DAY ONE:
Our arrival in Roma was about an hour late and now to find the rail to downtown Termini Station. We did it in 40 minutes and there just as we got off the train and walked down the platform was Lisa. Lots of hugs and kisses.
Our first Experience was in a roman taxi. very interesting... noticed that Italians don't really like to follow traffic laws. However our driver was very nice! first stop was our apartment, very quaint and cute. A mix of modern and antique. Wants be got settled a bit we walked around the area and had our first gelato! Mom's fav was lemon, light and refreshing. Next we walked around to some other sites including Tiber Island, the Pantheon, and Largo Argentina (Lisa calls it the Cat Sanctuary) a few churches and Piazza Navona. Despite getting completely soaked in the Rain and having to avoid 500 umbrella salesman. We had a wonderful first day.
Dried off at the apartment than headed out for dinner. Had a little trouble finding place open that you didn't need a reservation at. Found a place a settled in. A few of the highlights: Mom made our server hate us almost immediately by melting the menu on the candle that was on the table for some reason she thought the burnt plastic smell was coming from the kitchen. Italians literally eat 5-course meals and I don't think they like it when we only order from the Primi Section. Italians eat very late. most places don't even open until 7:30 pm. Italian wine is EXCELLENT! we finished off our first night in Rome by stopping for a drink at a pub near our apartment then it was time for a good night's sleep.
DAY TWO::
Rose from a good nights sleep, then off to our Vatican Tour. On the way to our meeting spot Lisa took us to Capitaline Hill which is home to some of the building that house Rome's government and the Capitoline Museum. Also a great place for a view of the Roman Forum. We next headed towards the coloseum and had a wonderful view of the outside as walked around to find our guide at our meeting place Piazza Republica. Justin our tour guide from Rome(ing) tours a company he owns with a Decorah native took us on a great tour of the Vatican Area that included a great (informative and comical) description of how christianity can to Rome, the Bridge of Angels by Bernini, which took us over the tiber river and in front of the castle. We next headed down the long street and at the end was St. Peter's Square and Basilica. A wonderful thing to be walking towards.
Our first stop was actually a small Panini place that we were promised would give us the best sandwiches we'd ever tasted and Justin was right. Here we also learned that if a faucet doesn not have a handle (which most do not in Rome) it is run using a foot pedal on the floor and that most toliets don't have seats on top.
Onto the Vatican Museum. WE saw a number of statues that were used as inspiration in the paintings of the Sistine chapel and learned that Michelangelo and Bernini are basically the most amazing artists ever! Also that the Swiss Guards in the Sistine Chapel take their jobs very seriously, shouting, 'no picture' and 'shhhh' often. At one point I think I even might have heard them say 'no fun'. Other interesting facts: the vatican is home to the largest Pine cone! ( a bronze statue located in the courtyard). We love Canadians. not only was our tour guide canadian (and very good looking in the opinion of Lisa and Niki) but the other couple on the tour were from Canada and were a great addition to the group.
Next stop St. Peter's Basilica. an extraordinary work of art. had a discussion about the controversey of the Pieta (mary holding her dead child, Jesus by Michelangelo). and watched a procession of priests/cardinals as they entered daily mass.
That night we had a great meal at Trillusa Taverina. we were told the food was fresh, it was like eating out of a pan. That was no metaphor! they literally brought out the pan that they used to cook the food in and we ate out of it. Delicious and a great way to celebrate mom and dad's 30th anniversary!
DAY THREE ::
We (Bob/joan/niki) took off to the Coloseum for an adventure, Lisa had classes. Got a tour guide and headed in. learned 100,000 people died building it and even more in games. Also that it was a christian pilgramidge site because of all the saints martyered there. It was absolutely huge. Next off to Palentine Hill (new guide short little italian with a ponytail) we learned again about all the different Roman Emperors and Nero came to the top as being a bad ass. I'm glad he doesn't rule now!
Our next trip was to the East to St. John Lateran, the church where Pope Benedict says mass. We took a quick tour it again was huge. All the tour guides say "when the roman's do it... they do it big" and yes the church was enormous. Building across the street had the holy stairs, the only way up is to ascend on your knees one at a time.
Stomach's were grumbling and we had not eaten all day except for the "faithful traveling pumpkin break" (the one food Lisa had requested we bring from america, she said it wouldn't be thanksgiving without it). So we crossed the street and grabbed some Pizza then back to the apartment to shower for our dinner date with the Nation's (a roommate of Lisa's family that was also visit now).
Mom's Recap Narrated through the Pumpkin Bread's Point of view... quite humorous!
3 hours before we leave for des moines a phone call comes thru for a plea "Please Bring Pumpkin Bread to Rome" so quickly I pull out recipes to find out no pumpkin.. up to dorothy's to borrow and then together it goes.. into the oven and cooled a little but and put into a Nike Box and pkgd into our checked luggage. The big loaf and small loaf travel by car to Ankeny stays first night a niki's home then off into Dana's jeep for a trip to the airport Then it is tossed around in cargo from Des moines airport to Denver, CO. where it is hit by ice fog and bad end Turbulence bat with a little rest now goes on to Pilly where it had 2 1/2 hour rest before the overnight flight to Rome. The Tupy's picked me up and rolled me across the terminal to the u-rail which took me to downtown Termini station. I met Lisa but she didn't know I was hiding in the Nike show box which then I got rolled around on bumpy cobblestone streets to a taxi... wizzed around to the apartment where I rested for a day. The next day Lisa took Baby loaf away I heard it was devoured at her apartment within an hour maybe shared with friends. meanwhile I a resting in the frig and a slice or two is sliced off each morning for the Tupy's Breakfast. On Wed. I'm back into Nike for a bumpy walk to Lisa's apartment then on bus ride to Termini and U-rail to florence where I again sleep for a day in the shoe box.
ONTO TO FLORENCE ::
arrived and walked to Hotel Donatello, where we were staying. Found the receptionist a funny curly haired Italian with lots of fire. But the minute you started to ask her any questions she went crazy, so we decided better off not to ask. WE headed towards St. Mark's Square and the Duomo. WE were amazed how much faster you could get around Florence vs. Rome. We stumbled upon the Duomo unexpectedly and found ourselves in AWE. After snapping some pictures and a detour into a shoe store quick it was off to find Florence's Best Mexican Restuarant since Lisa's was craving guacamole (it had been months, which is torture to her) WE navigated to Tijuana located on Ghibellina which we decided was the "fun" part of town. Noisey and lively streets! After our appetizer and a pitcher of Margaritas off to another restaurant for supper.
FLORENCE ::
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