ROME, ITALY!!!

Taking advantage of our location in Europe, we decided to take a short flight from Meat and sheep cheese land to Pasta, pizza and yummy Cheese land. Rome for two days then 7 days at Club Med Napitia.

A week previous to our trip I decided to bravely go where not many Westerns have gone before. A Romanian hair stylist. I needed my highlights touched up and thinking to myself that the pictures we will be taking in Italy will be precious and looked at frequently, so I wanted to look my best. FOUR hours later I walked out of the salon with blond hair, orange roots and dark brown lowlights. This was WITH a translator! It was awful! When I got out of the shower the next day and looked in the mirror, I looked as if someone had barfed their spaghetti supper on my head. Awful! So I had no choice but to take the trip to Iasi (1hour and 20 mintues away) to see a hairstylist who might be ablt to fix my hair without it all breaking off and ending up with a pixie hair cut. On the advise of my dear friend Ana-Maria (see distasterous day trip) we took all 3 kids to the "hair salon" while David did some work in Iasi.

We walked into an apartment building. So I figured maybe someone had converted their apartment into a salon.

We walked in the apartment and met a woman in the hall shhhing us because her daughter was sleeping. We couldn't get any further than the front entrance because there was stuff everywhere as she was in the middle of organizing. The "hairstylist" was in a pink shirt (no bra) and pink jogging pants (black thong) and she had just finished putting her last brush full of dye in her hair. She looked pissed as she rambled in Romanian at Anna-Maria and kept looking at my kids as if to say, "what the hell are they doing here?" Anna looked slightly embarrassed for her friends behaviour and asked if she could take my kids to the apartment playground while I got my hair done.

I agreed. What could I do? I couldn't go to Italy with this mop. Think positive Alison. This is part of your adventure. This is another story to tell.

So Anna leaves with my kids and I can see the playground from the apartment which I now realize is a one bedroom apartment which the the living room has been converted into a master/living room. A tiny kitchen and bathroom. The apartment was very clean and smelled of bleach. Or that could have been the hairstylists hair....

Okay where is she doing my hair?

There is a computer chair behind the front door and a mirror hung on the wall. On the floor I see a hairdryer, hair spray, scissors... so I guess this is where the magic happens. Oh god, I miss Ingrid!

So I sit down and she looked at my head while shaking her head in disgust. Her assistant/friend walks in and looks at my head and actually leaps backward. The stylist, Gabby, starts whispering rapidly to her friend while toss my hair like a bowl of spaghetti. Then her friend leaves. Gabby runs around her apartment, cleans the toilet bowl in her bathroom, sweeps the floor and doesn't say a word to me. WTF??

I call Anna Maria and ask her what the hell is going on. I hand the phone to Gabby as she was running down the hall past me. They chat briefly then I'm handed the phone back. Anna-Maria tells me Gabby's friend has just gone across the road to the supermarket to but my hair colour.

WHAT??? I came all the way to Iasi for this stylist who is going to put Revlon in my hair. WHAT??? I quickly text David to let him know what is going on and he writes back to say that as soon as he is done, he will come and get the kids. I'm sure he was snickering as he was typing.

So the friend comes back and Gabby puts the hair dye in my hair. All of a sudden she starts speaking english to me.
"I am mixing this dye with olive oil so your hair doesn't break and dye."
It wasn't perfect english but she got her point across. Why didn't she speak before? Urgh!


I sit in the computer chair for almost 1.5 hours when she finally says the colour is ready. Okay, so where do I go to wash my hair out?

That's right baby. Get on your knees beside the bathtub and stick your head upside down in the tub. She showers off the colour while the water and colour combo flow into my eyes. Then she grabs the shampoo from the corner of the bathtub and washes my hair 3 times.

The hardest, toe curling hair wash I have ever experienced. I can tell what it is by the smell. No not Joico. Not even Matrix. It was the Garnier Fruictus that was on sale this week at the supermarket....


So she decides that the colour helped a lot, which it did but it still had a red hue to it. She decided to put a few highlights for contrast. I was scared! She put in about 6 highlights at the top of my head starting from my part and near the face. I wait another hour because it was also mixed with her kitchen olive oil and takes more time to set.

As she is washing my hair out again in her bathtub she says with her thick accent, "Oh yes, dey are a nice green!"
WHAT? "Green?" I ask.

