ATW in 45. #22

Today we are visiting the Borgheae museum. Then off to Vatican for Sistene Chapel and Museum.

We got up too early. Michael had made early reservations and he beats us into following him to wherever. It’s not pleasant. He would be a fine tour guide.

So, too early, we headed out. No breakfast cuz we will pick up on the way. It’s already hot and it’s only 10am. On sundays in Rome almost everything is closed. Including all cafes. So we walked a long way till we found something open. Finally something open. We got the usual, pastries and coffee. It’s just about the only thing we can find in the morning. This ain’t the US. After a quick stop we were off again. Before the Vatican, we are going to the Borghese museum. I have never heard of it but it contains a lot of renaissance art, paintings and sculpture.

The museum is way too far to walk. So, we walked. I think my travel pals are idiots. Of course, I am an idiot for going along. I should Uber.

The streets of Rome are quiet and abandoned on a Sunday morn. That is really pleasant. The Borgheae is in the middle of a very old park. The park is very nice and very old so the grounds are a little strange. Hard to describe except to say the park is not modern.

We spent a couple hours wandering thru the 3 floors. I saw so many recognizable paintings and sculptures. Caravaggio, Rubens and others. Renaissance. It’s fun to see paintings in the flesh you studied from a book. There is a personal connection. I thought ‘‘twas a great time’ had by all.

Michael, our dumbass de facto tour leader informed us at the end of our visit to the Borgheae that the Vatican was closed today. So no trip to VC. Today.

We have to go tomorrow. Monday. Which is our go to Florence day. So tomorrow’s schedule needs to be adjusted. A bit. I have arranged for a car to drive to Florence. The pickup time is 1030am. So I gotta call and adjust that to later. Pain. But not to bad. Michael never admits to mistakes. He has made a few.

No matter. I can handle the changes which are usually a matter of money, only.

We left the museum around noon. Our task: Lunch. It is Sunday and most places are closed so we have a challenge. Emily and I would prefer to walk around and find a place. The gen x’ers would prefer to google a place. I do not get all the info I want from an internet search. I like to see a place, and then look at google for a review. So as we searched we had two opposing points of view. Turns out, we both found a place at the same time, me physically in front of a cafe and Michael on the internet. Well, my PITA son said he was going to the one he found no matter what. Yes, PITA is not an honorary title for him. He earned it.

We walked about a mile, or accding to google, .3 miles. My ass.

No matter. The one he googled was an excellent choice too. The owner was in so we got extra special service. And extra food and beverage. Lunch was a Sunday Italian style. About three hours omg. All courses in the Italian style. They brought unordered extras – fresh raspberries for dessert and an entire bottle of Limoncello as an aperitif. Nice touch but we did kinda roll outta there.

So we decided to walk around a little. And we did. Ended up in Harry’s Bar Rome. Marika wanted to go as soon as I ran across it in an internet posting. It was very close to us. All had cocktails and of course the bar brought out more food to go with the cocktails. I need more food. Well we really rolled out of there a couple hours later. Italians know a thing or two.

We kinda wandered in the general direction of our lodgings. Going nowhere and stopping everywhere. We ran across a street market. Mostly clothing for sale at damn low prices. Some shopped there while I went to a mini market nearby. The market was selling toiletries. I have discovered that tre super markets here sell food only. I needed detergent for clothes and some toiletries and had real trouble finding them. I completely struck out on detergent. It turns out, from reading, you are better off using a laundry service. Who knew?

Em andnI went back to the room to relax and do laundry. I had some work to do. The younguns did the usual, stay out and drink. Something they do well.

Em and I got back and took showers and relaxed. After a couple hours the kids called and offered to bring food back to the room. So we ended up with slices of pizza and wine. The perfect in room service. And no one made me pay.

The rest of the evening we sat around the room. We did showers, and the like. I continued working. Too much shit to do.

Eventually we all went to sleep.

Shopping street

Hostel