What a week it’s been. We were busy, busy every day and up late drinking espresso and sambucca in the Campo. Angela left yesterday and I’m waiting for a phone call from Kim and Mike to meet them at the Termini. So I have some time to write. I feel like I haven’t talked to you all in a long while and I have to say I’m getting a little home sick.
Haven’t they invented those machines yet where you get transported from here to there in a heartbeat? No, too bad, because I’d love to stop by for a visit. Truth be told though, I think the mozzarella lady would miss me. We’ve been meeting at least three times a week.

Last weekend we went to San Giovanni In Laterano. Built in 318 it is the first church in Rome. It was the pope’s home until 1870 and still is his as the bishop of Rome. I’m learning a lot of Rome’s history. It can’t be helped it’s visible everywhere you go.
Don’t ask me what’s going on here today. I watch the news but don’t understand a thing, they insist on speaking Italian. Is that rich guy still the president?

We finally got to the beach without rain. We even packed a lunch and rented chairs. I put my toes into the water. Angela went in all the way. She never was a girl happy with half measures. It’s all or nothing at all.
What do you think of those Speedos? Attractive, no?



Tuesday we went to Tivoli. We wanted to see Hadrian’s Villa and the Villa d’Este. All the guidebooks say it is difficult to get to Hadrian’s Villa, but it’s not. All you need are better directions and our bus driver. After asking about 4 people we found the bus stop in Tivoli that would take us to Hadrian’s. The bus left us steps from the gate of the villa complex. We asked the bus driver to help us and we think he changed his route to leave us near the site. When we took that bus back to Rome later that day it went a different way. Isn’t that a great story? I thought so.



Going back to Tivoli from Hadrian’s was a little dicey. See the bus coming down the street? That’s the whole town and the tabbachi was closed and we didn’t have a ticket and some women we asked for help thought she had some unused tickets she would be happy to sell us. What a doll, right? And then her chubby hubby came outside and started yelling at her and she rolled her eyes and answered him. This is what they said,
Him, “what the hell are you doing? It’s late, where’s my dinner?”
Her, “Do you want these two stupid American women to stand out here all night because they didn’t have bus tickets? What are you an animal?”
Him, “Well if they’re too stupid to remember to buy tickets it’s not my fault. Let them walk back to Tivoli. What about my supper?”
Her, “My mother told me not to marry you. I think maybe she was right. What if I didn’t come in and make your dinner, what would you do starve to death?”
Him, “Your mother was a big mouth, you know that? I never liked her anyway and no I wouldn’t starve to death. My momma would always have a nice bowl of macaroni waiting for me.”




She turned her back on him and he walked inside. “Stupido,” she said quietly and I don’t know if she meant him or us but I’m putting my money on him.
The bus did come and our tickets were good after all. (Maybe she did mean us,)



Some photos from the Viillas.

Every week we have to go to the launderia and have this jerky guy put our laundry in the machines and charge us 3 times what we should pay, but half the price of the regular laundry. Since we have to go there every week I thought you should have a chance to see the place.