WHEN I received news from my office that I’ll be getting a two-month off, the first thing that came to my mind was a vacation to Italy. I’m a Catholic single and the country where Roman Catholicism sits really fascinates me. It’s not that I’m going to the Vatican itself although that is a possibility too. Besides, I’m a fan of Roberto Benigni’s Life is Beautiful and I want to experience Italian life up front and conclude that life is indeed beautiful in Italy.

Of course, when you go to another country, you must have some substantial amount on hand. Certainly, you cannot afford to go to another country and be broke there or else you’ll be deported and be embarrassed. That’s up to you how much you’re gonna money you’re planning to spend on that country. If you’ve got family (which I don’t have), there are definitely other factors involved like buying native Italian treats to give to your family and close friends. I’m not definitely planning any of that because I have hidden my real intention to go to Italy even from my colleagues at work. It was supposed to be a discreet visit. Besides, this is my first time out of the country and I don’t want company. (Maybe I’m destined to be a singleton.)

The first step that I made was to log on to Expedia.com, my favorite travel agency. I searched for hotels in Rome which are not really that luxurious but not fancy too. I would love to settle down in a four-star hotel, not in some apartment. That’s for long time vacationers. I’m in the country for real relaxation, not for a prolonged serious stay. I settled for Jolly Hotel Leonardo da Vinci. If the name of the hotel is a combination of joy and the representation of one of Italy’s pride, it must offer excellent service as well. Although I admit it that you’ll really not be sure of the service unless you’ve tried it yourself.

That’s the hang of it. But that’s the beauty of surprise. Life will ever be boring if you second-guess what will happen to you next just like in the movie with the same titled topbilled by Nicolas Cage and Jessica Biel. Anyway, I found out of a room good only for one person at $112 per day with free hearty breakfast. Whether what breakfast is on the menu, I still have to find that out. And so I called up Expedia and made the reservation. The woman on the other end said she was sorry that she could not determine what is stipulated on the hotel’s breakfast menu. I told her that it’s ok, I understand since Expedia caters to various hotels in the world, even in obscure cities in obscure countries. They just can’t accommodate every detail of every deal. And so I took the risk. I booked right there and then. I later found out that all big hotels in Rome are booked two weeks in advance. So on with my stay.