After a heartbreaking departure from my mom and dad at the airport, we headed to our separate gates. They were bound for Zurich, New Jersey, and Denver. We were bound for Rome, Johannesburg, and Windhoek. Before the big 10 hour flight, we had a big 10 hour layover in Rome. Mark had been talking up the history to David, who got to choose where we would go. First stop: the Colosseum with everyone and their mother, and their mother's mother. And hundreds of tour guides, tours, and military police too. The two hour line to buy tickets landed us in the shady side of the Colosseum where we froze and I managed to lose my hop on, hop off ticket with the Big Red Bus. One of the touts gave my children "free stuff" and when we refused to pay them money, he grabbed me in protest. Perhaps it was during this that I lost our 85 Euro family pass, perhaps not. Either way, it sucked when I realized it happened at all.
Onward in the line, we crept until we finally reached the ticket office. Onward in the line, we crept to the bathrooms too. FINALLY, we hustled up the stairs to enjoy the glory of the Colosseum. It was just as awesome as the last time we saw it. The tales of re-enacted water battles, and people fighting animals in the center ring enthralled David's imagination. When Mark asked him what animal he would be willing to fight he said "a ferret."
The Forum line was too long for any one of us to care about enduring, so after navigating a smug and unhelpful Big Red Bus representative about our lost ticket (yes the brochure and website does say if you lose your ticket, too bad so sad), we called customer service to troubleshoot and immediately got onto the next bus with a fresh ticket. Thank goodness.
We hopped off at The Vatican stop, David's second pick. Mark talked to the kids about the complexity and power of religion, and he and I pined to be the ones climbing up Saint Peter's. We did know that a visit there means an early arrival and long lines, and our time was extremely limited, but it didn't make it any easier to walk away from one of the most beautiful, sacred buildings in the world. A brief and pricey lunch, followed by gelato, a visit to the Pantheon, a bottle of wine, and another gelato stop, Trevi Fountain, and a jaunt through the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and the Martyrs did take most of the disappointment away.
With that, our ten hours in Rome were over. We took the train back to the airport and said goodbye to stifling-cold-Rome-unless-you're-in-direct-sun, hello to uncomfortably-hot-Africa-still-wearing-wool-socks-but-can't-unlock-my-bag-to-get-sandals.
Three weeks with my amazing, adventurous, and entertaining family was great. I miss my mom and dad so much. But man, it's wonderful to be home.
Onward in the line, we crept until we finally reached the ticket office. Onward in the line, we crept to the bathrooms too. FINALLY, we hustled up the stairs to enjoy the glory of the Colosseum. It was just as awesome as the last time we saw it. The tales of re-enacted water battles, and people fighting animals in the center ring enthralled David's imagination. When Mark asked him what animal he would be willing to fight he said "a ferret."
The Forum line was too long for any one of us to care about enduring, so after navigating a smug and unhelpful Big Red Bus representative about our lost ticket (yes the brochure and website does say if you lose your ticket, too bad so sad), we called customer service to troubleshoot and immediately got onto the next bus with a fresh ticket. Thank goodness.
We hopped off at The Vatican stop, David's second pick. Mark talked to the kids about the complexity and power of religion, and he and I pined to be the ones climbing up Saint Peter's. We did know that a visit there means an early arrival and long lines, and our time was extremely limited, but it didn't make it any easier to walk away from one of the most beautiful, sacred buildings in the world. A brief and pricey lunch, followed by gelato, a visit to the Pantheon, a bottle of wine, and another gelato stop, Trevi Fountain, and a jaunt through the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and the Martyrs did take most of the disappointment away.
With that, our ten hours in Rome were over. We took the train back to the airport and said goodbye to stifling-cold-Rome-unless-you're-in-direct-sun, hello to uncomfortably-hot-Africa-still-wearing-wool-socks-but-can't-unlock-my-bag-to-get-sandals.
Three weeks with my amazing, adventurous, and entertaining family was great. I miss my mom and dad so much. But man, it's wonderful to be home.
 |
 |
| Pistachio. |
 |
| The Vatican |
 |
| Pantheon |
 |
| Trevi fountain on a light day |
 |
 |
| Sunset view from Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and the Martyrs. Credit: Mark |
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.