Roma: Day 1

We arrived in Rome 30 minutes early, but our driver awaited us, complete with “SIMPSON” sign.  The journey into town went well, until we got into the one-way system around where our apartment was located. The streets were narrow, very narrow, and scary enough in the dark going the right way down them.  Reversing slalom-style past cards parked on both sides of a street that was never designed for cars at all was a white-knuckle ride!   We made it though, and found ourselves in a very commodious apartment. This is the view from the living room window.

 

We all slept well and were awakened to the sound of church bells.  We did some walking this morning to visit a market that’s only open on a Sunday.

 

Then it was a walk along the banks of the Tiber, back to the apartment, where we dropped G'pa off for a siesta.

Jim and I then visited the Jewish Ghetto, before finding a supermarket that was open on a Sunday - Spar.  The Ghetto was fascinating, because right there in the middle was the remains of the arch of a structure that predates the Colosseum, and was built by the Emperor Augustus for his sister Octavia.

 
We ate tonight in a restaurant recommended by Fodor's (which has never let us down on either side of the Atlantic!).  YUM!

Tomorrow we'll be visiting the Colosseum and Capital Hill.  Watch out for the pics tomorrow.