Drove into Rome on Salaria, all the way to Corso Italia, then into the walled city to Via Ludovisa. Turned in the rental car (car pic is for Rodney) and began to guess how to walk to our apartment on Campo di Fioria. Googles direction for walking assume you have your boyscout compass with you and that you count paces and minutes from point to point. We were quickly disoriented but asked, “ Dove’ il Campo di Fiori”, a couple of times and off we went. I had a general sense of direction and got us well past the Pantheon, but still were unsure of how far away still we had to go. The streets were jammed with people who walk looking at their feet so they won’t have to make eye contact or give any room on the side walk. So with our red suitcases we plowed into them like it was bumper cars at the county fair…..two can play the game of looking at your feet and walking.

About 35 minutes of walking and sweating and neither of us sure of what next, we hailed a cab and rode the next 50 feet ( who knew!) to Via Del Gubanari where our contact, (Marco) was waiting at the door. Whoa what a crib it is too. Just around the corner a lovely bakery and grocery store, so we did a little stock up for the next coupla days and off we went exploring, staying out till 10 pm… are you shocked!? Yes, Ariel we are going wild, .

About 11 pm it seemed to have gotten quiet on the street 4 stories below and I thought, “well this is going to be a pleasant place to sleep“………….About midnight the street filled up with excited young Italians walking to and from the Campo and who knows where else, laughing and talking loudly and most of the time I thought they were right outside on our 4th story window sill. This went on until about 4 or 5 AM. Tonight I’m going down on the street in my house robe and give those young folk a tongue lashing about getting proper rest on school nights.