Family Reunion

I left the hotel after breakfast but didn’t make it very far.  I found a nearby market and bought a gorgeous vest.  Back to the hotel.  Dumped the bag.  No problem – I had a full bladder anyway!  Ha!  The Italian coffee works fast!  And I also go to switch my umbrella for my sunglasses.  Good deal.

Take 2: I wandered around to Santa Maria Maggione church where I saw tourists toting guidebooks, hawkers, and nuns in the square.  Yep – there must be something to see here.  Walking in I was quite impressed but just decided to soak in the beauty of the place.  I have long given up on knowing all the history and details of where I go; Rome of all places has so much history.  I saturate with information quickly and never retain it anyway!  Cool facts, maybe, but I’ve just accepted that I really prefer aesthetic value over all else.

1PM: I was waiting at the end of Track 10 in the Termini train station after the first of two possible trains from Orvieto pulled up.  I was so excited and actually tearing up as I waited to finally see Mom and Kari.  After about five minutes most people had cleared out so I started to keep an eye out down towards track 2 where the other train was due in.  I started to wonder what I’d do if I didn’t find them when I turned my head and saw Mom in a bright turquoise hoodie walking behind me.  Phew!  Good catch.  And now – let the weekend really begin.

We headed back to the hotel with Sue McLennan from the ride and got ourselves sorted in the hotel while Sue tracked down her hotel (her travel documents went missing – yikes).  After a bit of time, we wandered out for a pizza and a stroll down to Barberini Square and the Fontana del Tritone.  Then onward to the Spanish steps which I was very excited to see...until I saw all the people.  Oh...my...God!  There was an infestation of people.  They were everywhere!  We got a few pictures but didn’t stick around to see the beauty of the area, since we could hardly see it anyway.

 

Next was a wander to the Fontana di Trevi which was also beautiful and also PACKED with people.  A pick-pocket’s dream no doubt.  Afterward we headed to see a multi-media show on the history of Rome.  Why not?!  It was something different for sure.  We learned all about Romulus and Remus and the wolves and they did a good job with the reconstructions of the ruins.  Very interesting if not a bit cheesy.

My pasta baby-belly is starting to grow.  Nevermind the cream cheese icing that Kari brought me (she knows me so well), tonight’s pasta dinner was lekker!  We had a rude waiter and Kari and I got the giggles.  (Dinner table + Kari + me = giggles.  I don’t know why but I love it).