November 4th, 2016…Today is my sister’s Birthday!
Our boys are at a great age for traveling! Since they are still young enough to have us at the center of their worlds, we aren’t interrupting their social lives or sports schedules by venturing off to other countries. Planes, trains and automobiles all hold various forms of interest which helps with the “enjoying the journey” part. They can be reasoned with (on the most part), bribed with sweets or distracted with a game when we need them to hang in there longer. They carry their own backpacks and walk for several miles a day but are still light enough to carry on our backs and shoulders if they need a break. In Rome, we walked over twenty miles in four days!
We still have our “moments.” However, we are learning how to bring down the stress, make things more enjoyable and set reasonable expectations. Checking out books from the library about sites we will see has been a simple way to set the stage for the boys and build excitement. We often tip the scales to more kid-friendly activities and keep our youngest travel companions in mind as we plan out adult portions…”How can we make this fun for them as well?”
Applying things we have learned the past several months, awesome weather and experiencing the sacred in our midst allowed our trip to Rome to be one of the best ones yet. We spent Saturday exploring Ancient Rome. Here’s a look back…
We took a Family Friendly Tour of the Colosseum and Roman Forum
After reading how a family oriented tour guide can engage children in ways that bring history to life and allow parents to enjoy and learn alongside them, we decided to give it a shot. We picked a woman, Katia, who was born and raised in Rome. She was part of a tour company that gave affordable options for private tours in Rome. Katia met us at the Colosseum Saturday morning and used props, architecture, and the landscape to fill our heads with stories and historical facts of Ancient Rome. We learned about the life of a gladiator, the gruesome “entertainment” that occurred in the Colosseum and the persecution of the Christians who were Emperor Nero’s scape goats after an all-consuming fire burned almost three-quarters of Rome back in 64 A.D..
From the Colosseum, we walked over to the Roman Forum. This ancient marketplace was the center of Roman public life. We saw ruins of government buildings, temples, and the complex of the Vestal Virgins. Katia continued to share her knowledge in this new setting. For the most part, the boys stayed attentive and enjoyed her company for a total of three hours. When it was time for lunch, we bid Katia goodbye with many thanks!
We visited the Torre Argentina Cat Sanctuary because our kids love cats!
After taking our Ancient Rome tour and refueling at a nearby restaurant Katia recommended, we visited this unique place I had discovered during my planning. Since Italy outlawed the euthanasia of healthy companion animals in the 90s, the city is a cat’s paradise. The Torre Argentina Cat Sanctuary houses 150 cats amongst the oldest temples in Rome (dating back to 400-300 BC) and the Theater of Pompey, upon whose steps dictator Julius Caesar was betrayed and killed in 44 BC. Fully vaccinated, cared-for-cats live amongst the ruins and our boys were excited to see them…especially our seven-year-old feline fanatic. The place is a wonderful example of compassion and creativity. There is also a nice Gelateria nearby that we visited afterwards!
Seeing the Pantheon
A former Roman Temple and now a church, the Pantheon is one of the best-preserved of all ancient Roman buildings. The current building was built between 118-128 AD and has the world’s largest, unenforced concrete dome. There is a large, open circle at the top called the oculus. With a diameter of 27 feet, this “eye” allows sunlight in to illuminate the building and rain to cool it. Water is carried away through drains in the floor. “I Spy Drains!” This was a free, relatively quick stop.
Piazza Navona: Pigeons, Fountains and Open Space
Since our boys have been chasing pigeons across Europe, Rome was no exception. The open space of this piazza gave much-needed space to get a few wiggles out and enjoy the surrounding scenery without the concerns of traffic.
We eventually headed back to our apartment and called it a day. Mein Mann hung back with the boys so they could play and relax while I walked to the grocery store and picked up a few items. We ate our dinner on the patio, finishing up just in time to escape a downpour of rain. With full tummies and tired legs, we slept like babies!
I often wonder what our boys will remember from this season of life and how our travels will shape their perspectives, interest and interactions with people. Only time will tell. For now, we want our kids to enjoy traveling so they’ll look forward to the next adventure. Ciao!
