Daily Life in Italy

Fully in vacation mode now, we left the hotel at about 11:00am with the intention of going to purchase our train ticket for getting to Naples tomorrow. Francessca had warned us that there was a strike anticipated to begin and we would need to confirm that the train we needed would actually be running. We made our way to a travel agency office where we were assured the strike would not begin until evening, well after our planned departure. (Am I the only one who thinks it's funny that a strike is scheduled so precisely?) Anyway, we got our ticket and then wandered around looking for an ATM machine. By the time we gave up, we discussed whether to travel towards the Vatican or to further explore the more authentic Italian area of Trastevere, near the cooking class we enjoyed yesterday. Trastevere won the day!

We took a Taxi to the area and found a pleasant neighborhood joint where we had REAL pizza for lunch. Afterwards I stopped to take dozens of pictures of every ordinary site that struck me as exquisite! "Oh, LOOK at that window! LOOK at that dog laying in the courtyard! Oh, LOOK at that laundry hanging outside to dry!" Fortunately, Jan is a kindred spirit and absolutely loved all the same extraordinary every day sights that I did.

Though I could happily have left Rome without seeing the "Vatican", I feared admitting that fact to any of you who might ask. So, with dusk still distant, and having finally discovered an ATM machine, we decided to walk along the Tiber River in the general direction of the Vatican. "So I can say "Yes, I've been there."" By the time we were tired of walking, and with no real motivation to go further, we got to Saint Peter's Square, took a photo to prove we found it, and then hailed a Taxi for the hotel. Just a lot of old concrete as far as I'm concerned.

We agreed that a dinner close by and a relaxed evening was in order so that's what we enjoyed before calling it a day in Rome.