Ahhh. First full day in Rome. I note one thing, everyone here is really friendly. Coming from Paris it is a shocking change. I thought most Parisiennes were nice and friendly but now I know they pale in comparison to Rome. So, first night was a hotel near the airport. Just a quick stop. We got up early and by we I mean Emily and I. We were up and done by 830am. We had a bottle of champagne. Same bottle I wanted last night but the dicks from Vueling said we could not drink it.
Next to breakfast at the hotel. Nice spread, all u care to eat. Much better than La Quinta. Much. The kids were still in bed when we returned to the room. Lazy shits. They managed to start moving and two of three got to breakfast just after 10. Breakfast closes at 10. I somehow got blamed. Fuck them, they are old enough to be adults. And besides, the nice folks at the hotel let them in anyway because they hate to see them miss eating. But I still got blamed. For what I must ask?
We jumped into a taxi (ok, no jumping) and headed to our actual lodgings in the middle of Rome. Marika picked very well. We are staying at the Comics Guesthose. It’s a graphic comics themed hostel a few blocks from the Vatican. This place is wild. And the room is sweet. Private and shared bathrooms. Nice. And did I mention it’s close to everything? Oh yeah. Already a big improvement.
The four of us went out to walk around. Emily is staying behind to lie down and elevate her feet. Her feet are swollen beyond crazy. Started with the plane and after walking 10 miles a day she is a little miserable. She has been sick with travelers disease as well. Poor baby.
We are walking into Rome central. The girls have needed to go shopping. We are at a clothing store near the Spanish Steps. I have vision of my future afternoon. Shopping with two young women. And my son who hates it. Not worth the long walk.
The shopping did last too long. I bought nothing. Carly shopped and bought nothing. Marika bought two things. All the walking and all the heat and nothing to show for it.
Weather is running to ge Mia 90s with like humidity. It’s truly miserable.
A lot of waking. We saw the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, a few other ancient miracles including, from a distance, the Coliseum and Vatican. There are ruins throughout this area. We saw the Tiber River. Our hostel is just 3 blocks away from it
Later in the evening Emily came out of exile for dinner with the rest of us. We found a nice trattoria not to far from our digs. We had a little of everything. I had grilled lamb chops, Emily had ravioli, kids various. Nice wine and some antipasti. Italy does have a lot of opportunity to eat good food. And we take the opportunity. And, in the Italian style, we take our time. We don’t have anywhere to go, so it’s easy.
After dinner we went home to our hostel. We walked which turned our to be kind of a mistake. Emily has swollen ankles and so do I. We both have heat rashes ankle to knees. So tomorrow when we go to the Coliseum we will Uber.