When in Rome, field trip continued

We rode the bullet train from Florence to Rome, which now takes only an hour and a half. Our long list of activities in Rome included the Colosseum, Palatine Hill and the Forum, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museum, the Spanish Steps (for a scenic gelato picnic), the Church of San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane, the Capitoleum Museum, and assorted cafes.  On our last day, there was a local transport strike (subway and buses), so we also enjoyed some harrowing taxi rides.  I couldn't decide whether it was safer to be in the taxi or safer to be walking (among all the taxis and other vehicles).  Anyway, we survived Rome and appreciated the art and antiquities.

Highlights for the three-year-old set included the fountains, the building with the hole in the ceiling (the Pantheon), the building with no corners (San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane), going inside the big dome (St. Peter's), and the guys doing a "finger kiss" on the ceiling (you can guess this one).  I'm a little worried that the kid is going to paint all over our walls and ceiling when we get home, though his favorite artwork still seems to be statues, and his personal favorite medium is the magna doodle. And bless his little heart, he (mostly patiently) waited in long lines, tolerated crowds, was quiet in the cathedrals, and otherwise allowed his mother to see all the things on the list.

Rome was a little tiring (crowds, traffic, early mornings to get places), and I notice that I don't have as many pictures from there as I might have liked.  I think I was too busy hanging on to a kid in one hand and all our stuff in the other to get a hand free for the camera.