The Terrific3 travel blog

When this is your morning run view, you know you’ve been blessed to start the day off right.

Though actually, the day started at 1am when I woke up to find both boys awake and roaming around the apartment. This is why I got us a 3 bedroom to start—so one person’s jet lag wouldn’t affect another’s but here we were all awake at the same hour. I had to convince them that they were not awake for the day, that this was normal and coax them back to bed. We all eventually fell back asleep and I woke a bit after 7am to see the kids refreshed and watching TV. I really wanted to sleep longer, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to fit my run in, and that was something I really wanted. And it was amazing to feel the beauty and energy of a city rising, kids walking to school, cars driving to work, Sun ray’s peeking through the colosseum, and just be alone with my thoughts for 3 miles of the day. I’m going to aim for another tomorrow.

I hit 11.8 miles yesterday and today 14.4 of running plus walking! I love this kind of vacation and love that I’m showing my kids that it’s fun to explore Italy by foot, something that was harder to do in asia due to weather and the way the streets are built.

We met our guide Veronica from maria Claudia tours at the trevi fountain where she led a quiz/history scavenger hunt for the kids through the pantheon, piazza Navona and various other neighborhoods. I absolutely LOVE ROME. The history, the art, the diversity, the languages, the food. Wow! It’s my second time here but somehow I’m way more impressed than my last trip in my 30s.

Here are some shots we took of the city during the tour.

Some highlights—the Trevi fountain was under construction but they had a small “pool” for coins. Legend has it that if you throw a coin facing backwards with your right hand into the water, you are destined to come back to Rome. So of course, my little Italian boy, S, got it on the first try. He also tried a natural Roman water fountain.

After we left our guide, we made it to campo fiori neighborhood for an amazing lunch and then walked to the monument to Victor Emmanuel II where we got to explore amazing panoramic views of the city. Highly recommended! Especially the glass elevator to the roof.

On our way back, the requisite daily gelato… hazelnut for me, always, vanilla for Z and straciacella (choc chip) for S.

Then “home” for an hour of screen time and some packing for tomorrow…

Next off to the basilica of san Clemente, this gorgeous church that has several layers below it excavated. The boys loved exploding the underground mazes, centuries old. Wow. So many treasures in this city. We talked about how the US is such a new country and really doesn’t have much history (except the natives who were sadly robbed of their lands) but a place like Rome has thousands of years of history, and just so many more layers of culture. Honestly, sometimes I wonder why I stay in the US, because I love being in so many other places more. But then vacation is always different than life. 🙂

After exploring the church, we found a cheap laid back pizzeria frequented by locals and the kids had a pizza. I was full from lunch so ate an artichoke. and then back to some gelato/donut/macaroon on our way home.

We are really having a great vacation. The kids are 8 (almost 9) and 11.5, and these are great ages to travel, plus, they went to 5 countries last year, which makes them work’s travelers more than most people in the US do in their lifetimes. We’ve adjusted to jet lag relatively well, they’re doing better then I ever do with navigation and directions, and they’re doing amazing with all the walking, with a tiny bit but minimal whining. And Italy is just such a gorgeous country rich in history, with amazing food that both kids like, and that makes all the difference!

I wish we had 1-2 more days in Rome, but alas, we head to lovely Florence tomorrow, into cooler and rainier weather. There we have plans to see some art and eat at one of my favorite restaurants in the world!