June 20: A Week in Rome!

Ben and I were well overdue for a nice vacation with just the two of us so we decided to spend a week in Rome to celebrate his birthday, which was on May 21.  Not being able to go exactly on his birthday, we went the first week of June.  

One of the items on my "bucket list" was to stay in a luxury hotel, so we splurged on deluxe room with a private balcony at the 47 Boutique Hotel, near the Colosseum and walkable to all the main sights of the city.  We were delighted to find that there were antiquities right up the street (Marcellus theater, Capitoline hill, the old Jewish Ghetto) and that the old and charming Travestera neighborhood was right across the river.  We walked everywhere and took one bus, averaging about five miles a day, which burned off the calories we took in while exploring the "Four Pastas of Rome" and the many variations on Tiramisu, one of Ben's favorite desserts.  

We had been to Rome for a few days back in 2013 when we traveled with Paul, his friend Robbie, and my sister Jean.  We saw many of the "big ticks" of the city then, so on this trip we tried some different activities.  We toured the underground excavations at the Roman Domus of Palazzo Valentini and the Domus Aurea (Nere's Golden Palace), enjoyed a concert of music by Vivaldii and Bach at St. Paul’s within the walls, and saw Japanese woodcuts from the Edo period 1603-1868 on display at the Palazzo Braschi. 

Most afternoons Ben relaxed while I walked about the city, wandering around just to be out and see all the interesting buildings, shops, and street life. One day I explored the Castel Sant’ Angelo which is near the Vatican, doing some people watching from the excellent cafe up on the top floor and admiring the lovely views from so far up high. Another day I toured the Old Jewish synagogue, and spent more than an hour looking at its excellent and informative exhibits and touring the worship area, which was both interesting and sobering.

It was a wonderful trip!