Last Day in Rome

August 17, 2022

Fascinated with the spray paint artist

Last day in Rome

It’s going to be a long walk in the heat from the Roman Forum to our cool lofty room so the mist spraying over relaxed diners at the restaurant across the road is too alluring. Plus we hardly have a choice as the host waves his menus, wipes his sweaty brow and shows us a shady table squeezed between the others beneath the umbrellas. We plop down and order pasta wine and salad. I’m a bit nervous about the pasta but they assure me the gf pasta is cooked in separate water. As we wait for the bill we hear orchestral music blaring across the road and an elderly taxi driver enthusiastically singing and waving his arms to the music, he's still at it ten minutes later as we head down the side street in the direction of home.

Near home we stop for refreshments I manage to bump the pot plant which tumbles onto the cobbles with a crack. Across the lane is a gelataria with a long line, people enter and reappear with fantastic looking ice creams, the kids watch every single one pass by. But today we double back through Piazza Navona to Grom where everything is gf. Yay Italy.

Our second full day in Rome we head over the Tiber to the Vatican City, the smallest city in the world. I’ve been busy catching up on the blog this morning so I hurry out the door to keep up with the others. It’s still quiet out and the coffee shops are slowly settling up their chairs in the wide avenue leading to St Peters Basilica. I suddenly remember I’m supposed to be modestly dressed but my shoulders are out and so are my knees. I send Ben off to appreciate the frescoes with the girls and head to McDonald’s to charge my phone, my coffee is a sludge of cold soya milk and coffee but it’s somehow satisfying. Ben and the girls arrive and bring trays of food, Ben even orders me a gluten free cheeseburger, so impressed.

After hiding from the heat of the day we unlock the double doors and immerge to one dark cloud looming over the city. Thunderstorms are brewing. We head over to a smaller Piazza where there is a produce market. On the way we hear a man hollering and yelling, the kids are terrified and to be safe we cross the road and hurry past. As we enter the square we see the tables being disassembled and produce being packed away, we've just missed the market. So Ben googles a lolly store and maybe this is a set up because there’s one just over the next street. It’s a fabulously tiny store and after a good look around the lady helps us choose some traditional Italian lollies. Most of them are gluten free which is amazing for me.

It’s too early for Italians to be eating dinner so we are able to get a table at one of the restaurants that usually has a line. I get an aperol spritz which is a very popular drink here. It has a bright orange look to it and tastes slightly bitter. We order a meat and cheese plate which ends up being dinner. The waiter is very Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Carribean , a lot silly, he’s making faces at the kids and jiving around with lots of energy. He calls "high five:" to April then just before their hands meet he hollers ‘cheekin’ and makes a beak with his fingers. Then after we’ve order he calls ‘high five’ to Alila and again moments before their hands clap he wiggles his fingers and yells "jellyfeesh" as he and his swimming jellyfish fingers dash off to the kitchen.

The girls finally get their beautiful gelato from the cool gelato store after an hour or so spent watching the entertainment in the Piazza Navoni. The girls love watching the spray paint artist, we find Alila’s mime and the hoop man is back. Heading home we decide to stop by a place under our window for a quick aperitif. We’re sipping our lemoncello when suddenly the wind whips up, splodges of rain plop down and a huge flash of lightening lights up the sky. Thunder booms overhead and the kids cower in their seats. We sit a moment but as the rain intensifies and more thunder and lightening crash we throw some money on the table and head home. we enter the double doors and find rain pattering through the open roof into the courtyard at the end of the hallway. We fall asleep to the sound of rain on the ancient tile roof.

I ask the kids their best moments in Rom: Alila says she got her first Fanta and April loved the spaghetti bolognaise, which is funny because she didn't even eat it. Glad to know we bought then to the other side of the world for a Fanta. We all loved wandering the streets around Piazza Navoni, the energy of the people and the beautiful climate in the evening. I loved the gluten free options.

Ben rolls up the narrow street in the Panda and I’m hoping there’s enough room for all of us and our bags. We're heading for the hills.