Our apartment is in the orange building, right across from the Colosseum
The sun rising over Rome's ancient Forum
View from the hill next to the Colosseum, near the Parco del Colle Oppio. Look for the staircase right of the metro station.
Sleeping in meant that we didn't leave the apartment until noon. Our only agenda was to see the sights: Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, and Piazza Navona. We explored at a leisurely pace, and made sure it involved a large scoop of gelato! It was crowded and hot, but the cold water from the nasoni (water fountains) rejuvenated us. We found some quiet, pretty pedestrian streets and Jeremy asked why couldn't they all be like that!
Make sure you negotiate a price first, or the gladiators will charge you 5 euro for each person in the picture!
Mmmm...Giolitti gelato is the best!
Eating Giolitti gelato
There are over 2,500 nasoni (drinking fountains) in Roma!
First selfie of the trip - Webbers on the Spanish Steps
Trevi Fountain - the most famous fountain in the world - is under renovation for a year
Returning home after our "3" hour - or maybe 7 hour - walkabout
Kate knows where the Brandy Melville stores are, and could hardly wait to visit one today! At checkout, after the sales lady told Kate no they don't have any stickers, the lady suddenly thrusts a mug at Kate - giving it to her for free. "That was really nice of her," Kate exclaimed excitedly! I don't think her day could get any better: "Mmmm...I'm happy," she said.
Jeremy likes shopping too - at the souvenir stores. We each had something we were looking for, so the shops worked well in our plan.
Buying artwork at the Piazza Navona
Chris bought sunglasses
Our wish came true at the Pantheon - we watched it rain through the large opening in the dome (the oculus), and then drain through the floor. Unprepared to sightsee in the rain, we waited it out for 20 minutes under the portico, sitting in a pow wow circle.
Chris and I tried to capture the rain, the tiny specks, on film
Jeremy commented today that he is sick of the sirens. They remind me of Berlin's song "Riding on the Metro". I replied that I won't get tired of hearing sounds that we can't hear at home!
It was a nice day. We like it here, and have settled into our groove.
Logistics:
- The first Sunday of every month is free at the Colosseum and Forum - so we avoided it like the plague. The line started at 6:30 - 2 hours before it opened!
- I had read that photos with the gladiators were €5 each. Nope, they wanted €5 for each person in the picture. We compromised but I wish we didn't let them force Greg into the picture because he is a much better photographer.
- Rome's metro is quite easy because there are only 2 lines. Cheap too, only €1.50.
- Giolotti (near the Pantheon) is the most famous gelato shop in Rome. Pay the cashier 1st and then go order your cone.
