Back Home Again, in Ancient Roma
Today was the day. It was the day I had been waiting for since we booked this trip in January. June 8. I have had a countdown to this day for a few months, and it finally arrived. While this also marked the day that Jack and Chris were leaving us, it was the day I finally returned to Roma after a year of absence. We said our “see you later” to the boys (we planned to meet them at the Trevi fountain at noon), and made our way to the train station in Civitavecchia, the port city of Rome. We started walking around the port, only to discover the safest way was to take the shuttle to the gate. We got on the shuttle and walked a little less than half a mile to the train station and missed the 9:57 train by about 2 seconds, so we had to wait for about an hour for the next one. Only while we were waiting did we realize how hot it was, and how much hotter it was going to get.
As we sat on the train for over an hour, I was like a kid on Christmas Eve waiting Santa. Brooke and Jessica passed out, so I had some time to myself to think about everything. The ride in was gorgeous with the rolling hills you only see outside of Rome and the coast just out of my reach through the train window. As we went through the tunnels that lead to Roma Termini, I woke the girls up and was just as happy as could be. I knew exactly how we would get to the Trevi fountain and laughed at the idea of a map. As we emerged from the Metro stop at Piazza Barberini into the hot Italian sunlight, I felt as though I had never left. I crossed the streets like a Roman, I took back streets that I had learned about last year, and I strategically avoided the dog doo-doo that lines the streets. We were sweating so much because it was about 100°F outside, but I didn’t care. As we turned the corner and the Trevi fountain came into view, huge tears poured out of my eyes. I can’t really explain it, other than the fact that I was so happy to be home. It honestly just felt like a dream. I wanted to jump in and hug every figure of the fountain and say, “Honey, I’m home!” to them. But I didn’t. The Carabineri were watching very closely, and I did not feel like spending the day in Rome arrested. So we scanned the busy area for the boys, who shouldn’t have been very difficult to miss seeing as Jack is over 6’ tall and was wearing purple. We were late and worried that they gave up on us, but there they were. We took a while to find them because we had told them to meet us on the left side and they were on the right.
After we took some photos and threw our coins in to wish for our return to Rome, we wandered right down the street to L’Archetto, that splendid restaurant I spent so many hours and Euros in last year. And wow. It was more than I could have hoped for and better than I remembered or dreamed of. The boys even loved it! As I ate my entire plate of Quattro Formaggi Spaghetti, I kept telling Brooke that if I was dreaming and woke up as I was eating, I would punch the first person I saw when I woke up. Luckily, that did not happen and I was not dreaming. After finishing a liter of vino bianco di casa and a bottle of champagne, we made our way through the street vendors that line the roads leading to the Trevi. But then I got pooped on by a bird and ran to the McDonalds for some napkins. It was gross. We wandered to Blue Ice for some Nutella and Strachiatella (Chocolate Chip) gelato. I don’t think I’ve ever been more full than that afternoon.
I lead the way through the winding Roman alleys and roads to the Pantheon, my favorite spot in Rome, only to find it covered in scaffolding! I was not very happy, but I was still able to enjoy the other half of the façade. We ran over to Piazza Navona and wandered through the back streets, as I pointed out places that I used to frequent or that place I got thrown up on once. No one was really paying attention, but I didn’t really care. We made to the Vittore Emanule II monument and walked by the Forum, up to the Colosseum. We were running so late, so we took a few snapshots with our new found best friends, took the Metro to Termini and helped them get to their hotel, and made it to our train at the last minute.
The ride back was much longer than before, and we all passed out. We sat with this Italian girl around our age, but we didn’t really speak with her because we were so exhausted. The only reason I mention her is because Jessica was falling asleep like you do in class when your head bobs up and down and you keep catching yourself. But instead of catching herself, she smacked her head on a metal bar and all 4 of us started laughing uncontrollably, the Italian included. Brooke and I were actually asleep and didn’t even see it happen, but both woke up with the “clunk” Jessica’s head made laughing. It was such a great way to end a long, yet very short day in Rome. We had to have a taxi drive us right to the boat because we almost missed the boat. We had 15 minutes to spare by the time we got on.
This is where my blog is going to get boring. There was a time earlier in the day when I felt like I couldn’t breathe and I thought I was going to suffocate. It only got worse as the day went on, but I tried to ignore it so that I could enjoy my 3 short hours in Rome. By the time we got back, I forced myself to go straight to the medical center to figure out what was wrong with me. Turns out, it was just a sinus infection that traveled into my chest, but the lovely South African doctor Mark gave me some medicine and told me to take it easy for a few days, so that’s just what I did.
