Dr Weston piped up, "So if it seems good, then maybe I'll make my enquiries into the local sanitarium.  I certainly get my feelings about the whole episodes of early April. Would anybody like to accompany me?"

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 216):

"I'd be happy to hang out with the planes, don't mind the pun.  It was certainly a pretty rough flight the last leg, especially on my lonesome.  Wonder if there's a way to catch a hot bath round these parts though."

OOC - Suddenly my male pictures started working! :)
This message was last edited by the player at 11:50, Tue 15 Oct 2013.

Accompanying her, Alexander nods in agreement.

"I shall be happy to get going as soon as possible."



Alexander assists the Count in looking for transport.

"Best to arrange a cab then Count.  Just try to be back around sunrise tomorrow so we can get an early start."  Turning back to KH and Roger he shook his head. "There is probably a small hotel right outside the airfield where we could get a shower or bath.  I don't want to stray too far."

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 221):

Not coincidentally, there were taxi drivers available who also knew of affordable lodgings nearby.

The Count looked around the collective group and said;

"I will be lodging at a hotel close to the Vatican so I can get an early start if I am to gain access to the archive. If anyone would like to accompany me they are most welcome."

Once everyone who is travelling into Rome is in the taxi the Count asks the driver

"Albergo Plaza Roma, per favore."

The cabbie doffed his hat.

"Si Signore! I-a bring you to-a the hotel, andiamo!"

He started the engine to his gleaming Fiat taxi, then started loading bags into the boot.

"Dr. Weston, I would love to accompany you. Do I dress as I would for a visit to a sanitarium in England?"

Molly perked up at the visit to the archives.  She wasn't sure if she would actually be looking at the same thing the others would but to just "be" there would be a wonderful thing.

"I too would love to go there.  I'll even be on Sunday best behavior, as my Uncle would say."

JM watched as the others departed for down town.  He turned back to KH and Roger.  "Well, now to work.  Still, I think I would prefer a meal and part of a bottle of wine.  I think I saw a small restaurant nearby.  Let's go get something to eat before we start to work on the planes."

In the Taxi

"I am happy to have an early night and return to the plane whenever suits the rest of you. I think I shall find myself a nice cafe and complete some correspondences that I have been putting off, if that is okay with everyone?"

Alexander smiles a little wearily after the trip.

"I must say that I'm starving."

In reply to Cynthia Jane Holloway (msg # 225):

"Glad to have your company, Miss Holloway.  And, yes, I'm not a fashion expert, but I imagine anything that is comfortable would do just well."

A certain older, fatherly kind of tone can be heard in the good Doctor's speech.

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 227):

"Oh yes, smashing! We should be able to find something to fill a grumbling tum.  And they have pretty good wine here in old Italy for a mean price?  Though don't want to cause old Karl any troubles, do we?" Roger smiles a little mischievously. He's on adventure again. It's been oh too long.

KarlHeinz nodded. "Happy to get to work on the planes now.

"Would you like me to be finding some lodgings nearby? It is getting dark, so that we should not be finding it later?"

The Albergo Plaza Roma hotel in Rome was every bit as luxurious as the Ritz, or if it wasn't, there was little way to tell. One thing that was different was that the staff (and many other working Romans) favoured uniforms of some kind or another. As well, there were posters and murals dedicated to il Duce here and there. Not overwhelming, but noticeable.

Alternative (and more modest) arrangements were made for those wanting to stay closer to the airport. The Pensione Mingarelli was a family-run boarding house offering several clean, if small, provate rooms. It offered breakfast, lunch and dinner. Just down the cobbled street was a cafe that served strong Italian style coffee and had a nice selection of local wines.

The exchange rate in 1925 was about 120 Italian Lire to £1, or 40 Lire to 1 US dollar. Mussolini had tried to fix the Life at L90 in 1922 to £1 in what was called the "Battle of the Lire", but by 1925 inflation was spiralling out of control. The pensione is L120 a night, the Albergo Plaza Roma is L450 a night.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:55, Sat 19 Oct 2013.

