The Eternal City Indeed

  As a bit of a Happy Father's Day to my dearest Dad, I decided to go on a bit about Rome, one of his favorite cities... and a place I visited for the first time earlier this year.
  Johnny and I had been put off by the "big city" aspect of Rome, so we had steered clear on previous visits to Italy. Mom and Dad had told us over and over again that we needed to go, what with all there is to see in the way of Art and History. Their first trip to Italy was a trip to Rome, in late February...well, that's when we would be heading over to Umbria, so why not add a few extra days and check out Rome a bit off season?
  I did my VRBO research, and snagged a great little apartment in the Testaccio district, just south of the main attractions and close to the Tiber River. Sweet. We stayed 5 nights, which gave us 4 full days to explore, and explore we did. Of course 4 days isn't even close to enough time to see everything, but our motto is "we can always come back". Even still, day 1 was pretty crazy. Johnny got us up and out at the crack of dawn, and like Roman Gladiators we fought the good fight:
  Boarium Forum, Circus Maximus, Palatine Hill, Roman Forum, Arch of Titus, Colosseum, Pantheon, Vittorio Emmanuel Monument, Via Giulia for dinner, and at midnight or so... why not hoof it over to the Trevi Fountain, to end the day? I now refer to this day as "The Forced March". Seriously, it was a day I will never forget...just amazing.

Roman Forum with the Colosseum in the background. See how clear it was?

Inside the Colosseum. There were other people, for sure, but we never had to wait in any lines...

Sunset Day 1 in Rome. Amazing light.

We are on top of the Vittorio Emmanuel Monument for sunset.
Beautiful? Yes. Freaking cold? You have no idea. Worth it..You Bet!!

  Please don't try this at home... especially with jetlag, in near freezing temperatures. I must say, we had the city to ourselves, and a few others... it was wicked cold, but sunny and amazingly clear, and not windy. In the next few days we took in all of the Vatican (wait in line? Maybe 15 minutes...), Trasrevere,  Testaccio Open Market,  MACRO in Testaccio(a cool new contemporary museum),  Piazza Fiori, and Piazza Navona, Pallazzo Doria Pamphilj, and the Juniculum Gardens...WHEW.

Artichokes in the Testaccio Market. Roman style artichokes are most delightful.

It's all about the presentation..talk about Art!

Pizza Bianca. A flat bread we fell in love with. Oily, salty, crunchy, and sooo simple.

Gorgeous clouds over Piazza Navona. 

   Really, even just walking around our little neighborhood was something special. I remember when my folks got back from that first trip to Rome. Dad kept saying how "everywhere you look, you see art". Well, Dad wasn't kidding. I mean, we knew it would be great, but it was beyond anything we could have imagined. I really think part of our enjoyment was due to being there without the crowds. If you can take the weather risk, go in late February... but take a heavy coat. Big plus: flights are way less,
 and you can get a good deal on an apartment.
  Dad, Mom.... I only wish we were sitting in Piazza Navona enjoying negronis or vino bianco, right now!! Thanks for inspiring us to take on Rome.