June 26 - Birthday Celebration

Today, being Jacks birthday, was party time - start to finish.  The girls made him a grape and chocolate stew for breakfast (can you tell we are a little low on groceries)!  Then we set off for MACRO - one of Romes contemporary art museums. The girls needed a break from disembodied marble heads with their noses broken off ( and frankly, so did we).  On our way, we stopped at another playground, though this one was touted to be one of the city's best because it has recently been renovated.  When we arrived we thought for sure that we'd made another wrong turn because this surely could not be it.  This sun baked  plastic slide and 4 wooden swings in an patch of scrub could not possibly be it!  The girls scampered over and started playing while Jack took a quick spin around - nope, this definitely is it!  Really?  It brings to mind a quote from our host in Forte dei Marmi who graciously offered to make a reservation for us at the beach next week since its 'booking up'!!  He steered us away from a couple of the beach clubs we'd researched because, although they say they are kid-friendly, they don't tolerate children making noise.  He said, and I quote, "Italians love children, they just don't want them to have any fun!"  This would certainly explain the sorry state of affairs in the playground department.  Where do the local children play??  There are children, I've seen them!!  Do they all just sit quietly, smoking cigarettes and discussing politics until they are old enough to drive a Vespa??  We shall see how next week pans out since our children will be at the beach and, I promise you, they will be having fun! 

After exploring a food tip from a lovely British family we met at the playground, we headed to the MACRO.  There were some dragging feet until I told Charlotte that she could take her little notebook and the sorry collection of crayons we had on hand (blue, yellow, orange and grey) and do a study of her favorite pieces.  She was so excited!   The others enjoyed the wide open spaces and graphic nature of both the art and the building's architecture!   Afterwards, we grabbed an aperol spritz and snack at a local sidewalk cafe then hopped in a cab to make our 7:30 dinner rez.  We're finally getting the hang of this!