Internet has not been the most accessible the last few days, and right now we are in an internet cafe instead of on Austin's mini, so stay tuned for posts on Padova, Venezia, and Rome with pictures coming up when we have wifi. We are in Rome today and tomorrow, and today we were able to see the Pantheon, Colloseum, Palatine hill, and the Roman Forum, all ancient ruins of Rome. There was quite a bit of walking involved in these sights, but it was worth it to see so many HUMUNGOUS buildings. It is hard to fathom how they did it back then without cranes and other pieces of modern construction equipment. Tomorrow, we are spending the day at the Vatican to see St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican museums, Sistine chapel, etc. Then we are taking our 2nd night train to Palermo. Yay for night trains!
Since we don't have access to our pictures, I'll stop with Rome there, and turn attention to other subjects both very important to me: food and bathrooms. Traveling in the manner we are at 6 months pregnant is not the easiest, but as long as I am fed, watered, and bathroomed everything goes ok. For food, we have been rotating through eating pizzas, paninis, food from grocery stores, and going to restaurants. Sometimes going to the grocery store to get a variety of foods including fruits and vegetables is better and allows us to get snacks and dessert as well as opposed to sitting down to a meal. We have been able to eat pizza on the edge of the water in Venice, overlooking the ruins in Rome, and looking out onto Lake Como. I think in the long run this is much better than being stuck in a restaurant. Today we went to Campo dei Fiori, which is an outdoor market that goes on every morning of the week. We bought a pear, strawberries and cherries and ate them for breakfast. This is how we make up for eating pizza for at least 1-2 meals every 2 days. Austin has introduced me to many of his favorite foods, including cookies that taste like Nutella, soda that has sugar as its 2nd ingredient but is still not very sweet, and of course, prosciutto and scamorza cheese. Most of these were actually pretty yummy too! We have also sampled gelato from the grocery store and actual gelateries, trying to avoid the overpriced stuff right by the main tourist sites.
Now bathrooms. Italy does not believe in providing all of the amenities in bathrooms in America. Some toilets are exactly like the ones in airports in America: seat covers, soap, and paper towels. Only one bathroom I have been in so far had seat covers, and about half do not even have a toilet seat. At a train station, I had to squat and go in a little hole in the ground. Needless to say, when I find a nice bathroom, especially at a museum or somewhere we are going to be for awhile, I try to go as many times as possible so as to avoid the pay toilets (most commonly at really popular tourist sites and train stations/airports) and the bad toilets. Probably much more than you wanted to know about toilets, but it is a big deal to me right now.
Since we don't have access to our pictures, I'll stop with Rome there, and turn attention to other subjects both very important to me: food and bathrooms. Traveling in the manner we are at 6 months pregnant is not the easiest, but as long as I am fed, watered, and bathroomed everything goes ok. For food, we have been rotating through eating pizzas, paninis, food from grocery stores, and going to restaurants. Sometimes going to the grocery store to get a variety of foods including fruits and vegetables is better and allows us to get snacks and dessert as well as opposed to sitting down to a meal. We have been able to eat pizza on the edge of the water in Venice, overlooking the ruins in Rome, and looking out onto Lake Como. I think in the long run this is much better than being stuck in a restaurant. Today we went to Campo dei Fiori, which is an outdoor market that goes on every morning of the week. We bought a pear, strawberries and cherries and ate them for breakfast. This is how we make up for eating pizza for at least 1-2 meals every 2 days. Austin has introduced me to many of his favorite foods, including cookies that taste like Nutella, soda that has sugar as its 2nd ingredient but is still not very sweet, and of course, prosciutto and scamorza cheese. Most of these were actually pretty yummy too! We have also sampled gelato from the grocery store and actual gelateries, trying to avoid the overpriced stuff right by the main tourist sites.
Now bathrooms. Italy does not believe in providing all of the amenities in bathrooms in America. Some toilets are exactly like the ones in airports in America: seat covers, soap, and paper towels. Only one bathroom I have been in so far had seat covers, and about half do not even have a toilet seat. At a train station, I had to squat and go in a little hole in the ground. Needless to say, when I find a nice bathroom, especially at a museum or somewhere we are going to be for awhile, I try to go as many times as possible so as to avoid the pay toilets (most commonly at really popular tourist sites and train stations/airports) and the bad toilets. Probably much more than you wanted to know about toilets, but it is a big deal to me right now.
Squatting is good prep for delivering a baby, so love those squat toilets while you can! ;) I do hate paying for the potty though!
ReplyDeleteFun stuff:) Wow - squatting to a hole in the ground seems a bit brutal. Can not wait to see photos on Rome and again feel pretty jazzed to ready the "next chapter"!
ReplyDeleteSounds like so much fun! Trains and pizza and all that yummy fruit! I love that you guys are traveling with just your backpacks. Fabulous! I'm so glad you're able to find at least SOME toilets that are free and decent...I think everywhere outside of the U.S. they have just learned to hold their pee for unbelievable amounts of time (Russia was the same way with available toilets and holes in the ground...do you ever pay for the toilet AND toilet paper?? lol) It sounds like you're really enjoying the trip! Can't for pictures!
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