Day 315: All roads lead to Rome

05/06/2022

This morning was a nice slow start to the day. We did not have any plans except a bit of R&R. We called home to see how the grandparents were going dodging the storms, “wild wet weather smashes Adelaide as emergency services work to clean up damage while bracing for more rain”. Meanwhile, Lachnado had had enough of the heat and was trying to find his way back to Glasgow.

We set off, definitely no chinos today. It was hot but overcast. Today was going to be a couple of gears slower.

We walked through the Northern suburbs of Rome grabbing breakfast on the go. As we walk along approximately 20% of people chuckle as they pass us from the opposite direction. We constantly have to stop to check that Lachnado is not upside down and back to front in his pram, you never know, a five-point harness is no match for Lachnado. After a dozen-odd Lachnado checks, we reached the grand entrance of Villa Borghese park. Today was going to be for the kids, we had read this place was great for families. Eloise was itching for a playground and Lachlan needed to tear up some turf.

Porta Pia is a gate in the Aurelian Walls of Rome, Italy. One of Pope Pius IV’s civic improvements to the city, it is named after him. Situated at the end of a new street, the Via Pia, it was designed by Michelangelo in replacement for the Porta Nomentana situated several hundred meters southwards, which was closed up at the same time. Construction began in 1561 and ended in 1565, after the artist’s death.

Eloise’s eyes lit up as soon as we entered Villa Borghese park. “Mini train MUM, look!!!” Lachlan was sleeping at this stage, so off the girls went.

We noticed a lot of people riding along on pedal hybrid carts. We were keen to give them a try. With Eloise and Lachnado riding up front. Lachnado was having the time of his life.

What a blast, we are not sure who was having more fun, the kids or Dad? After scouting out the park we had found somewhere nice for lunch. We entered this wee gypsy building to find out how Carbonara is really supposed to taste. Holy Moly, life until this point has been a lie.

The kids were then onto the carousel which they had been excited about all morning.

After all the running about and excitement, both the kids fell asleep. We had to walk off lunch so made our way back into the heart of Rome, which looked a long way down…

We were wondering how we get down to Rome level when we, unfortunately, found the famous Spanish Steps. Being in Europe the Batmobile is used to going up down and all around, however with two children who had just fallen asleep this was going to be a bit trickier. At least it was down and not up.

Turns out not all roads lead to Rome, some roads lead to lots of stairs that lead to Rome.

The Spanish Steps in Rome, Italy, climb a steep slope between the Piazza di Spagna at the base and Piazza Trinità dei Monti, dominated by the Trinità dei Monti church, at the top. The monumental stairway of 135 steps was built with French diplomat Étienne Gueffier’s bequeathed funds of 20,000 scudi, in 1723–1725, linking the Trinità dei Monti church under the patronage of the Bourbon kings of France and the Spanish Embassy at the top of the steps to the Holy See in the Palazzo Monaldeschi at the bottom of the steps. The stairway was designed by architects Francesco de Sanctis and Alessandro Specchi.

We found ourselves in the ritzy shopping district of Rome. We made sure to march on before Lachnado woke up and Lachnadoed everything.

We then rushed home to a pool with our names on it.

Dinner was downstairs in the restaurant where Lachlan was loving the selection of breads.

In the UK the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations continue “a huge pageant celebrating the final day of the Jubilee is under way in London, as thousands across the country come together for street parties”. “Scotland’s sunny jubilee weekend ends with picnics and parties”. In other news “hundreds of people have attended the return of a cheese rolling extreme sporting event – held for the first time since the pandemic”. We better start studying for 2023.

“All roads lead to Rome: All paths or activities lead to the center of things. This was literally true in the days of the Roman Empire, when all the empire’s roads radiated out from the capital city, Rome“.