We made it! After months of planning, the kids and I arrived in Rome yesterday. I must admit, it was one of those ideas that sounded great at the time, but as our departure grew closer, I began to get more and more nervous. I’ve always travelled with Jeffrey, and we travel really well together. We seem to alternate taking the lead, depending on the country and who has better language skills. This time, I realized that not only would it all be up to me, but that I was also responsible for two kids in tow.
Despite all my pre-flight jitters, everything has been fine. We’ve certainly had a few hiccups (as we were boarding our plane in Montreal, Max realized he forgot his backpack in the terminal, and had to go back and get it; despite long conversations with the bank before we left, my ATM card was blocked as I was trying to get cash for the apartment rental; the apartment is great, and pretty quiet by Rome standards, but someone outside my window must keep an entire flock of squawking birds on their patio), but overall it’s been great. We are settling into a routine of breakfast at the apartment, a decent lunch out with afternoon gelato, and a light dinner back at the apartment. I’m sure things will change when Jeffrey arrives and I have a dinner partner, but for now this seems to work well.
Yesterday we took it pretty easy, and didn’t see much other than a pizzeria, Piazza Navona, and the local market. Today our timing was off, so we saw the outside of St. Peter’s (line was too long to enter), the outside of Castel Sant’Angelo (closed on Mondays), and the Pantheon. We also ate some of the best gelato I’ve ever had at Gelateria del Teatro. The boys are not terribly adventurous yet, and are sticking with a chocolate/mint combo, but I had sage rasberry, and can’t wait to go back and try their other flavors. They use all natural ingredients, and the difference is remarkable compared to yesterday’s at Blue Ice.
My Italian is mediocre at best, but enough to get us around. The boys are soaking it all in, though, and I have to remind Max not to say “ciao” or “arrivederci” to everyone he passes in the street. Carter even asked for the check in Italian when we stopped for a drink this afternoon. Che buono!
Beth, Max, Carter…Di. Jeffrey shared the blogspot with me, so I’m ready to take this virtual journey with y’all. I will promise to have a glass of wine in hand each time I sit to read. Thank you all for sharing. I miss you, and love you more.