Italy!

Well we made it. Long plane ride from Portland to Amsterdam, then a change to Rome. All was going well until I needed to use the restroom and the other couple we were traveling with did also. Hubs said he would meet us up ahead. As we traveled up the concourse to get to our next gate, we couldn't find him.  I decided to wait at the passport station as he had to come this way. It was now 9:00 and boarding was in ten minutes. I left my bag with our friends and went to an information station to have his name announced. Then I realized I had his passport, as well as my own. Geesh! Rule number one, "carry your own stuff!"
I found him, we got a good aerobic workout in running to the gate which was a ways away, and we boarded sweating like we'd been to the gym.
We arrived in Rome, found our luggage easily and went out to find our ride. Nobody there. We waited and waited, finally I went up to another driver a woman and asked her if she knew of this tour company that we had hired to drive us. She very sweetly called him, and said he was at another terminal. He came quickly and after a five minute walk, we were at the van which took us on a white knuckle drive through Rome.
Our hotel is lovely. The artwork is out of this world, the grounds are lovely and all I want to do is go to bed. Two hours of sleep on the plane just isn't cutting it! We are going to meet for a bite to eat at 5:00 and hope I don't do a face plant in my meal.

Here are some views of the hotel, and around it. Tomorrow Vatican City.