Eat, Pray, Love-Handles: November 15, 2010: Vacation is Hard

The countdown to the real world has started for us - we've only got ten days left to pretend we don't have any responsibilities. In some ways we're excited to have more of a routine and get back to our real lives, but then, who are we kidding? Gelato every day, no need to get up when the alarm goes off, doing whatever we want - we'd much rather just stay here. But to be honest, walking around every day is a little tiring. For nearly 80 days now we've pretty much been on our feet for six to ten hours a day, and sometimes we just need a day to relax. I know, get out the violins...

So, after sleeping in a little, we got ourselves out of the house and did some sightseeing in Trastevere. First, we went to see the Villa Farnesina, a villa built for one of the richest men from the Renaissance period. There were only a few rooms to see, but several of them had amazing frescoes painted by Rafael. Our guidebook provided some history about the family and Rafael's love life.

From the villa, we walked over the main piazza in Trastevere where we've found ourselves nearly every day. But finally we visited the Santa Maria in Trastevere church located in the square, one of the first churches built for Mary. Its a heavily gilded church and for some reason one that I can remember pretty vividly from the last time I was here.

Then we walked across the river to the Campo di Fiori where we found a large market that filled the square. There were vendors selling food, jewelry, clothes, candy, you-name-it. We perused and then went to several vendors and compiled a picnic lunch for ourselves. After lunch we walked over to the pantheon and stopped by a snazzy gelateria for some really good (but pricier) gelato made with all-natural ingredients.

We stopped by the apartment to drop some things off and then went out to walk around for a while before making dinner. We walked back to the hill with the keyhole (for the third time) and after making many attempts at a good photograph of St. Peter's we got a few that passed the "good enough" test. We went to the adjecent park for some easier pictures and then, after a much-needed gelato stop, walked along the river to St. Peters for some up-close-and-personal pictures before making it home to cook up some dinner and actually try to make it to bed at a reasonable hour.