Day three in Rome

July 1, 2009: How strange it was this morning to go down stairs and not see the other members of our group. Instead there was another Passports group, from California. Amongst them I found Melissa.

Our guide for the day was Manuela. She escorted us to Ostia Antica by Metro and train. The ride to the ancient coastal city took about 30 or so minutes. For much of the trip we had the train pretty much to ourselves. We got an early start to try and beat the heat. The excavation site of the ancient city was fairly well preserved considering that it is over two thousand years old. Hadrian did some restorations during the second century AD. Other than that much of the city is as it has always been. Amazing mosaics, marble columns, amphitheaters, government buildings line the remains of the ancient road. We strolled under a canopy of trees and enjoyed a restful tour…until the heat decided to set in. There is nothing worse than having sweat run into your eyes, down the spine of your back in to unmentionable places!

A hop back on the train to the beach and lunch rounded out our Ostia visit. Melissa took off her shoes and ran down to the beach. Yes she ran…the sand was HOT…was that steam I saw when she reached the water? Melissa has now waded in the Mediterranean Sea…yippee! I knew that sand would be hot and decided not to part-take in the adventure to the water…been there…done that. My feet were so swollen from the heat and cobble stones I was also afraid I might not be able to get my shoes back on!

Back to the city and to Piazza Navona. HOT! HOT! HOT! Come to find out that Europe is experiencing a heat wave. YEP, I can attest to that. CNN this evening said that the temperatures are about 10 degrees higher than normal. They advise to stay inside…can’t tour a city from inside! The Piazza was pretty empty. Again too hot for many of the street performers and artists. We finished up our shopping and headed home. Good thing we did because a huge thunderstorm was blowing in. I would have to have been caught in that!

An early dinner of pizza and paninis, a shower and time to pack for our trip home. We will be picked up early in the morning so it will be an early morning as well.

What a wonderful trip and experience we have had! I’ll take Melissa anywhere, she is such a great traveler! I can only hope if I organize another trip that the participants will be as cooperative and fun as she!

Arriverderchi Roma…hello USA.