Remembering Rome Part I

We had a great time in Rome. We stayed in Trestevere in a 4th floor apartment. The owner came into the city for the day and made sure we could use the old elevator and answered any questions we might have.
The apartment had a kitchen, two bedrooms, not counting the pull out couch in living room for older teen.

We had alot of laughs on the elevator, or trying to beat it with a race down. Oh, the Italian language. The voices of the local men in the evening below us at a local cafe was terrific. They talked, argued and then went home to bed. By the third day I felt confident enough to walk around and buy pastries. Around the corner there was a pasta shop.  This is an art, making pastas. The pastas I did eat were alway al dente. We Americans, including me, boil our noodles to mush. Al dente is better. The margarita pizzas which were the least expensive order to make on a quick snak run ran 6 euros. That rounds off to about $11.40. So, knowing we could order a delicous pizza at that price with a light crust and light topping, anything more, we steered away from. The pizza is meant to be eaten by tearing pieces off and swallowing down with bubbly water. I loved the bubbly bottled water.

Free water poured out of spouts all over the city. You could fill your water bottles, wash your hands, or drink water as from a spout.
Most of Rome was being invaded by tourists and Roman twenty-something tourists. My sons were most enthralled with the hanging out by the Tiber river area due to many bars, vendors, and youthful folk. This is truely an area for friends to come to and the choices of restaraunts/cafes along this river range from Indian type where you sit on pillows, to sophsticated slick looking night club looking places... all open to the air and water.

Lots of walking on cobble stone. We waited for many buses. My husband learned the system. Too bad we are not going back next week. Our third day we got out of the city due to my whinning of not being able to see Florence.

Only Rome ?

We are narrowing our trip to Rome. Only? We realized we would be exhausted trying to do too much. However, friends say that we should take a day trip into Florence. That was a suggestion.I may have to save Florence for another week's visit. Rome will be magnificant. I guess I'll drag the suitcase out tomorrow. We still have not booked a place but have looked extensively. If we can find air-conditioning.. that would be great.

Planning our Trip

My Italian grandparents from Parma, Italy, Columba and Joseph Malpelli will be happy looking down on my family and me finally traveling to Italy. Excitement, anticipation, and ready to go beginning with Rome for two days, a drive north along the west coast, maybe a little shopping in Civitavecchia and onwards to Toscane. My neighbor put the size of Italy into perspective and told me it is like Florida. We have driven (never again) from Ft. Lauderdale to Atlanta in one day and that was ten hours. Places seem closer in Italy. Florence and Venice will proceed after Rome. We are booking bed and breakfast inns and have our rental car. We also realized the other day we had better get our tickets for the places we would like to tour ahead of time. I have convinced my husband that we need a proper tour of the Roman Coliseum. As we get closer to finalizing our plans, I will fill you in. We also need a plan B. Greece?