When in Rome...

I never know whether the first two days of a trip like this are actually one very long day or two days. The events always seem to run together, and this trip is no exception, so I will record it in one post.

We left very early on Thursday morning and by 10:30 we were in Atlanta eating lunch. We had told the girls that due to all of the time changes our stomachs would be confused, so we planned to eat what we wanted to eat when we wanted to eat it for the first couple of days. Therefore, lunch was pizza at 10:30 in the Atlanta airport. As we began to land in Newark, New Jersey, we were able to see the skyline of New York City on the left side of the plane, and even make out the Statue of Liberty…if you squinted and tried really hard.

Dinner on the overseas flight was truly awful, giving a new meaning to “lousy airline food”. The girls dug snacks out of their daypacks to help them sustain life. We all slept some during the night, which is not easy. By morning we were almost to Rome and the airline flight attendant brought our breakfast. This meal was another culinary disappointment, except for the chocolate Milano cookies. Chocolate cookies for breakfast? Why not? (When in Rome, do as the Romans do!)

The day was prefect for our plans. The sun was shining and the air was warm and pleasant. We celebrated the girls’ first stamp on their passports in the Rome airport. We took a shuttle to the main train station in Rome, which also holds the hub of the metro system. While there we bought some apples and bananas in hopes we could balance off the Milano cookies for breakfast. By that time we stopped for lunch at a McDonalds at the train station. We didn’t make this stop for nutritional purposes, but merely because it was “familiar food”.

Then, we were off to begin our sightseeing. Our first stop was at the Colosseum, where we were fortunate enough to by-pass an unbelievably long line because we had purchased Roma passes. The Roma passes cover all of our transportation for three days, plus entrance into two main historical sites. The girls enjoyed the Colosseum and took plenty of photos inside and out. At one point all three of the girls took a photo looking out of the Colosseum toward ancient ruins and several of the lovely umbrella pines that are abundant in this area. We took Lacey Beth’s photo in the Colosseum because her great-granddaddy Black (Papaw) visited there during WWII, and we were fortunate to have learned about Papaw’s tour in Italy before we left on our trip.

We saw the arch of Constantine and had our first gelato near the Colosseum. We toured the Roman Forum and saw the Arch of Titus and pointed out the carving of the Romans bringing back spoils from the temple in Jerusalem. We climbed so many marble steps today that we lost count, but one particular set of steps took us to an overlook for a great view looking down on the Roman Forum.

Next on the list was a walk to the Pantheon, but by the time we arrived there we could have sworn that someone had moved the famous building. Since it dates from about 27 B.C., that is highly unlikely, but with all of the tiny streets in Rome running helter-skelter through the city, we were turned around (directionally challenged) and definitely took the long route. After viewing the Pantheon in and out, we took a break at another McDonalds for a semi-cold beverage. (Remember, ice is not a particularly valued commodity in this corner of the world. When in Rome…)

While we were sipping our Cokes, one of the girls asked what our other plans were for the remainder of the day. I mentioned a couple of possibilities and ended my statement with, “…after all, it is just 2:30 in the afternoon” They looked at me in unbelief. Finally Emily said, “You have got to be kidding! I thought it was about five o’clock!”

Next on the list was a walk to the Trevi fountain, Rome’s largest and most famous. As the legend states, if you toss two coins in the fountain, you get a wish with one and the other one assures that you will get to return to Rome. What a deal! Who could pass up that opportunity? The three girls tossed in two each, and Grandpa and Grandma had to do the same.

We hiked down more narrow streets to the Spanish steps, which were built in the 17th century. It was so crowded that you could hardly see the actual steps for the people sitting all over them, but we have now been there…seen them…and we took a picture. We climbed up them, which is the equivalent of walking up twelve flights of stairs. Kara said her soccer coach told them to stay in shape over spring break, and she believed she was doing her part today.

It was rush hour when we boarded the Metro and headed toward our hotel rooms. At each stop I thought it would be impossible to cram one more person on that Metro car, and yet somehow more people got on at each stop. We have decided if you travel using the Metro in Rome you would end up with no body bubble at all. (When in Rome…)

So how is the trip going? These girls are wonderful. They follow us like a small family of ducks. We never have one to wander off (something I can’t say for their Granddaddy!) and they are always where they are supposed to be. They have developed into excellent travelers already. They have their passports in a secure place, and they each keep up with their own Roma cards and know how to scan them at the turnstyles. They have learned to laugh at the strange foods, and supplement them with more familiar items. They are comfortable with their backpacks, and especially their smaller daypacks. No purses on this trip! We absolutely wore then out today. We probably walked ten miles, and climbed who-knows-how-many steps. We will all sleep well tonight.

But, tomorrow morning we will start again…provided Olen and I are physically able to crawl out of bed.