Rome redux

After Malta we spent several more days in Rome, where we saw more of all the relatives. Eddie charmed them all by showing off his animal noises. He's beginning to learn the names of animals in Italian, too. Eddie spent the days with Nonno at playgrounds and eating gelato while his parents visited the Vatican museums one day, and the Roman forum, Colosseum, and Palatine Hill the next. Who got the better deal?

Eddie did come with us into St. Peter's cathedral. He thought it was pretty impressive. Then he went with Nonno while we went to the museums. They had gone to a bar to get lunch (in Italy, this is not as irresponsible as it sounds) when it started pouring! They were sitting outside under an umbrella, and lots of people crowded in to escape the rain. Everybody watched Eddie eating, and he put on a show of saying "mmmm" and smiling and drilling his cheek. Everyone applauded and laughed. When it stopped raining, everyone waved "ciao" and Eddie waved back!

Hey Eddie, it's hard to make out but I think there might be a Colosseum over there

The next day, Eddie visited a playground on top of Nero's palace, the Domus Aurea, while we visited the Forum and Colosseum. Thanks to the meddling of those no-good parents, he had fruit for a snack this time, instead of gelato (at least, that's what was reported to us...) While we went for a quick look at the Palatine Hill, he revisited the Circus Maximus, where he got to see a chariot race take place—but with bicycles instead of horses! He brought some of the stones from the gravel on the track away with him, and left them on the seat of the car.

The next day, it was time to say Ciao to everyone—especially Baby (ie Lorenzo)—as we hit the Via Flaminia for Florence.