Rome

ROME......


I was apprehensive about going to Rome. All the talk of pickpockets and gypsies and a dirty city did not really make it sound so great. Any apprehension I had was gone like the wind as soon as I got there. I absolutely LOVE Rome. It is the most fantastic, amazing city and most definitely my favorite.
After leaving the little coastal villages we had a little rain in our parade. Our day on our private,paddle boat was the best day we had had on our whole trip,but when we got back to our car , our great mood came to a screeching halt. There was a parking lot available for a few euros when we arrived,but there were also many cars parked on the street closer to the town, so jim,always the miser decided to park on the street and avoid paying. What we did not know is the street parking is only for residents. So when we got to our car we were welcomed with a fat ticket. As if that was not enough to pay for our crime, an angry local felt it necessary to teach us a further lesson by breaking the driver side mirror off. Needless to say, Jimmies mood quickly turned sour. The worst part was all the toll roads we had to stop at. The mirror was tied with a shoelace and rolled up into the window of his seat, but every time he stopped to pay the toll he would forget, which made the mirror crash ferociously into the side of the car. Next would come a lot of screaming and ranting. It took several stops before we all could remember to have the back seat passenger roll the window down to deposit the money.
We had a bitter end to our beach day but it quickly was replaced by something good. As we approached our campground on a very quiet street we spotted three witnesses out in the preaching work. We stopped to say hi and tried our best to visit,despite that we know no italian and they knew no english. After a short visit the sister invited us to our home the next evening for dinner.
The next morning we woke and went to the Vatican. We decided to pay for a tour guide.This is a great way to spend your money we decided. The guide highlighted all the important parts. The boys all really enjoyed this. It seemed to bring history to life. I really feel like this opened a door of learning for them. I cant imagine that they wont love learning about history from here on out. It is a fascinating place to visit. The wealth of the vatican is obscene. We loved learning about michael angelo and seeing his amazing work. WE learned how one of the popes sidekicks insulted him so in return he painted him in one of the scenes of hell, with a snake eating off his penis. A very passionate artist indeed. We saw how he disagreed with Martin luther, who saw it was unscriptural to pray using rosary beads so he incorporated that disagreement i to one of his works also.It was so cool to be standing under the work of a man who knew martin luther, even though they did not agree. Michael angelo had enough of his own battles with the church but unlike martin he lived to be 89. We also saw a huge marble bath that Nero's wife would bath in. The marble they said is absolutely priceless.Its more the size of a small pool. She used to fill it with donkeys milk. We just read that morning in the acts book, how paul was released the first time by nero but then how nero burned rome down and blamed the christians because he wanted the land. Really its such an interesting place.
We drove then to patricias house who had invited us for dinner. We had a great evening. We tried our best to communicate, and I was surprised that it was easier than I thought. She had a very sweet husband too. She was so incredibly hospitable. There is so much to be learned while traveling like this. Not just the facts of history, but we can learn from other people. She cooked this fabulous pasta that is romes specialty. As if that was not enough, there was three different types of, crostini bread with different toppings all from their garden, then there was this delicious rice balls dipped in their homemade superduper fresh olive oil. Though our words were barely understood we were able to gather how she came into the truth. It was like a game of charades. She demonstrated how witnesses had knocked on her door, and she tried to hide. Then she peeked out the window and saw a very pregnant jehovah witness leaving. She felt kinda bad she had not answered the door to her. Then the next several days wherever she went there was a jehovahs witness, on street corner, bus station etc, they kept trying to talk to her and so she thought, man I cant get away so I may as well see what they have to say. Needless to say she had been pioneering for 26 years. Her husband was so cute. This sweet little guy kept trying to grab their cat for a snuggle. He wanted to cuddle that grumpy cat so bad, I felt sorry for him and wanted to go get him a nice cuddly kitten. The kids really melted the hearts of these people. We found out their son had died eight years earlier. With tears in her eyes she told us this. Cole and Brock especially were attentive to our hosts and ate everything they were given,even the bulgar salad (which was awesome but not something they would normally eat. ) By the end of the night the boys couldnt stop hugging this couple, and this sweet pair showered the boys with their italian cheek kisses squeezes and hugs. They asked if we could leave the boys in Italy with them. Joking ofcourse. I tell you, we have met so many warm and wonderful people, but there is something so special when you are with your brothers and sisters. A feeling of warmth and security and love that is just not found anywhere else.
italians.... I love them. They have a really great culture. loud, gregarious, generous and friendly. They love children. In general, everywhere we went the people are so nice to the kids. I love this about the culture. None of this children are to be seen and not heard crap. Last night we ate at our camp restaurant, they put up a bounce house for all the kids to jump in. None of these safety rules like in america. A bizzilion kids flipping, swinging, bouncing, screaming,diving. Nobody got hurt miraculously,but they sure had a great time. I wish i could have little mini italian people to carry in my pockets, because every time I felt sad or blue I could pull them out and they would make me some pasta and kiss my cheeks and I would always feel happy.

We ended up staying two more days in rome because it is so awesome. The most intersting, beautiful city in the world. I am sure of it. So much history, amazing food,amazing people. We spent a good part of our days in rome chasing jimmie at a full speed jog. Let me tell you, its a good thing he has so many great qualities because I was tempted to pitch an ancient brick at him a few times just to slow him down. Every bus, every line for a museum is a urgent rush for him and I swear his legs have jets under them, to make him walk so fast. Finally I had enough running and climbing over. Fences so I put my foot down. NO MORE RUNNING!! ok he promised. I know he tried hard to keep his promise, but as his friends say "squirrel" We were enjoying our open tour bus ride. When it came to the tower of the church that had six hundred stairs, he said we have to get off here, this is the one last thing i wanted to see. So as he gets off the bus he finds out he has ten minutes before it closes, Off he goes, Here we are running full speed to keep up with him, Im wearing a dress, mind you, and flip flops. He charges across a street, jumps a fence, runs speeding across a courtyard. By the time I catch him, Our friend ( a sweet girl from alaska,traveling alone whom we adopted for the day) says "I cant believe my eyes, he jumped over the fences past the security guards who were guarding the now closed dome,so fast they never even saw him, and he disappeared behind the doors" I was so glad kasandra found this funny. I cant believe she seemed to enjoy being with our crazy family. I really wanted to pitch jimmie off the coliseum walls at this point. So after a few minutes, he sneeked out of the closing church dome happy he had succeeded in seeing one last thing. I hope to come back to rome on a girls trip and do it without feeling like I just ran a marathon. So today I sent him on his own to sight see so We can all have a break.
Rome is a place I could spend a entire week or two easy.
Today we head back into tuscany. Going to see florence, then venice. Good thing about venice, is the boats will force a little relaxing I hope.
Well thats all for now folks. CHOW!!!!!