September 3- La Dolce Vita..Postcards from Rome

WOW - what a weekend..It is hard to imagine, but one of the oldest cities in the world - dating back thousands of years - existing in the middle of the current modern, working city.

The ancient Colosseum sits next to a busy road - we would zip by it in a taxi on our way to dinner or the airport. The Vatican, the historic site of Michelangelo's great dome of St Peter's and the amazing paintings in the Sistine Chapel. ~~ALL IN ONE CITY that was not as large as I had expected it to be - we saw a lot of Rome in a day and a half..some highlights:

We arrived Friday night around 10:00, and went straight to the hotel - passing the Colosseum on the way - OMG look out the left window its the Colosseum.

Straight to bed and in the morning a full day of site seeing began. First stop, the Forum, ancient roman ruins once the center of ancient Rome. You casually walk past the previous city..not in a museum, but laying around on the ground among the elements and people - very accessible and amazing. Megan's favorite part of Rome was walking amongst the ruins. Very cool.

We then walked to the Colosseum and then to the Vatican. The weather was warm and sunny, in the 80's, and the sun felt great after 3 weeks in London with cool temps.

The concierge at our hotel told us the only way to see the Sistine Chapel without waiting on line for 4 hours was with a hired guide. He booked one for us and we met her at the hotel. Once we arrived at the Vatican, she and a young man smuggled us into the front of line - we cut in front of hundreds of people who had been waiting on line for hours. We were mortified and embarrassed and no one knew what to do. I mentioned this to the concierge later, he patted my hand and said, of course ma'am. Very un British to cut the line like that - we were all a bit ill over it and felt very guilty - like we need to go to confession. We bought some rosary beads and banged out a quick Hail Mary while buying tickets:)

We spent an hour making our way through the Vatican museum to the oldest part of the Vatican where this chapel is. One of the most amazing things I will ever see. When I look back down from the ceiling I realized that I was the only one still in the small chapel and quickly exited into the museum - alone. Where did my family and guide go? I waited and waited, nothing. My cell had no service..this was my punishment for cutting the line and allowing it to happen without stopping what I knew was wrong. Anyway, they found me about 45 minutes later - not fun. Eventually My phone worked and they told me to head outside and they would come find me...I was upset so I tried to call Cindy - Dean answered and told me to get a gelato and chill...:)

Next stop was the The Mouth of Truth (La Bocca della Verità) an ancient stone mask that represents a river god with an open mouth, wide eyes and a flowing mane of hair. The reason for its unshakable fame is a rather macabre legend associated with the mask since ancient times. If a liar puts their hand inside its mouth it is bitten.

Off for gelato and the Trevi Fountain.After a rest at the hotel (and some shopping) we had a lovely dinner in the Piazzo Santa Maria Nuovo - while Saturday evening mass was letting out - so wonderful..food was perfect, children well behaved..a great day!

Sunday we viewed the Pantheon - the middle ages temple built in 118 AD, where the tomb of artist Raphael is buried...amazing, of course the kids will remember it was the piazzo where they played with the horse. We were with another family and the little 3 year old girl Chloe only spoke French, so she would yell chevex (horse) and the grown ups would see the sites while the kids pet the horses.

Next we went to the Piazzo Navona, with its wonderful statues and ancient obelisk...lovely and so Italian. People eating and having coffee all over the piazzo, and artists selling their drawings.


To get a great view of the city from above, we climbed the Castel Saint Angelo, built in 139 AD, has served as a medieval citadel and prison, as well of residence for the popes in times of political unrest. Wonderful views..

Rome and London have very different personalities. People in Rome cross the street wherever they want to, they park the car wherever they can, they drive on roads they probably are not meant to, and they cut in front of lines at the Vatican for tourists with $20. The Burberry Store in Rome featured not one bit of plaid in the window - all black - very Italian to wear all black. The coffee and pasta in Rome is far better than anything in London and the architecture was amazing. I don't see knock off Prada and Louise Vuitton bags in London - tons in Rome. And the sun shines strong in Rome - unlike London - raining as I type.

We had wonderful weekend and are all tired this morning. ~Caio bella!!