Ciao Roma! Annaliese and I are in Rome in advance of a mother-daughter Mediterranean cruise. We’re celebrating Anna finishing her masters degree, and joining the ranks of employed people.

Fair warning: It’s going to be HOT on this trip. It’s the Mediterranean in June. And I’m hot flashing. So I will be complaining about the heat. A lot. Yes, I know I signed up for the Mediterranean in June. But I’m still going to complain. It’s part of my charm.

Weird thing happened on the plane. I slept really, really well. I have never felt rested after an international flight. Not sure what I did differently, but . . . naaaahhh. I’m just messing with you. I slept like crap.

A Golf Cart Tour of Rome

In an effort to keep us awake (and not walking around in the heat) this afternoon, I booked us a golf cart tour of Rome.

Our guide, Ana, was a riot. She kept our energy up with history and plenty of what she called, “curiosities”. To wit, did you know the Roman White House has 38,000 pieces of china? For when you have a few friends over for dinner.

Stopped by the Trevi Fountain. Along with half the population of Earth. Holy sea of humanity. Pretty much all of Rome is a sea of humanity right now. A sea of sweaty humanity.

Ana said drivers in Rome are really angry. Can confirm. Lots of yelling and hand gestures. Ana was like a ninja driving through the narrow cobblestone streets of Roma. She doesn’t use the horn on the golf cart, favoring instead to yell, “BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP” at all of the pedestrians. Actually kind of charming. And oddly effective.

I noticed a lot of construction projects around Rome, and asked Ana about this. QOTD from Ana: “Rome is like a lasagna. It’s built on layers.” If you start a construction project and find something like a library from the 3rd century, you have to stop the project until the archaeologists figure out what to do with your find.

Made dinner reservations at the absurdly early hour of 6:30. This might even qualify as a late lunch for the Romans. We aren’t going to be upright much longer. Incredible pasta. I love dining al fresco in Europe. But it’s a risk. You could end up downwind of this joker who went through an entire pack of cigarettes at dinner. And now I need another shower.

Fading fast.

Salute!

Travel date: June 9, 2025