When in Rome

Buon Giorno via Roma!

Well after cruising through the air in comfy first class style, we made it safe & sound to Rome Thursday night and spent the majority of our evening at the airport (which I don’t think had air conditioning – or at least not adequate air conditioning). The Boeing associate who made our rental car reservations made an error and between the fact that we don’t speak Italian and didn’t have a working phone or internet access, it took 4 hours to track down the issue and get a completely new rental. Four hours in the airport after a zillion hours of flying was not ideal but Jackson didn’t seem to mind much. We built a fortress out of our luggage which allowed him a safe place to play and still ample opportunity to wave at everyone who passed by. You can make a lot of friends in 4 hours when you’re 32 inches tall and cute as a button.

Room service and hot showers awaited us at Rome’s Marriott hotel and we were more than happy to partake. The hour was so late that our food choices were pretty limited so we opted for cokes & mini desserts. DE-licious! It’s never a bad idea to kick off your stay in Italy with some tiramisu! The king size bed was duly occupied and the 3 of us slept for a few hours before the sunshine woke us and it was time for breakfast and our first day in Rome – or Roma as they say here.

Yea, so about breakfast – um, can we say amazing?! We ate out in the warmth of the sunshine on the terrace with a gorgeous panoramic view of the countryside and a faint outline of mountains in the distance. Incredible! Jackson, of course, is relieved and thrilled to see that there are indeed birds here in Rome, as promised.

We took the hotel shuttle into Rome and after seeing all of the crazy Italian drivers and even crazier parking options we were thanking Jesus for hotel shuttles. The shuttle dumped us out at the Piazza dei Tribunali and we spent the next 11 hours walking from site to site. We paid a tour company for a walking tour led by a very energetic, fast-speaking Italian woman who led us through the Vatican museum and into St. Peter’s Basilica. There was no siting of the pope but we did see some very cool stuff like the Sistine Chapel, that famous Jesus tapestry where it looks like his eyes follow you wherever you go, and Michelangelo’s Pieta. The size of Vatican Square and the majesty of St. Peter’s Basilica were definitely impressive. The Colosseum was a favorite site. It really does seem crazy to think of how old it is and what part of our history as Christians took place there.Winding our way through the city throughout the day was a bit surreal. There were times when I felt like I had to pinch myself to make sure this was really happening. It’s crazy to be sitting on your couch one day and then walking around Rome the next. Especially when 3 weeks ago we had no idea we’d EVER go to Rome! The city itself is beautiful and so rich with history and charming detail. It feels like walking around a movie set or stepping into a postcard at times when the lighting is just right and the outdoor cafes are picturesque against the backdrop of colorful, Italian architecture.Jackson and jet lag are synonymous right now. He slept during the shuttle ride, most of the Vatican museum tour, a good chunk of the Colosseum walk-through, and quite a bit of the 12-mile walk through downtown Roma. During his waking hours, he did enjoy chasing birds, charming the Italian ladies, eating snacks, and making friends with other pint-size kids from quite literally around the globe. We are so thankful to God for answering prayers and helping Jackson do so well in a new environment that’s 9 time zones away from home. He’s a trooper and such a fun bambino! And not too many kids can say they've taken a nap in the Sistine Chapel, right?Today we drive south and I can’t wait to see the countryside on our drive to Grottaglie where we’ll be staying in a hotel until our apartment is available sometime after July 1^st. I’m hoping we find a few places to stop and visit on our way down. And I’m hoping for free internet at the next hotel.

Side notes: I’ll be fine without my Starbucks. The coffee here is yummy -- it doesn't even need cream or sugar! Although I won’t be drinking any past 7 a.m. – it is HOT here! Wow, we’re amazed at how warm it feels. We’re lathering on the sunscreen and welcoming any opportunity for shade or to drink some water.