"Hm, I don't know, Dean.  I'm sort of planning on having an all out Certs encounter, while we're here.   In which case,<span style="font-style: italic">you'd</span>better hope the walls are thick."   Anna laughed briefly, enjoying her sister's discomfort on the subject.  She'd loved to make Sophia blush since they were little -- so adorable!   She adored her sister's innocence.   Exactly why she didn't want<span style="font-style: italic">Dean</span>corrupting her...<br/><br/>As far as transportation...back home, Anna would have opted for<span style="font-style: italic">Uber</span>, the new transpo paradigm, using owner operated vehicles, that was beginning to give the taxi industry some serious competition.<br/><br/>However, she'd done her homework, and discovered that here in Italy it was actually<span style="font-style: italic">more</span>expensive than calling a cab.  So,  a cab it was.  Fortunately, there was one waiting across the street from the cafe, which they were able to pick up without difficulty.<br/><br/>"<span style="font-style: italic">Capisci l'Inglese</span>-?" she inquired of the driver -- some of the little bit of the Italian language she learned in preparation for this trip.<br/><br/>"Yes, ma'am," the driver assured her, offering them a friendly smile.  "Where to-?"<br/><br/>"The Hotel Fortuna, at Piazza Rosselli, please," she acknowledged him.<br/><br/>"You got it!"   And, without more ado, they were off.<br/><br/>* * * * * * * *<br/><br/>Hotel Fortuna was your fairly standard four star hotel.  Its unassuming rooms had fairly standard decor, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs, and room service was offered.   All so the website had promised.  Situated across from the train station, it was in Ancona's downtown area, close to a theater called the<span style="font-style: italic">Teatro delle Muse</span>,  and also close to the stunning Ancona Cathedral.<br/><br/>Those were interesting, but even more importantly to Anna, its menu had gluten free options (She didn't suffer from Celiac disease -- but, going gluten free did good things for her complexion, made it easier to maintain her weight where she liked it -- if mostly just by reducing her intake of carbs), -and- its bar was open 24/7.   Just in case Dean really got to her...she could readily go and get drunk.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">After</span>business was concluded, of course.   Priorities, and all.<br/><br/>Entering the Fortuna, getting their rooms, the hotel proved to live up to what had been advertized online. Anna surveyed her own room, then began to unpack, while Sophia and Dean did the same, over next door.<br/><br/>She pulled the drapes, to allow in the light, and check out what sort of a view she had.    Up on the sixth floor, it was pretty damn kickin', she discovered.<span style="font-style: italic"> Nice.</span>Decent view of both the cathedral, as well as the Adriatic, from some miles off; not bad for the rate that she was paying.<br/><br/>Well.  Time to do the unpacking thing, and settle in.   Mostly, she was interested in resting, and doing her best to reorient her internal clock from the jet lag.  Tomorrow afternoon she had her meeting --  and she couldn't afford to show up looking all bleary eyed, and out of it.<br/>Hopefully, Sophia and Romeo would feel the need to do the same, and at least give her this one night to rest up.   After that, she could handle whatever.<span style="font-style: italic">Most</span>of whatever.   Within<span style="font-style: italic">reason</span>...