The Hotel Saga

May 17, 2013 12:45

After visiting the Trevi Fountain for the first time, we split up into a couple of groups. There were eight people from our program all-together in Rome today, but only three of us (including myself) decided to stay in Rome overnight. So, Ben, Heather and I decided to check into the hotel while the rest of the group visited the Colosseum and other sites we had planned on visiting the second day.

Well, given the fact that I missed my alarm this morning and was rushed to get ready, I forgot my passport. I know, I know, what the heck. It turns out that you need a passport to check into hotels in Italy. Luckily, I had a copy on me, but the owner of the hotel made it clear that this was simply not acceptable. Apparently the Italian Police are really strict when it comes to that sort of things – or at least that's what he told me. Anyways, they let me stay. I don't know how or why, but I'm really glad they did.

Given the ordeal at the hotel, I was really concerned I wouldn't be able to get into the Vatican tonight. Just to be safe, I stopped back at the U.S. Embassy to see if I could work something out. The guards on the outside were really nice (and probably really amused by my pathetic saga). The offered to replace my passport I left back in Florence with an emergency passport, but that would cost some $400. They assured me that it would be cheaper to catch a train back to Florence to retrieve it. I thanked them for their time, and that was that.

The hotel was really nice – and affordable. I stuffed myself with their complimentary breakfast in the morning.