Pure Veg day

This morning our plan was to head to the town of Cerveteri about an hour north west of Rome to tour the Etruscan site and Necropolis there.  We got to the station and bought our tickets, but by the time we found our way to the departure platform, both of us admitted to just really wanting not to do anything today.  Just the short amount of walking we had done was getting Bill's hips acting up and the prospect of walking over 25 acres of uneven ground did not feel like it was going to be a lot of fun.  Also he was feeling a little under the weather.  I had to admit that I too was not feeling at the top of my game.  I think I was still feeling the effects of the sun stroke from Tuesday.  Our train ticket is good for a couple of months so we will head out there another day.  We just turned around, went back to the apartment and rested the rest of the day, alternately napping and hanging out the window watching Rome life go on underneath our window.  It is nice to have the luxury of being able to have the option of changing our plans without it having a great impact.

Needless to say , no pictures today.

Plans to go to the city island of Venice scuttled

Well, today we had planned to go to Venice for a couple of days.  I was really looking forward to seeing it, the island of Murano where they do lots of glass work and the island of Burano where beautiful lacework has been done for centuries.  But after several days of waiting for replies, they finally came too late to leave today, and the prices were just too high for us - $250 to $280 a night.  So we are just taking a rest day. 

And a good thing too.  After our long day of hiking the cobbled streets yesterday we are both feeling the after effects of it.  I think I got a bit of sunstroke as well.  It was one of those sneaky overcast days when you don't realize how much sun you are getting.  Besides, it is the only explanation I have for feeling quite tipsy last evening after our usual shared 3/4 liter of wine with supper.  I was snapped!!!   At one point when I went to the biffy during the night, I did one of those trips where you bounce of the walls almost without touching them (....stop your snickering......I know you've been there and know exactly what I am talking about),  then when I got a straight run into the bathroom, my body was doing one of those forward leans where your feet try to pick up speed to catch up with your head and you only succeed in propelling yourself faster and faster headlong into what ever happens to be ahead (.....stop it.....you're going to pee yourself.......) . 

After yesterday's bundle of pictures, aren't you glad there aren't any today!!!

Off to see the sea - well actually the ancient seaport of Ostia

Today we decided to get out of the city and go see the ruins of the ancient seaport for Rome, Ostia. It is about 25miles west of Rome, towards the Mediterranean. Mention has been found of a community existing here since the 7th century BC, but actual evidence of human habitation has been found dating back to the 3rd century BC. It is felt that with deeper excavation evidence of earlier habitation may be found. By the 4th and 5th century AD, the Roman Empire was in decline, the area had been sacked by the Visigoths, Vandals and Goths and was no longer the great port of Rome that it had been. Over the centuries the river silted up, changed direction and Ostia is now 5 km from the sea shore.

As with many communities of it's age, there have been many ages of building at the site with newer buildings been built directly on top of older buildings without necessarily demolishing the older structure. This was a huge community in it's time with over 60,000 people living and working there. The site stretches for about 2km along what have been the route of the Tiber River at the time and inland about .5km. We spent close to 5 1/2hrs wandering back and forth throughout the site being drawn down little alleyways and into structures. It was relatively peaceful as it is somewhat out in the country. The sun was shinning, a light breeze was blowing, the air was fresh and filled with the smell of spring flowers, fresh grass and the sound of birds. There were a lot of tourists there (had to be 10 big tour buses in the parking lot) and school groups as it is still culture month in Italy. Even though there were many people it was not crowded.

Here are some pics from our day in the country.

 Finally a picture of a camera shy little gecko/salamander

Mosaic from a Roman Bath/Spa

                     

                                               Poppies growing wild among the ruins

                                                  two pictures from the necropolis

                                                                      the ruins cat

                     

Millstones of various types

                          the biggest earthworm I have ever seen

                                                             A visitor to the latrina

Stocking the arsenal

Today we went out to stock our arsenal of products to help Bill ward off the 6 and 8 legged visitors that he is apt to attract as we tour.  They find him so attractive and he always has a strong reaction to them.  He did some internet searching and found that mosquitos and black flies are a problem here.  They even have a mosquito called a Tiger Mosquito.  It can cause a tropical disease whose name is too difficult to spell which can cause high fevers (40 +) and excruciating joint pain which can last for some time.  Since we are planning to visit Venice for a couple of days he has decided he better go prepared as well as start wearing it here to prevent any further problems.

His other little visitors, whatever they were, seem to be under control now, and so they should be - the lotion/shampoo they gave us smells suspiciously of turpentine, which I am sure will kill just about anything.

The rest of the day was just spent wandering around, people watching and discovering little alleyways, places where little icons are built into walls and people leave flowers, candles and little notes (prayers I suspect) and peering into little shops that on the outside look the same but on the inside are very different and unique in their own way.

Only a few pictures from today including one of three ladies having lunch

Either a very fancy balcony drape or it's laundry day for the drapery

Icon in a wall niche

April 25 - Italian Liberation Day

Today Italians celebrate the 65th anniversary of their liberation from the fascist regime by the Allied Forces in WW II.  Unfortunately we did not find out about this until we were returning from doing our laundry.  We could hear helicopters circling overhead while we were doing the laundry and thought something might be up.  Then when we went out on to the main street we could see police officers controlling traffic and some lanes were blocked.  A few blocks up I could see that there was a parade going by.  Too bad we missed it, it probably was quite colorful.

There were a lot of people out and about today, I assume because of this holiday, as well as the fact that we have had 2 days of rain that kept people in and it is Sunday, a great family day any week in Italian family life.  It was sunny and warm, about 23 with a light breeze.  It was also the last day that entry to museums was free, so people had their last chance to take advantage of that offer.  We went out after our chores were done and walked along the Tiber River for awhile.  The buses were very crowded when we came home at 7 which was unusual.  Generally we have only found them really busy between about 8:30 and 10 in the morning and 3:30 and 5 in the evening.  We were both glad to get home and are having a quiet, early evening in our Rome home tonight.

Here are some pics taken along the Tiber River and of people enjoying the day