And here starts our European discoveries.
We're off the ship bright and early and catch the train from Civitiveccia to Roma Termini and from there take two taxi's (we really don't fit all into one, especially with our suitcases!) to the Spanish Steps. Apart from having to stand over our baggage the entire train ride, as the luggage compartments were full, it was pretty darn smooth.
I'm a little nervous because I have booked an apartment for us here and didn't have any references or even a trip adviser report to go off of. (And it gives me something to worry about, since that is my favourite past time!) It turns out to be absolutely stellar. It doesn't have every modern appliance or feature, but it is a clean and tidy three bedroom apartment in an ancient palazzo on a pedestrian street just a block from the Spanish Steps. Opening our bedroom shutters we can hang out over Via Le Carrozze and watch the people walking by and eating at the various cafes. Bliss.
We are determined to get through our laundry as none of us have much in the way of underwear.This is a priority. LOL Our little home has a little laundry machine, and soon the entire kitchen is covered in our clothes drying.
Enough domesticity, it's time to explore the city. First off, PIZZA! The kids favourite food and it's everywhere. They are immediately in love with Rome. And who can blame them. The Italians have beautiful buildings, good fashion sense, a long history and amazing food.
We don't have any specific plans for the day, which is more than half over anyway, so we do a great deal of wandering around, which is my favourite way to get to know a city. (Although, Randall and I have both been here several times each, so it's hardly a strange city.) I've got the map and am a bit tense after my last navigational experience in Dubai, but even if I had gotten us lost, the streets are so interesting, and the different styles of architecture can keep everyone entertained.
After the obligatory climb up the beautiful Spanish Steps, which are covered in pink flowers (spring time!!!!) we stop for a gelato before setting our cap for the Pantheon. Liam has built a model of this building at home and knows a bit about it's construction. It was originally commissioned by Marcus Agripa and finished by the Emperor Hadrianin 126 AD, the Pantheon was a temple to honor all the gods of ancient Rome. It is one of the best preserved Roman buildings and has been in continuous use for nearly 2,000 years. It is still the largest unsupported concrete dome ever built. From the 6th century AD it was converted into a Roman Catholic church, which is why it has been so well preserved over the years.
A few wrong turns and we pop out onto the Piazza della Rotunda and stand gaping at the Pantheon. I have been here several times before, but somehow it seems so much larger this time. Maybe because I am seeing it through the eyes of my children. The big kids are suitably impressed. Coming from our background, to pop out of a city of beautiful buildings onto a piazza filled with laughter, cafes, stores, water fountains, birds and ancient temples/churches is so foreign, we may as well be back in Arabia with burka's and camels. I am glad that the big kids "get it". I sincerely hope that this feeling will stay with them and help them to achieve and learn more about the world in the coming years.
Randall is clicking away on the camera and finally we head into the building itself. The large hole in the dome lets in the last sunlight of the evening. It's crowded, but not overly, so we are able to take our time and appreciate the melding of Roman and Christian themes of the building. Raphael's tomb is here. Clara spends a few minutes to say a prayer at the alter. And Liam stands underneath the dome for ages trying to work out the angles used in erecting the huge cement dome. I must find more ways to get mathematics and architecture in his life.
Next we aim generally for the direction of the Piazza Navona. Randall and I want to show the kids the culture and history of Europe, but without being on the strict scheduling of tours that my parents did, or the see, but have no idea what you are looking at, format that his parents adopted. So we try to keep it light. A little shopping after the Pantheon history lesson. A stop to check the score of a soccer game in the window of a restaurant. It's a brilliant walk. It's so enjoyable to be in this city. Kind of like being home, although I cannot imagine ever living here. Strange kind of feeling!
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| Piazza Navona |
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| Liam at thE Pantheon |
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| Spanish Steps, Come ON Mum! |
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| At The Pantheon |
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| Piazza Della Rotunda with the Pantheon in the Back |
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| At Bernini's fountain of the four rivers in the Piazza Navona |
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| Inside the Pantheon |
The Piazza Navona is beautiful.
I'm sure anyone who has been here would agree... Once the Roman "Stadium of Domitian" built in the first century AD, you can still see the outline of where the chariots raced. It is now a large oblong Piazza with churches and cafes and all sorts of touristy shops selling some outrageously touristy things.
The church bells ring and our stomachs growl. I'm sure we could get a less expensive dinner else where but now is when we are hungry so we sit down at a cafe directly across from the famous fountain sculpted by Bernini (and topped by the obelisk of Domitian) depicting the four famous rivers of the 17th century world and enjoy pizza and pasta and a cold Italian beer.
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| Gelato Excitement |
Tomorrow we promise the kids to delve more into the Roman side of Rome. So a good night sleep is on the agenda to be ready for some serious touristying tomorrow! Buonna Note! Ciao. 
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