"Da, green. Forte bine!""No no no, not forte bine. Green like as in verde?"

"NU!" She says, "Greeeeeeen!"

Oh for the love of christ. What is going on here? My head is upside down in this womans tub and she's happy that my highlights are green?!

At that point Anna Maria walks in and reports that David has taken the kids to the McDonald's for a treat. I ask Anna Maria what the hell this Gabby is saying cause if my hair is green I am going to choke her. Anna Maria laughs and says, "No no no Gabby, not greeeen. Grey!"


WHAT? That is not much better than green in my thoughts.

So finally after being aggressively washed once again by the dominatrix hairsytlist, I am able to look in the mirror and face the music. The highlights were light blond and I suppose I can see where she got grey from. Anna Maria spent some time poking fun at Gabby for saying my hair was green and giving me a heart attack. Again this hair style took a total of 3.5 hours. We had all had it by the time we left for home. I can't wait to go away to Italy!

So we were off the next day once David got home from work. We were all excited. Even the kids who really had no clue of the precious treat they were in for. We drove to Bucharest the Friday night so that we didn't have to rush the next day. We got 40 mintues down the road and David realized he had forgotten the key to get into the apartment in Bucharest that we had booked. So back we went.

An hour later we were back on the road.

An hour after that Ruby started to scream with her hand jammed into her mouth. Her molars had started coming in and she was fighting a low grade fever for the past 24 hours. I got some Motrin ready in a syringe and turned to give it to her when she vomitted all over me, herself and the car. Evelyn, who was sitting next to her, dove out of the way to avoid the splash. Oh god!

David pulled down a side street and we both jumped into action, trying to calm Ruby and clean up the mess. David pulled all of Ruby's barf soaked clothes off and let them fall to the ground while I cleaned her off and then we cleaned the car. Next thing I know I see a wild dog running away with Ruby's barfy clothes in his mouth. "You can have 'em!" I yell to the dog. The big girls look at me like I'm loosing my mind. Maybe I am!

So we were off again. We finally arrived at 11:00 pm. Everyone was tired and grumpy. Ruby barely slept the whole night and therefore I got no sleep. The only thing I was holding on to was the thought that tomorrow, I am going to Rome!

The next day we decided to go to the Hard Rock Cafe in Bucharest before our plane took off. We were one of two families in the whole restaurant. When all of a sudden we hear the other family speaking English. Like starving wolves, we jump over to their table and heed the opportunity to speak English to someone.

They were Amber and Chad from San Fransico with their 3 daughters, Ava, Audrey and Charlotte. Chad is a computer software/IT super brain who had been moved to Bucharest 2 weeks ago with his family. They are only supposed to be living in Romania for about 3 months and then going back to their pink house in San Fransisco. Lucky buggers! The pink house, along with the 3 girls gave them the idea of writting about Romania in their own blog called http://adventuresinpinkdom.blogspot.com/.

You might note a huge difference in our experiences. They live in the big city with english schools, ballet classes and dates. They also have to deal with busy Romanian traffic that is crazy! Not many crazy things you can do with a horse!

Lunch was yummy as usual but we were off to the airport! Yay!

2 hours later, We were in Italy!!!!!

One hour after that, Evelyn and I were eating our first authentic Italian pizzas! So delicious!!

The next the day, we enjoyed a lovely breakfast one the roof top terrace. Lining the terrace were lemon and lime plants that smelled lovely. What a beautiful way to start the morning!

We walked up to the Termini train station where we bought a 24 hour double decker tour bus pass. The girls were so excited about the double decker part. David and I were excited because the first stop was The Coliseum!

It was everything I had imagined and more. We recounted the stories of what happened in this massive building to the kids, attempting to give them some cultural knowledge and keep it interesting. They however, couldn't get past the fact that lions killed people here. They listened very closely to the tour guide through their microphones (loaned to us by the tour organizers) to hear about the guts and glory.

"Where are the lions?" "When are they going to kill the people?" "Are they able to get us?" "Where are the cages?" Bless them. We assured them they were not about to be devoured by a starving lion and that it happened thousands of years ago. They were satisfied enough. David and I were in awe of this buildings magnificence.

