We started out strong this morning with everyone having had a full night's sleep. Two nights ago, Natalie woke at 11:30 pm and didn't sleep again. Her sisters heard her crying and got up at 3:30! Not awesome but not surprising given the 9 time zones we crossed. Speaking of crossed, Natalie's strabismus seems to be still back on PST because it will cross and uncross at seemingly random times during the day - independent of sleeping. I was hoping the jolt to her circadian rhythm would correct the problem but alas, no such luck!
We took the commuter train to Termini which is in the Castro Pretorio neighborhood. Commuter train may suggest speed and efficiency - this had neither. We went to the national museum of Rome. In order to engage the girls - we set up a scavenger hunt so that they could earn 'gelato points'. I told them to spot all the statues who's noses were broken off. Too easy. We stopped at 50!
We Stopped for lunch at a Takeaway pizza place that Jack had read about (did you expect any less?). It's called Pinsere. http://theromedigest.com/pinsere/
Apparently the owners of this restaurant were native Italians who went to the US and were inspired by both our artisanal bread culture and our dedication to fast food. The girls loved it – taking it down like little would chippers!
Then we had to deliver on the promised gelato so we went to another artisanal favorite called Come Il Latte. This is located in the business district and I was surprised to see how many suited business men and women were devouring ice cream cones with at least half a pint of which gelato on them!! Now that's a business lunch.
We made our way home after that and the girls were really and truly done for the day. Luckily it was date night and Jack and I headed out into the cool evening for a wander through the travestere neighborhood and dinner at Da Lucia - recommended by Katie Parla and well worth navigating the serpentine streets to get there.
One of the things we've been noticing about Rome is its patina; it's beautiful decay. Everywhere, even in the 'high rent', downtown, retail area, there is a charming decrepitude that permeates the buildings, sidewalks and squares. In many places, it is devolving into less-than-charming disrepair and dirtiness. But mostly, it is funky and different and serves as a constant reminder that we are some place else. A lovely and refreshing feeling.
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