constantly changing array of finger foods from 11:00-11:00 and we have been taking advantage of that. OMG the wine…..is beautiful to behold folks! Their breakfast is one of the best we have experienced in Europe, where one finds oneself wanting to linger awhile over a second café latte.

Thursday evening before bed we took our tired old bodies down to check out the indoor portion of the pool spa area and WOW! John & Judy loved the spa but I found my perfect spot in the next room in a very large Turkish Bath. This steam filled room was equipped with a large spa size tub of very cold water to cool down in before enjoying more steam. Oh folks it was nirvana!! Well, for me it was. Let’s just say the traveling trio didn’t agree on this experience. John got one toe in and said “Hell No!” while Judy went in and looked like she was going to have a heart attack before she could get out! I on the other hand was in/out four-five times feeling like a new woman (for a few minutes at least) each time. So I guess there is something to be said for that Norsk bloodline.

It was a great ending to 15 hours of travel and our first night in Rome!