I’ll update some more soon, but just know that for two days I practically laid in bed. Miss you all and love you very much!! Thanks for reading, and keep checking back in the next few days! :)
As we sat on the train for over an hour, I was like a kid on Christmas Eve waiting Santa. Brooke and Jessica passed out, so I had some time to myself to think about everything. The ride in was gorgeous with the rolling hills you only see outside of Rome and the coast just out of my reach through the train window. As we went through the tunnels that lead to Roma Termini, I woke the girls up and was just as happy as could be. I knew exactly how we would get to the Trevi fountain and laughed at the idea of a map. As we emerged from the Metro stop at Piazza Barberini into the hot Italian sunlight, I felt as though I had never left. I crossed the streets like a Roman, I took back streets that I had learned about last year, and I strategically avoided the dog doo-doo that lines the streets. We were sweating so much because it was about 100°F outside, but I didn’t care. As we turned the corner and the Trevi fountain came into view, huge tears poured out of my eyes. I can’t really explain it, other than the fact that I was so happy to be home. It honestly just felt like a dream. I wanted to jump in and hug every figure of the fountain and say, “Honey, I’m home!” to them. But I didn’t. The Carabineri were watching very closely, and I did not feel like spending the day in Rome arrested. So we scanned the busy area for the boys, who shouldn’t have been very difficult to miss seeing as Jack is over 6’ tall and was wearing purple. We were late and worried that they gave up on us, but there they were. We took a while to find them because we had told them to meet us on the left side and they were on the right.
After we took some photos and threw our coins in to wish for our return to Rome, we wandered right down the street to L’Archetto, that splendid restaurant I spent so many hours and Euros in last year. And wow. It was more than I could have hoped for and better than I remembered or dreamed of. The boys even loved it! As I ate my entire plate of Quattro Formaggi Spaghetti, I kept telling Brooke that if I was dreaming and woke up as I was eating, I would punch the first person I saw when I woke up. Luckily, that did not happen and I was not dreaming. After finishing a liter of vino bianco di casa and a bottle of champagne, we made our way through the street vendors that line the roads leading to the Trevi. But then I got pooped on by a bird and ran to the McDonalds for some napkins. It was gross. We wandered to Blue Ice for some Nutella and Strachiatella (Chocolate Chip) gelato. I don’t think I’ve ever been more full than that afternoon.
I lead the way through the winding Roman alleys and roads to the Pantheon, my favorite spot in Rome, only to find it covered in scaffolding! I was not very happy, but I was still able to enjoy the other half of the façade. We ran over to Piazza Navona and wandered through the back streets, as I pointed out places that I used to frequent or that place I got thrown up on once. No one was really paying attention, but I didn’t really care. We made to the Vittore Emanule II monument and walked by the Forum, up to the Colosseum. We were running so late, so we took a few snapshots with our new found best friends, took the Metro to Termini and helped them get to their hotel, and made it to our train at the last minute.
The ride back was much longer than before, and we all passed out. We sat with this Italian girl around our age, but we didn’t really speak with her because we were so exhausted. The only reason I mention her is because Jessica was falling asleep like you do in class when your head bobs up and down and you keep catching yourself. But instead of catching herself, she smacked her head on a metal bar and all 4 of us started laughing uncontrollably, the Italian included. Brooke and I were actually asleep and didn’t even see it happen, but both woke up with the “clunk” Jessica’s head made laughing. It was such a great way to end a long, yet very short day in Rome. We had to have a taxi drive us right to the boat because we almost missed the boat. We had 15 minutes to spare by the time we got on.
This is where my blog is going to get boring. There was a time earlier in the day when I felt like I couldn’t breathe and I thought I was going to suffocate. It only got worse as the day went on, but I tried to ignore it so that I could enjoy my 3 short hours in Rome. By the time we got back, I forced myself to go straight to the medical center to figure out what was wrong with me. Turns out, it was just a sinus infection that traveled into my chest, but the lovely South African doctor Mark gave me some medicine and told me to take it easy for a few days, so that’s just what I did.
I’ll update some more soon, but just know that for two days I practically laid in bed. Miss you all and love you very much!! Thanks for reading, and keep checking back in the next few days! :)
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