Andiamo a Rome

​Maybe it’s the oppressive heat. Maybe it’s the lack of sleep. Maybe it was the limoncello on an empty stomach. Whatever it is, I barely know what day it is, the time, or my name. 

But we made it to Rome! This is the courtyard of our AirB&B building. It’s so European and so pretty.

And this is one of the bedrooms. 

Each room has a mural of a famous painting.

I booked the apartment for early access, so as soon as we landed, we checked into our place. We agreed we would nap for only two hours, and no surprise, we all awoke to alarms in deep REM sleep. But we are refreshed, out of our travel clothes, and have the train app figured out; we are ready to conquer the day. 

We had reservations for a guided tour of Palatine Hill, The Forum, and The Colosseum. Without the guide, we would have had no idea what we were looking at, but almost three hours in the sun listening to a history lesson was a lot when you are tired, hungry, and more tired. And the crowds. I know four people in Italy right now. Did everyone come here for vacation this year?

It’s been 25 years since I was in Rome, but I’m looking at it like I have never seen it. A plus to getting old maybe. However, Palatine Hill was not seen on our last trip. The views from here are the best of the best. 

I don’t remember The Forum, the ancient market area. But again without a guide, the remnants of the ancient city would have meant very little. And we would have never understood how a menorah found its way on a Roman ruin (this arch was built to celebrate the Roman empire’s victory over the Jews in 70 AD).

And then the highlight of it all. Steps from the metro line; you literally walk out of the metro to this. The last time we were here you just walked in. Today you have to have reservations, security checks, and ticket check points.

Keagan loved this part of the tour.

After our tour, our feet were begging for a respite. I had taken note of a trattoria near a piazza where you can people watch and eat. We headed that way to find the piazza was the ancient grounds for chariot races and was the ending point for a military parade held June 2. The stage and scaffolding from the event were being dismantled; it didn’t have the aesthetic I had hoped for. But did I mention we were hungry and tired? We didn’t care about anything but food at that point in the day. We ordered pizza con pomeriggio e prosciutto. I tried the traditional Roman suffli, a fried rice ball, and was not impressed with either. I was very happy with my limoncello, though. I’m on a mission to try every variety of aperol spritz while on this trip; I have about eight to nine more varieties to try. 

We walked back to the apartment with two more stops in mind. Snacks and gelato. I found the “most popular Italian cookie” according to Instagram posts and was excited to try them. 

It’s no Chips Ahoy. I’ll stick to the gelato. 

After only five or so hours, we accumulated more than 13000 steps. It’s time for sleep. The AC is turned down low - so low most Romans probably find it a sin - and we are ready for uninterrupted, no alarms, deep sleep.

Tomorrow we have another full day with gelato, spritzes, and site seeing on the agenda.

Spring is Here

​I love spring time when the yard turns green, the trees leaf, and the flowers bloom. This year spring arrived in January and it’s been beautiful since.

I thought I lost the clematis to the ice storm, but it’s stronger than ever.

I planted two more azaleas this color. They remind me of Easter at my great-grandmother’s house. I’m determined to have them in my yard and vow to keep them from burning up this summer.

I’m not sure where these wild daisies came from, but I’m loving them.

I deviated from my usual pink, and went with white and yellow this year in my planters. Giallo is my new favorite color.

The hearty salvia never disappoints.

I got the snowball bush for Mother’s Day four years ago, and I couldn’t figure out why it wouldn’t bloom. It occurred to me last year that they are always planted in twos and probably cross-pollinate. And I was right! This year’s big blooms are just what I wanted to see.

I love the purple periwinkles in the ivy. 

I always know summer is almost here when the irises bloom! 4.5 weeks but who’s counting?!?!

Any day now my peonies should bloom - the highlight of spring for me. 

Happy Easter

Happy Easter! 

We started the day at church. The soon-to-be-doctor had to be reminded to wear dress socks with his slacks instead of athletic socks. Some things don’t change.

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This year I decided to take our annual pic in the backyard. We get outside, rushing to get the pic before the rolls burn, and the dog frantically starts digging up the hostas I planted yesterday. I’m fit to be tied! I yell for Wes to intervene, and Ryker pulls out a chicken! A dead chicken. Nothing says Easter like your dog proudly carrying a dead chicken in his mouth all around the yard. The neighbors love us.

But the rolls were perfect! The carrot cake was even better!!

Me Trip Day #4

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Yesterday was St Patrick’s Day and the college kids must have been out late drinking at the Irish bar because they didn’t arrive to the beach until noon. That was fine by me! The view was fantastic! The water was choppy today; the waves were bigger and louder than yesterday. It will make for great white noise when I sleep tonight! 

 

After a few hours on the beach, I took an Uber to Old San Juan for a history and food tour. My uber driver was fantastic! Besides telling me he thought I was 38 (looking for a tip no doubt), he let me practice my Spanish with him. Even when I used Italian words instead of Spanish, he told me my Spanish was perfect. 🤣

I had some of the best food and drinks on the tour: ceviche, gnocchi made from a yuca, mofongo, rice and beans, and tembleque. And I tried soursop juice for the first time. It’s hailed as a good food to fight cancer, but so was the guinea pig in Peru. I’m not sure I’m on board with either.

This drink was fantastic, but I downed two watermelon mojitos prior to being served this and missed its name. That mojito was singing my name tonight. I’m pretty sure it’s the local Don Q rum that I’m loving so much. 

But the best surprise was running into one of my current and favorite students on a side street! He was in shock. I was in shock! What are the chances?!?!

