When in Hotel in Rome...

For my last big birthday, my parents (who brought me up traveling from an early age) offered to take us on a Big Trip. That was the month we put our house on the market, and since then we have moved, brought out 3 books, taught, and traveled so much on our own that we actually wore out a suitcase. It was beginning to look like we were never going to be able to cash in on this generous offer, and my parents, while hale, are not getting any younger.

Now the stars are finally lining up for a Mediterranean Cruise that is short enough for us to squeeze in between Wiscon and our June lecture at Hollins College, but being on a boat means that (a) we're on a boat; (b) we get to see lots of cool ancient places. On a boat!

The ship leaves from Rome, and my father, who has done all the rest of the "legwork," has announced that I am in charge of finding a hotel for 2 nights for all of us. Such is my makeup that I could now spend 40 hours research Rome, hotels, etc. But I'm going to start with you, hoping someone has a suggestion or two that will cut my efforts back to <20. My parents genuinely prefer something modest. (Very modest. The salt-haired old dears, approachin 80, still take public transportation to & from the world's airports - despite my mom's bad knee - while I holler, "Maaaaaaaa! What's the madda with you? Take a caaaaab, fagoddsakes!") Modest is fine by us, but I like a little charm. I've been a lot of places, but never Rome. It's big, and there are lots of districts. Which one?

The ship leaves from Civitavecchia, outside the city. I assume we can get a cab? Or is there . . . a bus . . . ?