July 4: Rome
It was... challenging to get the boys out of bed this morning. Instead of acting like we were taking them to see some of the most amazing historical sites in the world, it was like we were asking them to crawl across beds of needles while eating copious amounts of lima beans. It is ROME people! The Spanish Steps! Trevi Fountain! The Coliseum! Get your dirty clothes on and stagger to the bus... stat! I am fairly certain that Bailey spent the short walk to the bus (Yes! Another bus!) semi-conscious as he immediately passed out again once in his seat for the duration of the drive to Rome.
The tour we took was called "Rome in a day. It was more like Rome in four hours and make sure you hit all the things that are closed first, just to set the tone for your kids.... who are already whining about the day.
We were dropped of right at the Coliseum and it was totally amazing of course... and just the tiniest bit crowded, with like a billion people! Jensen, Nana and I found a nice shady spot on a broken column and observed the massive structure and the surge of humanity that flowed by us while everyone else walked around the Forum and Palantine Hill. According to the comments from the boys, they thought it was totally impressive so I was surprised when we sat down and Riley says, "I'm really disappointed." Really? The coliseum was DISAPPOINTING? When I asked him, his response was this: "Oh! The coliseum was awesome. I am just totally disappointed that not a single person tried to pickpocket me. I mentioned rather LOUDLY several times 'these 4,000 euros in my pockets sure are weighing me down' but nothing. I expected so much more from the thieves and gypsies."
Ummm, okay. Apparently my stories from my own travels about the hordes of children and groups of gypsies were quite interesting to Riley. I just had no idea that the potential of being robbed would surpass the view of the actual COLISEUM! If he was so excited to be mugged, I could have arranged that in San Francisco!
Our next stop was Piazza de Popolo where we would have a quick jaunt over to several things on my "must see" list for the family, starting with the Spanish Steps. As we came up to them the first thing I noticed was that there appeared to be no people on them. As we got closer I saw the ropes and realized that is was closed and not super impressive looking like that. Okay. Fine! Not to worry! On to Trevi Fountain! This is my favorite place to sit and relax. Our friends the Hollands were just there the night before and posted awesome photos so I was super excited for Bailey to be able to take some. As we neared the fountain I thought I saw more fences... but no. That is not possible. Anna was just here last night. I SAW THE PICTURES! Agh!!!!! Not only was the whole damn fountain gated off with chain link fence but it was DRY! TOTALLY DRY! By this time I was becoming concerned that my family may stage a mutiny so I made one last suggestion... the Pantheon! Let's go see that!
By the time we dragged our sweaty selves down to the Pantheon, NO ONE was impressed. Until they spotted a GYPSY WOMAN! The outing was saved by a potential criminal wearing a black dress and a head scarf! Thank goodness! The final saving moment came when Nana suggested we take cabs back to the square. I have never seen Jensen so excited to enter a vehicle!
We made one last stop at the Vatican which was totally lost on my kids so we left Toby to go in and we headed to eat some pasta. When in doubt, offer food. It seems to do the trick. Tomorrow we are supposed to see "a bunch of dead people" in Pompeii and I am thinking that perhaps a re-evaluation of the day is in order.
Missing you (all) !
ReplyDeleteAbrazos, Auntie Jane