Rome, Day 2 - Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Capuchin Crypt

On Monday, we all woke up early, since we had gone to bed at like 9. So, we went to the morning farmer's market at Campo Di Fiori. The coolest thing we found was stands with all these buckets of spice mix that you add to your tomato sauce to make the different kinds of pasta sauce. We went for Bolognese, since we had that kind of sauce before and liked it. We got our pasta and some tomatoes, and took them back to the apartment. We had some breakfast and headed out for the day.

Yesterday had been the bottom part of town, today was the top. We needed to see Trevi & the Spanish Steps because everybody has to see those, right? The Capuchin crypt was the one thing that Em really wanted to see. Mom had been told by her Roman friend, Pietro, not to even try Trevi before 1am, because there would be too many people. But, it was on the way to the other things, so we gave it a try. Our good luck prevailed, and we were able to get right up next to it no problem. There were a bunch of people in the front, but there wasn't anybody over on the far side, so we just scampered over there.

Trevi Fountain

 Next, we walked over to the Spanish Steps. I was confused when we finally got there, because all the pictures I had seen had them covered in flowers. But, apparently there are no flowers in October. I really thought we had found the wrong steps for a while. But, Mom, Em & Steve found a geocache right where the website said it would be, so I knew we were in the right spot. We saw the little sign on the side of a building saying that it was where Keats had died, and I gave a little cheer. I'm not normally that kind pf person, but I have a special loathing for Ode on a Grecian Urn, and I hated the movie Bright Star.

After Spanish Steps, I looked at the map to see how to get to the Capuchin Crypt. We had to go up the steps. Damn. That's a lot of steps. 138 of them, and those suckers are steep.

 We found the crypt no problem, but it didn't open for another hour and a half, so we stopped for lunch at a little place across the street. As I looked, I noticed construction in front of the crypt, and I was nervous that it would be closed. The waiter said that it was still open, though, so that was a relief. We weren't allowed to take pictures, so I just took some pictures of the postcards we bought.There were about 5 or 6 rooms, and they are all decorated with bones of the monks who have lived there.

After the crypt, we walked over to the train station. We needed to go to Florence or Pompeii on Tuesday, since we had tickets for the Vatican on Wednesday. So, we wanted to get our tickets today, or at least figure out what time a train left for one of those places. We found a person who told us that train info place was by track 1, but you could only get info there. If we wanted to buy a ticket, we needed to get in another line or buy them at one of the kiosks. We looked at the kiosk, but we didn't know how to say Florence in Italian! Firenze, for future reference. The line for the info/buying place was really long. We went to train information - the door was closed and the guy in there just ignored us. There was a sign that said that tourist information was near track 24. So, we walked over there. Now, it's a really long way from 1 to 24. We get to tourist info, there's a big sign that says "No train information." Crap. So, we decide to just get in the big line. 

By this time, we were all really cranky. Mom & Steven went to find out about which bus to take home, and Em & I went to go get some drinks while Max stood in line. Em had a breakdown. She just started crying uncontrollably. I finally got her calmed down, and she got to have her very own Coke. We thought a bit of caffeine might help. It did. While Mom & Steve figured out the buses (you can't buy tickets on the bus), we got the tickets for both Florence & Pompeii. Finally. We hopped a bus back to the apartment. We got a bit lost walking in the little streets back to the apartment from the bus stop, but we made it eventually. 

Max was boiling & peeling tomatoes for dinner when it started to rain. We were excited, because we had read that you have to see the Pantheon in the rain, because the rain just comes right in through the oculus. Mom, Em & I tossed on our rain coats and took off. Unfortunately, by the time we got there, it was no longer raining. But, we did get to see the wet floor. On the way back home, we stopped in the supermarket for some more supplies. We got home just as Max was finishing up. I can't tell you whether the dinner was yummy or not, because it was so incredibly spicy. Max & Mom seemed to like it, but the kids & I couldn't finish it. I was surprised, because I had never had a spicy Bolognese sauce. I don't know if that's how it's supposed to be or not. The only reason I finished it was because Mom & Max had told Steven to stop complaining about the spiciness. 

We also read in one of our books that if you don't validate your ticket on the bus, you can get a huge fine. We had tried to do it, but we hadn't done it correctly, so we had a free, illegal bus ride and 5 tickets that we could use again. 

Max says - The farmer's market was wonderful, and you're all candy-asses and should learn to deal with spicy food. 

Emma says - I liked the farmer's market because I got a new hat and because Dad & I got some wild strawberries. The fountain was really pretty, and there was a drinking fountain by it that had the most delicious water. We stuck our arms in the Trevi, and that was the first time I was ever yelled at by an Italian cop. The steps were fun because we found a cache and I got to slide down a giant banister. The crypt was creepy awesome. I had my own Coke at the train station, it was delicious. =D Oh, the spicy pasta was spicy.