Exploring Rome in the Rain

   After a much-needed three-hour nap, we hop on a bus across the street from our apartment and take a short ride to St. Peter’s Basilica and The Vatican. I wouldn’t call what is falling from the sky rain, more like a drizzle. Our trusty umbrellas provide all the protection we need and discover that a little bit of water will not detour thousands of people from all over the world to visit this particular spot on the planet. It is awesome.

Nice rest and snack after a walk in the rain

            After strolling down several streets looking for a nice place to rest, snack, and get some water, we come upon “Tavola Calda” a typical neighborhood hangout for such things. “Agua con gas,” brings us a huge bottle of sparkling water that refreshes, and this along with a couple of pastries makes for an authentic experience. The highlight of the evening is, however, our dinner at our favorite restaurant (one block from St. Peter’s) “Trattoria Ciao.” Moreover the same waitress that served the 4m’s and us in May of 2012 waited on our table. And yes, believe me, she did remember us (well, who couldn’t given my fascination then using a translating Italian device with which to communicate with her). At any rate, she posed for a picture; what fun!

Dinner at our favorite place- same waitress as a year ago

            Returning to our apartment there was no way we would go to bed without first having some great Italian gelato (ice cream). The store we liked so much previously was still in business so we made a visit there – up the street only a few blocks distant. I had my favorite pistachio while Debbie had lemon and strawberry. I’m not sure if it was my Gnocchi con Ragu, or Debbie’s Lasagna, Jet Lag, or perhaps the gelato, but when we finally got back to our apartment we were crashing once again. We are hitting the hay early. Tomorrow we will welcome our fellow travelers; at least we will be rested.

Exploring St Peters Square at night

Gelato tops of our night!