I took so many pictures this morning...and I'm not even going to apologize. Ostia was awe-some! But I'm getting ahead of myself!
Chris got up early (8:45...so you know he's still adjusting ;) And went for a run along the Tiber River and through Circus Maximus (where they used to have chariot races.)
When he got back, this is what he found in his bed.
Thank goodness he was done sleeping. We woke the kids and raced to grab our free breakfast at our hotel. I can't quite explain it...we are above a restaurant, but the upstairs balcony dining is literally two steps from our hotel door. Not an experience you'd get in the U.S.! Breakfast was cappuccino and bread and ham and the biggest donuts you've ever seen, all with a view of the Colesseum.
Here are a few of our hotel..,
And the balcony dining steps from our door...
We snapped a quick pic for L (happy Birthday L!!), and headed out.
In order to get to Ostia, we successfully navigated the Metro to a train (think commuter rail, not fancy train) and a quick twenty minute trip brought us to what Rick Steves describes as a more interesting Pompeii (Zoe described it as "so cool!"). It's 70 acres and not a super popular tourist destination, so there were times we felt like we had the place to ourselves! Zack remarked that it would be the best parkour or hide and seek ever!
...that's me and Zoe down there!!
Roman water fountain
Obviously, Zoe has a tough time standing to take a picture.
Anyhow, we took bunches more pics that I'll post on Shutterfly, but it was awesome. I could have spent a LOT more time exploring. On the way back to the train, the boys spied a clay (dirt) soccer field and tried to look pitiful enough to get invited in...but no dice.
And we actually ran into some American college students who were excavating an additional site. Again, I thought it was cool!
We did a lot of walking, so this was the scene on the train on the way back...
We jumped off the train at the Piramide station to see the (bet you can guess!) Pyramid of Gaius Cestius. It was built by a guy who thought he needed a tomb this big.
Then we were off to find some lunch at Testaccio Market. We were a little late, so many of the booths were closed, but we did find Strit Fud. We ordered some chick pea fries, spaghetti omelettes, a boiled beef and arugula sandwich and some fresh pizza. All super yummy.
After lunch, a storm was threatening, so we headed back to our hotel...but saw this...
and got our first gelato of the day! Yay!!
After a quick stop at the grocery to grab some random toiletries, we're chilling in the hotel, getting our second wind. Rome has been very good to us thus far, and all of us would recommend visiting if you get the opportunity, but the scooters run this town! Seriously, Gator athletes should be sent for scooter training before they are allowed to drive in Gainesville.
All for now!
XOXO,
Benderz
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