Our American Gothic impression

Somehow, on the way to Missouri, Laura managed to be drugged into sleeping in the car for the first time since she was a toddler and get stung by a wasp. We also saw an Easter island head statue, said hi! to Radar O'Reilly in Ottumwa, MO and stopped at the American Gothic museum. Never boring!

Vacationing to recover from our vacation

Recuperating from Rome at the Lake of the Ozarks. Can't wait to get on/in that water!

Complete Rome experience

On our way to the Jewish ghetto today, I was pickpocketed. Little jerk on a very crowded bus unzipped my purse and took my wallet. We remembered him pushing off the bus quickly at a stop, but didn’t realize till down the road what happened. Pretty crappy way to end the trip, but all we lost was a bit of cash and pride.

Ostia Antica

Thursday, we waffled about going out to Ostia again, but we're sooooo glad we did. This was something Laura and I had been excited about since the very beginning of our trip planning. The guide books say its like Pompeii without the bodies and not quite as well preserved, but only 30 minutes from Rome instead of 3 hours. It turned out to be perfect for us, really interesting and a very free space for the kids to explore and move.

Ostia Antica is the ruins of a town that was abandoned after the Tiber river changed course. We saw ruins from 400 BC - 700 AD.

This was a restaurant, so Adam is taking Laura's order.

I don't know why they are making mustaches, but they are. 

There's still marble attached to this one.

Those are dentils on the overhang behind me. (using my Architecture 101 afterall!)

The wildflowers were in bloom too. So beautiful! We also had lunch under an Umbrella Pine, which is now my favorite tree. 

Inside St Peters

It wasn't possible to catch the magnificence of St Peter's in a picture. The enormity was more than I could really understand. I was blown away. 

We went down underground to the Tombs of the Popes, which was amazing. Very clean, white, not creepy, very solemn. 

We liked that we knew this bronze was taken from the Pantheon.

the Top of St Peter's

The climb was most definitely worth it! Gorgeous view, nice breeze, not even too scary. We could see all of Rome and pick out all the places we had already been. The Vatican gardens are in good view and very sculpted, manicured gardens.

A big hit with us all.

Down was a repeat of up without the heavy breathing.

The Vatican Museums

After spending the morning with the Pope, we headed over to the Vatican Museums. When they give you a chance to buy tickets to anything online, DO IT! We sailed past a huge line and walked right it. I had ordered kid friendly and adult audio tours for each of us. Adam hated it all from the beginning and the kid tours were too young for Laura. We struggled all the way through once, then had pizza at the Vatican cafeteria. Jim took Adam home at that point and Laura and I walked the WHOLE THING A SECOND TIME. Its a long way the first time, and painful the 2nd. But we enjoyed using the adult guides on a few things and were able to do a little more wandering this time. We had a good time, but our feet hurt like crazy.

Cool helix staircase at the exit

A huge urn we both liked

il Papa for real

Holy Rusted Metal, Pope Francis!

Adam's pic with Pope Francis

Larua's pic with Pope Francis

In case you missed him in the earlier pictures, he's the white blob in the middle of this picture. This is as close as we got. He drove around his cart kissing babies and waving for a while. Then went up to the stage and gave a speech. 

Breakfast

This is where we get to have breakfast every morning. I don't know what I did to be so lucky, but I'm sure glad I did it.

Pantheon

The Pantheon did not disappoint! It's so imposing and incredible. 

Raphael's tomb

Laura in the spotlight

Osteria di Mario

Lunch after the Colosseum was recommended by good ole Rick Steves. We were looking for a place near the Pantheon because we hadn't gotten to look inside last time we came by. To get here, we had an adventure with a bus that never showed up and a ride on a surprise bus that luckily took us to just the right place. You just never know in Rome!

Mario's was in this hidden little square. There was a tiny food and flower market just behind and a water fountain to fill our bottles. Lovely!

This guy never eats spaghetti!

And of course, she loved it too.