I love Old San Juan - the colors, the architecture, the blue cobblestone - but two cruise ships were in the port. The streets were crazy crowded.

Tomorrow I’m up early to catch a flight home. I’m always a bit sad to leave a vacation destination, but I’m really wishing I had one more day here. If TSA strikes in San Juan tomorrow, I won’t be sad one bit. This trip was everything I wanted except one day too short. Solo traveling is better than anticipated. It’s a solid 10/10!

Until next year!

Me Trip Day#3

​I was one of the first with my toes in the sand this morning. 

(That water! Love the blues!)

And gradually every college student on the island for spring break joined me. North Carolina. Clemson. UofMass. Just to name a few.

Just like any tourist area, the locals try to make a buck selling just about anything. I passed on the jewelry, the hamburger, the water, the beach massage, and the picture with the bird.

I passed on the opportunity to take a hit from the bong. But I didn’t pass on this! The college kids drinking boxed wine from red solo cups on the beach were jealous of my $20 splurge. 

They watched me eat it, and then bought their own. Whoever created this concoction is making a killing! 

I love Puerto Rico and I’m not sure I understand exactly why, but it might have something to do with pride. The flag is displayed everywhere, and it reminds me so much of Texans and the pride they have for their state. 

Or it’s the mojitos talking to me. I do love a strong mojito.

I tried to get a workout in this afternoon at an OTF two blocks down the road, but the front desk lady told me they are an “international studio” and don’t recognize US memberships. That killed me. She kindly offered me the drop in rate of $30. I kindly declined. I guess it’s up to the Puerto Ricans’ choosing when they want to be American. I respect that. But I’m not paying the $30 when I already pay a monthly membership fee. 

For dinner I went back to the hookah bar for fish tacos. I devoured them like I hadn’t eaten in days. I debated ordering two more and now at 2000 wishing I had. My two mojitos and tacos cost $7. I think the bartender was drunk. He offered a tequila shot, and I declined. That soured his mood, but he still gave me the discount on the discounted happy hour rate. So I won tonight. 

I’m still hoping for a sun kissed look before I head back home, so I guess I’ll have to go back to the beach tomorrow. It looks like another W for me. 

Me Trip Day #2

​I slept for 10.5 hours last night! Nothing woke me. The teen girls swimming at 0100 squealing with the crash of each wave only made me roll over. The neighbor going to work at 0500 made me roll back over the opposite direction. I slept like I haven’t slept in days. It was fantastic! When I did finally wake up, I was greeted with this view.

I spent the better part of the day with a small group tour in El Yunque in Rio Grande. The rainforest is always mesmerizing to me. You see it sure, but there are so many things you can easily miss if you aren’t really looking. The berries. The snails. The leaf shapes. The frogs. The flowers.

I booked this tour specifically for the hike - something I didn’t do when I was here in 2021. After a half hour on a trail, I climbed the 77 steps in the Yakahu Tower. Because I had done this previously, I climbed and quickly went back down. The crowds up top were thick, and the views from the inside windows were just as picturesque.

On the way out of the park, we stopped at a swimming hole “popular with the locals”, but only tour groups were here today. I didn’t swim, nor did much of the group, but the weather was perfect for sitting on a rock and watching the fish.

The tour made one last stop for lunch at a fruit stand. It wasn’t a restaurant per se, but the stand served traditional Puerto Rican lunch and fresh fruit smoothies. 

The papaya hot sauce - I was a fan in Aruba and I still am - and the fresh mango smoothie were fantastic!

Once I returned to San Juan I headed to the beach. I read a book, listened to the frat boys play Bad Bunny, and people watched. 

For dinner, I walked up and down the main road trying to decide where I wanted to eat. I eventually found my way off a side street to a bar for a mojito and fish tacos. It cost me $13 and rivaled any fancy meal I’ve eaten. I commented to the bartender that the tacos were great. A local sitting at the bar next to me, suggested I go one block east and try the fish tacos at the gay bar. 

Tomorrow I think I’ll rewind and redo today - the beach, a book, and a mojito or two. The lure of great fish tacos will probably not be enough to get me in the gay bar, though.

Me Trip

​It’s spring break and I’m doing something I’ve never done before! I’m traveling solo. It’s a Me Trip. On a whim last week I booked a $12 flight using my credit card points. I lucked into finding a small Air B&B on the beach with a discounted last minute rate, and I decided it was meant to be. 

I have been giddy with the thought of this trip, even when everyone else found it odd. Keagan doubted my decision. What will you do for dinner? I’ll go to a restaurant and eat by myself. My co-workers thought it sounded lonely. What will you do all day? I’ll sit on the beach with a book. My gym partner thought it was unsafe. What will you do at night? I’ll be in bed asleep. 

And despite the nay-sayers, that’s how I find myself today in San Juan, Puerto Rico. 

I will miss tonight’s tornados and Tuesday’s dusting of snow in Tennessee. I’ll return home just as the weather returns to a perfect 70 degrees. Meanwhile, I will spend the next week in near perfect beach weather. Here’s the view from my balcony.

I got out of the taxi this afternoon and thought I was super lucky to be next door to a local bar. That’s until I realized it’s a gay bar. I skipped that and walked down the street until I found a restaurant with no “Americans.” Then I ordered a passion fruit mojito, churrosco with hot sauce, and sweet plantains. It was delish - after only eating a yogurt and protein bar in the airport I’d probably been just as happy eating a meal in the gay bar.

I’m listening to the waves crash, reading a book, and feeling so lucky. Tomorrow I’m headed to the rain forest.