Nearing the End

22 July 2012
 On our last full day Janelle and I decided to focus solely on what the kids wanted. In the Morning they wanted to sleep in and hang out with Nana, so we obliged. We went to the Roma Museum, in an attempt to squeeze in one last museum. Thanks mom and dad for instilling an unreasonable affinity towards museums, now all I want to do in a new city is visit the local "protector of muses". This particular one is full of ancient Roman statues, mosaics, and frescos. Janelle thought we had seen enough renaissance church art and need to mix it up. Most of the statures are Roman copies of Greek originals, it seems that Hollywood was not the first to repeat what worked before.

"Fear the beard!"

I think the best water in town could be found at the neighborhood fountains found through out the city. Then again that could just be my love of public infrastructure and life outdoors. Which for such an urbanized nation is a value the Italians share with me. Life seems to revolve around the outdoor public spaces in the small towns and big cities. Every evening around 7 or 8 o'clock everyone young and old is out talking and just enjoying being with everyone.

After our early morning date, Janelle and I picked up Nana and the little ones. We went to an out of the way place, Explora Il Museo Dei Bambini Di Roma, the children's museum. This is what I imagine the children's museum in Denver should be. There are no instructions for the children just a lot of cool stuff for them to explore and play with. The only rules were for the parents and that was, let the kids make their own decisions. It was like a giant Montessori play house. My kids loved it.

The next request was a bus tour. So we used hopped on a double decker bus with no roof, and off we where. Here are a few highlights.

Beck and his Mommy.

What's left of Circus Massimo, the dirt track in the foreground and some Emperor's Palace in the back.

Saint Peter's and the Vatican, but it is Sunday  so the museum, and the Sistine Chapel were closed. And San Peitro was having mass. Poor planning on our part. Oh well gives us something to see on the next trip.   

One of many churches in the city.

After a very disappointing meal at a place that we picked last night, I asked our pregnant hotelier were to eat, and boy did she send us to the right place. We had one of the best meals of the trip, Lydia even flirted with the waiter. Lesson learned, always ask a local. Then we had our last gelato.