Day Two - Rome

The apt faces the street and falling asleep to the random vehicle outside was no problem. Waking at some dark hour with the same little traffic and rolling over to go back to sleep was just as easy. When Doodlebug joined us at some “equally as dark, but noticeably more traffic”… I still had no problem staying put… and even later in the morning… I had no idea what time it was but it had to be a MORE than reasonable hour for getting up, my body said, “Nope, not yet”. MIL knocked on the door to inform us that it really WAS time to get up as it was just before 10 am. So much for fighting off jetlag, I felt like dirt.

While I was helping to get 3 of the 4 kids ready, DS1 is relaying this story of seeing a gypsy and a “guy gypsy” out on the street and the man was trying to open a garage of sorts, apparently illegally. He’s telling me how he wishes the gypsies were all entertainers so they could work for their money instead of begging for it, or stealing it… and it dawns on me that this ISN’T a story from yesterday (where he saw his first gypsy) … this is from today. MIL confirms that DS1 was up at 6am and the two of them had already been to the market to purchase a loaf of fresh bread, rolls for sandwiches, and a few other random grocery items, and yes, they did, indeed, see a gypsy (or two-LOL).

After digesting the idea that my 9 y.o. was traipsing the city streets at 6am while I was still lazing in bed, a cup of hot chocolate and a nice shower (my first in 3 days) worked miracles and after the children all ate we were back out the door hitting the Roman pavement… you guessed it, in search of another bus. Shoot me now! LOL!!!

We “had” to hit the Roman Forum & Palentine Hill today b/c our tickets for the Colosseum were only good for 2 days… so we went back. Played “Dodge Car” amongst the traffic (the other National Pastime) and entered the start of the self-guided tour. MY oh MY, the things they’ve unearthed. They’re still exacavating and apparently one team just found the infamous “Revolving Dining Room Table” that belonged to Nero 1950 years ago. LOTS of ruins… all fairly well labeled… but the mix of “Temples to Romulus” mixed with “Arch of Constantine” are SO eclectic in purpose that it leads one to wonder about the Ancient Romans. The things that were destroyed vs. the things that were preserved seem to have no rhyme or reason. The sheer size of things is astounding, even moreso when you realize that they were all built without powertools or modern machinery. The only profession never to go out of business appears to be the BrickLayers Guild. All about 1-1/2 inches x 1ft, x 6 inches or so… all stacked neatly with mortar either in straight rows …or in decorative arches (They DID have a thing for arches).

They don’t call it Palantine Hill for nothing. It is DEFINITELY a hill… and the highest around… the Roman emperors must’ve captured the summer breezes for themselves. Nice and cool… lots of shade… and a view that is QUITE impressive, even if all you see now is “ruined”. Only one photo for now, but it's an interesting story. We spent about an hour and a half on top of Palentine Hill looking down into the Forum. Trying to use the iPhone version of Rick Steves' guide to identify all the important bits. There were some apparently large buildings that we just couldn't find... including Caligula's Palace. Turns out we were standing on it. See that group of tourists in the top left corner? That's where we were and we thought it was just a sandy overlook. Steves has an interesting G-rated version that worked for the kids. Caligula was not a nice person. He tortured his enemies, stole senators' wives, and parked his chariot in handicap spaces. lol

There’s a new display for Vespasian, in between where Julius Cesaer was murdered… and then later burned. Thankfully It leads up to the main road where you can take a short walk (in the shade if you time it right) to a Metro stop… which leads to Termini Station… which brings you home. Where you once again wonder if it wouldn’t just be easier to go to bed instead of make supper, especially when you realize that THIS bus didn’t take you to the Chicken Shop you’d agreed to stop at on your way home… so now you don’t know where to find chicken, b/c they don’t have regular supermarkets… they have different “shops” which sell their own things.

DH/MIL head off in search of food, FIL & I head up in search of clean children, hoping that the dirty/dusty ones we had with us on the stairs could suffice with a little elbow grease. That worked, they were clean and writing in their own journals when the other pair returned from their shopping trip, gelato in hand (do they know what works or what?! :D) Proscuitto on chicken, with rosemary potatoes/artichokes were a SCRUMPTIOUS meal… stories were read, and then off to bed. Tomorrow promises to be equally as exciting. I can’t wait.