Rome Day Three; Eating and Walking, Walking and Eating

Rome Day Three

On the third day we slept in a bit longer.  It seems we were finally getting used to the time change.  

Our plan for the day was to see the Colosseum and then walk around the Trastavere.  

Only there was one little problem -- our dogs were barking.  It seems our delicate feet were not accustomed to so much walking.  Nonetheless we forged ahead.  

On the way to the Colosseum we passed the Campo di Fiori and an outdoor market.  We’d promised the kids pastries and the adults coffee.  But the restaurants in the market seemed to touristy and the vendors were selling mostly fresh fruits, vegetables and flowers.  

The kids were none too pleased when we left the Campo empty-handed.  Little did they know they had a treat in store.  

We weaved our way down one road and another.  Finally we happened upon Forno Roscioli.  Oh my!  My son order a mini pizza with thinly sliced potatoes, rosemary, olive oil and sea salt.  Bellisima! (said emphatically while gesturing with hands).  And my daughters?  More of those fabulous doughnuts.  

There was a bar across the street where mom and dad got their initial dose of caffeine.  

Tummies sated we continued on our way.  Mama got us a touch off track veering slightly to the right when we should have gone left.  But not too worry.  The error was quickly corrected.  

And what can I say about the Colosseum?  One can’t visit Rome without seeing it.  It is, after all, one of the most famous structures in the world.  Having said that I’m not sure it’s worth going inside (I've not been so can not say).  The lines are long.  The place is full of people trying to sell tschotckes from plastic pigs to pictures taken with a gladiator.  

We chose not to wait in line.  This left us with money to spend somewhere else.  And with five sets of aching feet we chose a bus ride; a bus with an open top second story.  Geeky?  Yes.  Touristy?  Yes.  Blissful?  Absolutely!  

We boarded at the Colosseum and, as tired as we were, elected to ride one full loop before exiting.  The loop took, oh, I don’t know, an hour or so.  

At lunch we got off at the Jewish Ghetto and ate at Da Giggetto Hostaria.  We had fried zuchinni flowers with anchoive.  Mmmm, mmmm!  

The Boy tried to order a coke.  The waiter repeated back to him “caprese?”  “Si,” the boy replied.  Then Middle chimed in, “due caprese, per favore.”    Needless to say they ended up with two caprese salads rather than the coke they were asking for.  The salads were delicious and they eventually got their cokes.  

After lunch we walked over to Tiberina Island for gelato.  I don’t what it is about pistacchio gelato but I just can’t seem to get enough of it.  Fragola (strawberry) carries a close second.  

Then we hopped back on the bus in search of the Capuchin Crypt Museum.  What is this?  Well the Capuchins are an order of monks who decorated their crypts with bones of their predecessors.   Actual bones; there are six rooms full of femurs, pelvises and skulls.  It was amazing and creepy and cool.  

The last room contained this quote: 

“What you are now we used to be; what we are now you will be.”

Indeed.  

We weren’t allowed to photograph the crypts so I had to settle for photos of postcards purchased after our tour.  

Our minds full of the macabre we popped across the street for espresso, free Wi-Fi and a bathroom break.  

Then back on our feet.  We walked all the way to Piazza Popolo via the Spanish Steps (i.e. we walked a looong way.) Then we made our way down Via del Corso peering in shops all the way. 

We stopped at a grocery store for snacks and took the kids home.  Mr. Peculiar and I ventured back out for a quick glass of vino.  On the way home we shared a paper cone of roasted chestnuts.  The perfect ending to the day.  

Our final day in Rome centered around religion, art and a taxi ride.  Stay tuned.  

Ciao!