Once they had arrived at their suite and tipped the staff. the Count left Mr Perkins with the luggage as he sat at the desk in the small parlour and wrote two letters. One to Cardinal Archivist Francis Aidan Gasquet an English Benedictine monk and one to Prefect Mariano Ugolini.

Both letters contained a brief introduction of himself and some of the nature of his inquiry. He also mention the two letters of introduction he held. He stamped the page with his signet ring and also sealed both envelopes with the same ring. He made a time for when he would be at the archives front desk in the morning and hoped to see them then.

He accompanied Mr Perkins to the front desk to have them hand delivered tonight and then led him to the bar and hotel restaurant where they spent the rest of the evening.

Molly knew that rest was what she needed.  With that in mind, she went to the closet hotel that was recommended and spent the night trying to catch up on it.

JM smiled in memory of good times as Roger spoke up. "Let's try the Pensione Mingarelli.  It is close by and inexpensive.  We can eat and drink just a bit, you can't have a meal here in Italy without a glass of wine or two.  Then we can come back and work a bit and spend the night in the rooms nearby?  How does that sound to you two?"

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 235):

A broad smile shined across Roger's face as John-Marc made his proposal, "That sounds absolutely fantastic, my dear brother.  Just like the good old times.  I'm actually quite looking forward to trying some seriously strong Italian coffee.  It will be interesting to compare it to the brews I've tasted in Morocco."

At the Albergo Plaza Roma hotel, Alexander settles in to a large bath, full to the brim with piping hot water, sighing contently.

There'd been a pleasant dinner and now through the open door he could see the massive bed waiting for him.

Perfect.

Until the plane was ready he would relax, drink coffee, smoke cigars and possibly write some letters. He was looking forward to Cairo and seeing his family once more.....

All thoughts of cultists, murders and fantastical beasts were pushed far, far away.

JM led Roger and Karlheinz down the road a bit to the Pensione and cafe.  He arranged for a set of rooms for the night as well as a leisurely dinner and coffee at the cafe across the street.

"Let's go then.  A good dinner and coffee will help keep me motivated."

Molly settled in for the night and tried to get some sleep.  While she had her notebook under her pillow, to give her inspiration for writing you know, she didn't start a story for her Uncle.  She did something that she seldom did before early hours in the morning...she slept.  How well she would sleep was yet to be determined but she was going to give it her best try to get a good sleep.

Room, bath, change of clothes, the calm dinner with friends.

After the last of the coffee and biscuits, Cynthia starts to get itchy feet. "Molly, I don't know about you, but I've been sitting in a cramped plane all day and I'm not quite ready to sit in lay in bed for the rest of it. I'm thinking perhaps now is a good time to break in those new boots I bought in Paris. Would you like to join me for a walking tour of the city at night?"

In reply to Cynthia Jane Holloway (msg # 240):

Molly had flung herself onto the bed and sighed happily but then heard Cynthia's request.  She slowly opened up one eye and looked at Cynthia.  "Hmm?  You know something Cynthia?  I think you would fit into my circle of friends back home quite nicely.  You have it in you to be quite the party girl."

Molly thought about it for a minute and then smiled.  "Give me one hour to recharge and then I'll go with you."

The night was warm, and the Italian coffee, wine and food was superb. Maintenance on the planes was completed quickly, the group near the airport retired to the cafe near their lodgings for some late night relaxing.

At the suggestion of a handsome taxi driver (Enzo) who also offered to be a guide, the ladies were directed to the Trevi Fountain, the nearby column of Marcus Arelius and the incredible marble church of St. Ignatius of Loyola. Couples were walking arm-in-arm, groups of young men talked in streetside cafes. By the time they were done, it was close to midnight.

The only thing that somehow sapped the magic mood of the Eternal City were the art-deco posters of Mussolini that were hung all over the place. As well, uniforms of all kinds seemed to be in vogue. The Italians seemed to ignore the fascist trappings infecting their surroundings, but perhaps it affected them more because they were foreigners, seeing it with new eyes.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:50, Fri 25 Oct 2013.