Full day #1

Good morning Rome!

Our first night in the apartment we slept the sleep of the dead, despite the remarkably firm mattress. The apartment is small and by small I mean I’ve seen more square footage of living space parked in a spot at a KOA Campground. Note the bathroom sink the size of my hand and the child friendly railing in the loft sleeping area…

our street

It has everything we need though and the neighborhood is amazing. Rione Monti is one of the oldest and most central areas of Rome. The Coliseum is about five minutes walking and there are many reasonable small restaurants, café bars, shops and tiny grocery stores all around us. [ neighborhood pics]

the obligatory pic of The Coliseum. it will be nice when the finish installing the new windows…

Today we set off for the Jewish Ghetto neighborhood. The ghetto was established by Pope Paul IV in July 1555. Called in Italian: serraglio degli Ebrei or claustro degli Ebrei, it was a walled neighborhood where the Jews were required to live and where the gates were locked at night and opened in the morning. As we entered from the north, we come across the turtle fountain, at one point the only source of fresh water for the entire ghetto.

turtle fountain

which at the time was over 2000 people.

Sophia’s place

On the way to the ghetto we passed Trajan’s market, his column and his forum. Emperors sure can be full of themselves. We also checked out Augustus’ forum, the Portico d’Ottiavia (later a fish market) and teatro di Marcello (where Sophia Loren had a flat!)

safe haven

Trajan’s tall pokey thing with the story on it.

Il Duce reincarnated?

On the way back we we stopped in to see the Largo di Torre Argentina excavation site and cat sanctuary. Yes, I know a lot of you are thinking “what?” but the folks who know me will not be surprised, I can hear them groaning from here.

We decide to head back to the apartment for a little rest and to tend our (not mine) blisters. Lunch on the way at The Shamrock… Irish pub. A burger and potatoes, a good Irish beer, delicious, no pictures needed.