A picture of the girls standing (illegally) on the grass beside a beautiful palm. Everywhere you look in Rome is interesting. And so beautiful. I could have taken over 1000 pictures in only 2 days. The buildings are old and rooted in history. Something North Americans just have a hard time grasping even when it's in front of you.There is such a juxtaposition of ancient ruins with newer buildings not to mention the hundreds of Panini wagons all over the place. This picture is for our wall for sure. Note Ruby who is passed out in the backpack on David's back. I guess it was all just to much for her to take in. Next we were on the bus again to see the Vatican. I was never sure if I would ever see the largest Catholic church in the world and arguably the most important one. St. Peter's Basilica was huge as was St. Peter's Square. I would have loved to have gone in to see the art and history but the line up was approx 3 hours. With young 3 kids and looming clouds we opted not to wait and just hope one day we will return. We only had 1.5 days in Rome after all and there were so many things to see and do. Picture of all the good catholic girls in front of the Basilica. What? It started to rain but that didn't stop the girls from posing for the camera. We couldn't leave, however, without seeing the sight of Dan Brown's 2nd Cardinal murder. "Air" by the Illuminati. Kind of creepy that it had a rust colored stain on it.
It was time again to get back on the bus, which now had wet seats and head to the Trevi Fountain. It took a while to walk there from the bus stop and in the rain, the girls were getting cranky and upset. As soon as we got there the heavens open up and it just poured down rain. The rain couldn't take away from the immensity of this master piece. We threw our coins into the fountain as legend has it, if you throw a coin in the fountain, you are ensured a trip back. Without 3 small children would be great. Maybe when they are older teenagers. Once we were satisfied with our sight, we made our way up tiny streets and ducked into a coffee shop for cappucinos and gelato. Ruby was very happy to get her rain coat off. That evening we returned to the Trevi Fountain as we had been told and could only imagine that the fountain is at its height of beauty when light up by its underwater lights. It really was beautiful and I feel so blessed to have been able to see it.

We walked again for what seemed like hours getting to the fountain and then to find a restaurant. The girls had so had it by then and so David and I found ourselves carrying alternate children through Rome's winding old streets. This is the Castel Sant'Angelo which we didn't get a chance to see up close. It is definately on my list for places I would like to see again if we should ever return. This is also a scene from the Angels and Demons book as the setting of the Illuminati lair. That is not what begs my return however. It is the fact that it was built between 135 and 139 AD and is now a terrific museum.

We ended up not stopping until 11:30 pm at which point Ruby decided she wanted to freshen up after a long day of sight seeing. Yes, she is brushing her teeth in the bidet! At the end of this day, we all had very comfortable and sound sleeps.

The next day we took Rome by foot, feeling refreshed and more confident that it wouldn't pour with rain. We visited the Basilica Santa Maria degli Angeli which faces the Piazza Barberini. This Basilica is very different from all others as there is no true facade. The simple entrance is set within one of the coved apses. I took some photos inside but sadly they didn't turn out. Nathania, your camera would do it justice and you'd love it!

When we walked inside the sight was phenominal. Michelangelo achieved an unexampled sequence of shaped architectural spaces. The plan is developed from a Greek cross with its cubical chapels at each end and boasts one of Rome's largest organs. Designed by Michelangelo and built inside the walls of the Baths of Diocletian, Michelangelo started its construction in 1563 but it was finished by Jacopo Lo Duca, nephew of Fr. Antonio and pupil of Michelangelo. I had done some research in my "spare time" on sights to see in Rome and some brief history research on those sights so that I could better and be more fully impacted by what I was seeing. My children, however, did not share my interest and I found myself and David running around after them in this enormous open space and telling them to whisper constantly. I did not get a chance to fully appreciate this Basilica unfortunately as it would have ideally taken me some time just to really observe and imagine what it would have been like to build this magnificent church. I did though get a glimpse and witnessed some of the most historical architecture in the world. For that, I am pleased. This is a picture taken from the center of the Piazza Barberini with a view of the very different way Michelangelo situated this place of worship. I can honestly say I have never seen anything like this.

We continued on our foot your and I attempted to do some shopping but that wasn't working out with 3 tired children and a husband with a broken back from the day before. I had hoped to get some items (hand bag, scarves etc...) but all we walked away with was (and this is a bit pathetic) a snow globe of Rome. I know, I know but I have many lovely photos of beautiful Rome and my family in those photos. Those are priceless memories.

