Buon Natale from Roma!
We are here.
What is it about me and underestimating distances in Europe? For some reason, I have the hardest time with this. What I thought would be a six hour drive turned out to be twelve hours on the bus. Of course, the bus doesn't travel as fast as the D4s would and there were three stops for meals totalling around three hours. But still...it's the same as Normandy. I thought it would be five or six hours to France's coast. Not so much. Next time, people, remind me to do the Mapquest so that I have a realistic idea.
The kids did great. We had the iPods, books, Leapsters and they both took naps. The only bad thing that happened is that Annika wet herself at about hour ten. At one of the rest stops in Italy, she developed a terror of Italian toilets and refused to use the potty. As I feared, this resulted in an accident. Luckily, I had a change of clothes along and changed her very quickly. The carseat...well, we soaked up as much as we could, but it's just going to have to wait to be washed until we get home. I'm surprised...it doesn't reek as much as I thought it would.
Pisa was good. Our hotel room was teeny-tiny and Annika had to sleep on the floor. The tour company had us down as having an infant and so didn't have a bed for her, just for Josiah. We made a bed on the floor and everyone fell into bed and slept. In the morning, we got up early, had a quick breakfast and headed out to see...duh, the leaning tower of Pisa. What else is there to see in Pisa? Not much, I don't think. Anyway, we saw the three buildings there in the square, including the tower. Beautiful. The Italians certainly know how to build...or knew how to build anyway, back in the day. We took about 215 pictures, which we will post when we get home. We unfortunately didn't get to see the interiors of any of those buildings since we were there before they opened and had to leave to get back on the bus.
One of the downsides of doing a tour...running at the speed of the tour company, which is usually fast and furious.
After Pisa, we headed still further south with one quick lunch break and reached Rome mid-afternoon. Let me tell you, if you like graffiti, Rome is the place for you! It isn't as dirty as France, but I would say that Italy is a close second to France in terms of general dirtiness and mess. Which is a shame because it could be an amazing place if it weren't so messy. What a surprise that I would want to come in and clean it all up!
Anyway, we told Josiah that a very naughty little boy did the grafitti and he was just so shocked and surprised. Now everywhere we go he says "Look! The little boy was here, too!!" and then talks about how that little boy's mama is going to spank his butt and take his trains away.
We also told him to stay close to us or the gypsies would kidnap him. I know, we're terrible, but it sure has worked. So, what he'll remember from Rome is gypsies and grafitti!
We did have three ladies on our bus who were pickpocketed in Pisa.
Anyway, today we went to Vatican Square and stood in a great heap of people for the Papal blessing. I'm not Catholic, but it was still very interesting to see the Pope and hear his voice. He said the blessing in about 56 different languages. As you can imagine, by the time he was saying the blessing in Cambodian, two little people were getting very, very, VERY bored with the situation!
They napped on the bus until we got downtown into the old area of Rome, where we proceeded to walk about 4.6 miles (without a stroller), looking at such amazing sights as the Colleseum, the Forum, the Pantheon...and etc., etc., etc. I wanted to listen to the tour guide, but I was pretty busy keeping Josiah and Annika from being stolen by the gypsies or getting spray-painted with grafitti.
It's beautiful, don't get me wrong, and we are having a marvelous time! I can hardly believe I stood and listened to the Pope with people from so many different countries...it has truly been a Christmas to remember.
And now, I've got to go because I promised my husband that I'd only be half an hour. I'm sitting in the bar having a martini...this is the life. I wish I could blog and drink martinis all evening....
Sigh. But a very, very MERRY CHRISTMAS to our friends and family all over the world!
What is it about me and underestimating distances in Europe? For some reason, I have the hardest time with this. What I thought would be a six hour drive turned out to be twelve hours on the bus. Of course, the bus doesn't travel as fast as the D4s would and there were three stops for meals totalling around three hours. But still...it's the same as Normandy. I thought it would be five or six hours to France's coast. Not so much. Next time, people, remind me to do the Mapquest so that I have a realistic idea.
The kids did great. We had the iPods, books, Leapsters and they both took naps. The only bad thing that happened is that Annika wet herself at about hour ten. At one of the rest stops in Italy, she developed a terror of Italian toilets and refused to use the potty. As I feared, this resulted in an accident. Luckily, I had a change of clothes along and changed her very quickly. The carseat...well, we soaked up as much as we could, but it's just going to have to wait to be washed until we get home. I'm surprised...it doesn't reek as much as I thought it would.
Pisa was good. Our hotel room was teeny-tiny and Annika had to sleep on the floor. The tour company had us down as having an infant and so didn't have a bed for her, just for Josiah. We made a bed on the floor and everyone fell into bed and slept. In the morning, we got up early, had a quick breakfast and headed out to see...duh, the leaning tower of Pisa. What else is there to see in Pisa? Not much, I don't think. Anyway, we saw the three buildings there in the square, including the tower. Beautiful. The Italians certainly know how to build...or knew how to build anyway, back in the day. We took about 215 pictures, which we will post when we get home. We unfortunately didn't get to see the interiors of any of those buildings since we were there before they opened and had to leave to get back on the bus.
One of the downsides of doing a tour...running at the speed of the tour company, which is usually fast and furious.
After Pisa, we headed still further south with one quick lunch break and reached Rome mid-afternoon. Let me tell you, if you like graffiti, Rome is the place for you! It isn't as dirty as France, but I would say that Italy is a close second to France in terms of general dirtiness and mess. Which is a shame because it could be an amazing place if it weren't so messy. What a surprise that I would want to come in and clean it all up!
Anyway, we told Josiah that a very naughty little boy did the grafitti and he was just so shocked and surprised. Now everywhere we go he says "Look! The little boy was here, too!!" and then talks about how that little boy's mama is going to spank his butt and take his trains away.
We also told him to stay close to us or the gypsies would kidnap him. I know, we're terrible, but it sure has worked. So, what he'll remember from Rome is gypsies and grafitti!
We did have three ladies on our bus who were pickpocketed in Pisa.
Anyway, today we went to Vatican Square and stood in a great heap of people for the Papal blessing. I'm not Catholic, but it was still very interesting to see the Pope and hear his voice. He said the blessing in about 56 different languages. As you can imagine, by the time he was saying the blessing in Cambodian, two little people were getting very, very, VERY bored with the situation!
They napped on the bus until we got downtown into the old area of Rome, where we proceeded to walk about 4.6 miles (without a stroller), looking at such amazing sights as the Colleseum, the Forum, the Pantheon...and etc., etc., etc. I wanted to listen to the tour guide, but I was pretty busy keeping Josiah and Annika from being stolen by the gypsies or getting spray-painted with grafitti.
It's beautiful, don't get me wrong, and we are having a marvelous time! I can hardly believe I stood and listened to the Pope with people from so many different countries...it has truly been a Christmas to remember.
And now, I've got to go because I promised my husband that I'd only be half an hour. I'm sitting in the bar having a martini...this is the life. I wish I could blog and drink martinis all evening....
Sigh. But a very, very MERRY CHRISTMAS to our friends and family all over the world!
Comments
Please, don't let the gypsies take my grand children!!!
We are loving the picures and your detailed explanations.
Stay safe and have fun.
Merry Christmas!