June 26-Rome

Ella and Jim with the iPad in the Bar

Ella and Kathryn after
Pompeii

Each family is experiencing Rome in their own style.  Kathryn, Will, Christopher and Ella had a great day yesterday in Pompeii with a guide. 

Bill, Kate, Michael, Jack and Ethan explored the major sights in Rome on foot, and Jim and I just hung out recovering from our travels.

Today, June 26, the Nashville folks went off with the guide from Rome Kids Tour to the Vatican and then the ancient sights. The Sydney side of the family went to the Vatican on their own and then to the Catacombs. Each group had great and different tales to tell. Travel is always in the eye of the beholder anyway and with so many pairs of eyes there was much reporting of different things seen.

Kathryn brought Ella back to the hotel so they could continue to enjoy the great guide and Ella could do a little iPad playing and we could have some “Ella time.” We had fun with her and all the rest of the two groups had fun doing their touristing.

Michael, Jack and Ethan
ready for dinner

Cousins chat and tell jokes

Franchesco, the Bar Manager

We gathered across the street at the St. Regis Grand Hotel’s fancy restaurant Vivenito for dinner. The concierge at our hotel stopped traffic so we could cross the busy  street and arrive safely. The restaurant manage Michelle was wonderful. Perfect table in the back room, beautifully appointed with linen table runners, blue stones and white starfish was our spot for the evening. He was so kind to offer to have prepared whatever the children wanted that was not on the very gourmet menu. Jack and Ethan ate Hamburgers and French Fries. Ella had her usual pasta with Parmesan, butter, pepper and salt. Dessert was wonderful, jokes were funny, and conversation was lively with almost everyone sharing something amazing they had seen on their travels today. Perfect ending to our time in Rome!!!!!

We ended the evening with the folks from Northern California who are wine makers with whom we shared time last evening. They are funny,  enjoyed their tours  and  are heading out on a cruise tomorrow on Oceania’s  Rivera.

Franchesco, the Bar Manager, was wonderful and created a terrific place to hangout. We all got good at that. 

Kids and parents in our family have probably been pushed to their limits but each one seemed to be so enthralled with the city and its beauty and history that they enjoyed the time. So far this celebration has been exactly what we hoped it would be!  

 Not the pushed to the limit part but the family fun together!!

Off to the ship tomorrow!