Day five (Monday) I had hoped to return to St. Peter’s and climb the dome, but we awoke feeling a bit lazy after 4 days of tearing about. The last two days were long ones and travel intensive. Plus we’d missed the gym all weekend, so we took a different path.
As it was a beautiful spring-like morning we headed off at 7:15AM on a journey we usually take on Saturdays. We headed down through our quartiere of Parioli to our favorite Sicilian cafè for a quick shot of espresso, where i ragazzi were surprised to see us on a Monday, necessitating an explanation of il giorno dei presidenti, including clarification that it was not just a day for Mr. Obama, but a day to honor all U.S. presidents.
We continued on our way, across Villa Borghese, through Piazza del Popolo, then meandered through some of the myriad alleys we seldom travel, watching our city wake up and workers prepare for the week, down to Campo dei Fiori where again some of the vendors we patronize were surprised to see us on a Monday. More explanations.
On to the gym. The embassy was quiet except for the landscaping crew doing the annual trimming of the palm trees. It was nice to have the gym to ourselves!
Now what became the highlight of the day, and a fitting end to the Valentine’s Day weekend: we bought Ric a new wedding ring. In 1989 he lost his while snorkeling in Hawaii. What with one thing or another, we never replaced it, but have been talking about doing so. Today was the day! We visited a little jeweler (complete with a protective man-trap entry) and made a selection. If he loses this one, the next one goes through his nose. :=)
Dinner of Ric’s homemade caponata, a Skype call with my brother and SIL, and some fine Sicilian vino bianco put a cap on the day.
Did I say lazy? We accomplished 19,000 steps according to my pedometer, more than each of the prior two days!
Girovaga 
This sounds like a perfect day to me!!!
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A day spent wandering through the streets of Rome without a specific agenda — my idea of heaven!
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Thanks John. And ever-so-hard to do in the town you live in! Everyone should play tourist-at-home now and then.
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I’m loving this “blog tour,” that you’re doing! It’s like we’re reading your journal as you travel…great stuff!
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Hi Rick! It was fun to do, overall, but “journaling” is hard work. Not sure I have the discipline to do it in addition to my day job. 🙂
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Wow, you’re gonna have to go back to work just to rest! Love the pics, as usual. Glad you enjoyed your vacation days.
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Thanks Anita! The five days of posting killed! I need to take a week off from blogging! 🙂
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