The night we left Rome

Musei Capitolini

Finally! I could not wait anymore, I was glad to leave Rome, the inferno, the overwhelming heat took almost the best out of us, and other tourist around. It was easy to witness the vacation stress with other mixed factors in people’s reactions, the way they discussed publicly about which direction to go, the way a woman left her man standing saying “ I'll see you later in the hotel, I am not going with you” in a very angry voice,  or a child crying in desperation asking to be carried by the brave parents who obviously could have used a stroller.

 

I have been to Rome several times and  I know is vast, rich,  beautiful and there is a lot to do that I have not seen yet, but it is crowded!   I decided to come here because Aleksander had it on his wish list. I hope that this short visit of  highlights leaves Aleksnader with a good impression for him to return alone, for I do prefer Paris if I am going to get to know a capital well.  

Using public transport was out of the question, being in the metro stations and in Termini was like being in tank full of sharks ready to bite, pickpockets everywhere, we witnessed one event with violence, enough to put us on guard, enough to make Aleksnader skeptic, enough to take a few taxis.

But we tried as best as we could to live as budget travelers, seeing the things Aleksander wanted to see, and the things his mother wanted to see (churches) and we walked long walks, this time we avoided the hop on – hop off and we used our backpacker legs.  We used the budget for a ride on a bicycle taxi that Aleksnader had been asking since we started our holiday. The happiest smiles the boy gave me once I said let’s take one.

We took an afternoon in Trastevere and enjoyed the change of scenere and pace very much. If there should be a next time I will stay away from the tourist area and stay in an area like this.

Our last day was spent waiting for our night train counting the minutes for our departure, we met my cousin Francisco who is working in the University of Rome with something related to his field of physics and mathematics, and quantum physics. He has been in Rome for one year and he hopes  to finish his work in one more year. He is one of the “babies” of the Nettel family that I am so fond of. Francsico met us at Termini, we had coffee and a long chat catching up, we said goodbye to each other, but he returned again and surprised us to say goodbye and to make sure we came safely to our train. I was glad someone carried my backpack.

Our Airbnb accommodation was interesting, an old cistern, converted into an artistic basement with several private rooms with bathroom, spotless, nicely decorated, convenient in term of location but the only issue was the lack of windows. More than two nights I could not have coped. The host Domenico was really good, friendly, and responsive. The Airbnb provided daily cleaning. I noticed that the price of the accommodation today had increase to the double I paid. Artist studio in the center of Rome

Musei Palazzo Massimo

Now we have left Rome, my son has enjoyed very much climbing the bunk bed of our little cabin place in the train, he has opened and close all the compartments and I have not seen him so happy and engaged with something since we started this holiday. As for me, I welcomed the silence and privacy of our compartment if only for a night.

Tomorrow we will wake up in Vienna, the land where my ancestors lived after they moved from Bohemia. There will be family stories to tell.

From the train Rome – Vienna 15.07.15

From Vienna, waiting for our Airbnb chck in. 16.07.15