Wednesday, June 8, 2011 A Day Off!!!

We'd had five solid days of touring, and both Lucy and I were pooped....sore feet, tired calf muscles from all though stairs, and just generally needed a day to re-group.  So we slept in this morning, and boy, did it feel good!  After lounging around our great little apartment for the morning, our stomachs told us that the stale trail mix I tried to pass off as breakfast was not going to cut it - so we got on our most comfortable shoes and out we went - with the agreement that this way a day off - no schedule, no commitments, no worries!  So what did we do - we went touring, of course!

Before I explain what we did, I'd like to share a typical experience in Rome - a quick lunch!  We were starving, so we stopped in at a small local cafeteria ("bar") for a quick lunch.  Eating experiences in Rome are so unique, and so enjoyable!  This little spot would be the equivalent of a really tacky gas station deli section, except that it is in Rome.  So there were incredible paninis ready to be pressed to go, local patrons enjoying plates of delicious-looking chicken curry, pre-made and popped into a microwave - the daily special.  I ordered a lovely chicken and parmasan salad, and Lucy had a sandwich with " Russian Salad"...everything is served on real plates, with cutlery....our table with a placemat and served to us...I guess the point that I'm trying to make is that the Italians certainly know how to serve and enjoy a meal, with a great deal of class and finesse...I especially enjoyed watching the elderly patron, obviously a regular, sit down and be served her espresso and cream by the tattooed bar man - as she sat reading her newspaper, I had to appreciate the wonderful interactions and care they seem to give each other - at least when it comes to food!

Our day off, turned out to be a great day - We visited the Capitoline Museum, which surrounds the Campodogio.  What an beautiful museum, filled with many Romans statues and pieces of antiquity and a great picture gallery. The highlight, to me, at least, was the lower level.  not knowing what to expect, we wandered into the ruins of a Roman Temple, which serves as a gallery for more artifacts and sculpture, and then OPENS UP to the best view of the Ancient Forum - a complete surprise and absolutely breathtaking!  This was one of the best museums we've seen so far, and that's saying a lot!

After our neat experience, we headed home, meandering through the Jewish Ghetto, a very important historical section of town, and were happy to land at home, groceries in hand for a night in. Tomorrow we hope to meet up with Kelly Reagan, studying here about a ten minutes walk from us!