While attempting to shop, we came across a little street which had a very different kind of shopping. It was priest and nun shopping alley. I walked in amazement as I couldn't believe that the priests actually have to buy their own robes for all the different church celebrations. And Nuns! They have to buy there grey, drab, dull nun outfits. I don't know how I thought they dressed themselves and I suppose I assumed they were given these "holy clothes" by the church. Store after store were priests and nuns shopping for their holy clothing. For some reason I am still really in amazement by this. Why did I think that all the fancy urns and candle holders etc were giving to the parish? Now I see the parish has to raise the money and buy it for themselves on this, the Holy Alley.

Just down from the Holy Alley was our next destination. The Panthenon! I studied it in Grade 9 Art History with Mr. McKeon and although those classes kind of put me to sleep, I sure was trying to remember what he had taught me the moment I saw it! Built by Marcus Agrippa as the Temple of the Gods of ancient Rome. The building is circular with a portico of three ranks of huge granite Corinthian columns at the front of the building. When you enter the Pantheon you are welcomed by its famous Roman architecture, but most especially the dome ceiling with a central opening called an Oculus which is open to the sky. This dome, as well as the Temple itself, was built in 126 AD and remains the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world. Maybe the Quebecers should have taken some notes when building the Stade Olympique! My brother was saying that he had heard that the oculus does not allow any water to enter it even when it is raining but that he had never met anyone who had been there on a rainy day to check. Well, its safe to say that rained on and off for most of our time in Rome and we saw it for our own eyes, a roped off section, directly below the oculus which had a large puddle from the rain. What is really cool about this oculus is that it is the only light in the Panthenon. Another really cool thing, if you are a Dan Brown fan, was the Tomb of Raphael. Apparently we were not the only Dan Brown fans as this tomb was very busy with picture taking and activity. I do suppose however, some of these people were excited about Raphael's tomb because of its art history significance. I was telling the girls this sarcophagus held the remains of a very famous artist. They were struck by how small it was and wondered if he was a "little person." How politically correct are they? So cute. We did a few self portaits of ourselves with the dome ceiling in the background. We had lost David and Ruby in the crowd. Its just amazing how in 126 AD they were able to mould these "coffers" and put them all together on scafolds and suspend it. Amazing really! Not to mention that fact that it has survived earth quakes and wars.

Our next sight to see, as time was running short and we were going to have to think of getting to the airport in only a few hours, was the Piazza Navona. This beautiful area, is essentially a city square lined with restaurants and shops and boasts the Fountain of Four Rivers at the center of the square, which was created by Bernini. This piazza was also the scene of another Dan Brown action shot. This fountain was the fourth alter of science and the site of the murder of the Cardinal Baggia. Of course if you watched the pitiful movie, it is where Tom Hanks saves the Cardinal.

Walking all day long was proving to be hard on the girls again and whining was starting get really bad. Ruby on the other hand just did as she does best and passed out in the stroller for 2 hours! So we stopped in at one of the restaurants and had a delicious lunch. Evelyn entertained us by counting all the bobo's she had on her feet from our past 2 days of sight seeing. Gabrielle on the other hand was just happy to sit. As was I to be honest. The restaurants specialty was... Fish. The waiter seemed bugged that none of us ordered any of their fresh fish. Italians! We did however, have fun looking at them. After lunch it was time to say goodbye to Rome. I loved this city and the sights were so worth a few blisters on the feet. I hope to return and appreciate more of the beauty.I tried again to do some shopping but the girls had really had it by then and did not have the patience to wait around for me. So nothing more was bought! Sigh. I did see something really interesting that I thought worthy of taking a picture. In London, we have the Fire Fighters calendar, with hot men in very exposed clothes holding their hoses as they put out your fire!!! In Rome... they have the "MEN YOU'LL NEVER HAVE" calendar which shows off the Vaticans best young priests. Some of them reading the bible but others looking into the camera and right into your very sole, tempting you to do what no Catholic girl should do.

I should stop there as my mother reads this. LOL!! Mister August was hot and had a really sexy look in his eyes... or should I say Father August? Who's your Daddy?! Okay Okay I'll stop now. So we were off to our next destination, Club Med Napitia in the Calabria region of Southern Italy. We couldn't wait for our well deserved ultra inclusive vacation and time to rest and relax. Club Med, here we come! Blog to follow.
Alison xx