Back in Rome, June 4

I am just posting the remaining entries now (June 12). I have always blogged our trips in the evening after dinner, when everyone used to settle down after a long day of exploring. But now that Sarah and Sam are adults, we've taken to eating and staying out late (When in Rome....), and by the time we get back, I don't have the energy to write and find photos on everybody's phones. So the rest of the trip's posts are to the best of my recollection (when I can recollect at all!)

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We got a train from Civitavecchia to Trastavere (district in Rome where our second rental is located). Lots of confusion and very crowded train. 

Had to hop a city bus with a lot of stressed people worried about getting to the airport. But we made it!

We walked 20 minutes to the rental,

since we had plenty of time and it was perfect weather. Got in the apartment (a small elevator "lift" made it a lot easier to go up 5 floors!) and got settled in. This place is a little smaller than the first, and we're not really happy with it, but we are right in the middle of the entertainment and restaurant zone, and very close to the Vatican, and just an easy walk back to the Pantheon and Colosseum (Thursday). Plus there are murals with the Simpsons!

We walked north a few blocks and had a lovely meal (Italian food AGAIN) at a place called Tonarella. Roman food was delicious and plentiful.

Wandering after that, we found Piazza San Piedro and another old and historic square and church.

Eventually we got all the way to the Vatican, just to see the outside, since our visit tickets aren't until Wednesday.

Took a different way back, climbing up one of the "7 Hills" and unexpectedly finding commanding views of the city from a little park. What a treat!

Headed back to the apartment for a rest. Had another great dinner, just steps from the apartment at The Black Rose restaurant late (9pm). We are finding that all the restaurants seem to offer the same food items, so we each alternate our choices (pasta one time, salad the next, then a meat dish), so as to have a variety. Portions are so big there is always enough to share.

After dinner we walked towards the party zone, which was just filling up with mostly 20ish revelers. Restaurants take in their tables and it seems it can get rowdy and loud in this district starting about 11pm. We had some delicious cannoli at a place recommended by our dinner waitress (she works there in the mornings) and then went home to bed. 

Vatican tour tomorrow, and, I'm guessing, more great Italian food. Ciao!