Tobin Blog: Roma Post

As part of the Spokane Tobin’s visit to Ireland, we decided to go to Rome. Unfortunately the flight schedule and Paty’s work schedule did not mesh at all, so it was just the Spokane contingent and I. Paty had to stay home and make some money to pay for all of these trips!

Our apartment was very nice, we had a great location and we saved a decent amount of Lira versus a hotel. The place was located 50 feet from the most famous pizza joint in Rome, Baffetto. And also four blocks from the south end of Piazza Navonna.

As I was in Rome exactly 9 weeks to the day earlier, it was my time to continue with the ‘tour guide Chris’ persona. Since we were so close, our first stop was Piazza Navonna.

This was very early in the day and I think the Spokane contingent was a little overwhelmed by the myriad sights and sounds of Rome. It is somewhat of a sensory assault after the calm of Galway. Later in the day, Mike and Kate asked if we were going to Visit the famous Piazza Navonna. I told them that we already had, then since they were questioning my guide abilities I had to scroll back to this picture to prove it to them.

Next stop, the best Cappuccino in Roma, according to no less source than the NY Times. Café Estuchia. In keeping with the spirit of the trip, this was Mike’s first cappuccino. Not first in Italy or first today, but first EVER. Going here for your first cappucinno is kind of like getting your first dark beer at the Guinness brewery, so I think his expectations are not set very high. As much as I love and miss Starbucks, I just don’t think it will match up. We went back here every morning of the trip after the initial stop. Needless to say, it was good!

Continuing with tour guide Tobin, it was the Pantheon.

It is impossible to do the Pantheon justice by taking pictures inside. With all the great sights of Rome it might be sacrilegious to say it, but I think that this is my favorite monument/building/historical sight in Rome. Okay, after the Sistine Chapel. That ceiling really is something else.

Next it was the Trevi fountain.
I was able to pry Lexi away from Kate for a minute:

Notice, the coin toss. One coin means you will come back to Rome. BUT, you need to throw said coin over the left shoulder with the right hand. Notice that someone is blocking my left shoulder:

Then it was north through the shopping districts to the Spagna Piazza, better known to us English only speaking people as the Spanish Steps. Built by the French for the Spanish in the heart of Italy. There is a really good story that goes with that, but I will not bore you on this blog. I am sure you can google the story if you are really curious.

Next on Tobin’s Grand Roman Tour it was Piazza Popona:

At about this time the Spokane Tobin’s realized that Lexi really hadn’t ate for, well let’s just call it most of the Roman journey, so no better place than the steps off some beautiful random Roman church to feed the baby:

There might have been some lingering guilt that helped out, but notice Lexi’s brand new designer Euro-baby poncho:

This photo was taken in front of my favorite wine bar in Rome, and also known as Lexi’s first wine bar. On a side note, the floor of this bathroom is also where Lexi got her first #2 diaper change in Rome.

Yes, there are good Irish bars in Rome:

And yes, they do let babies in. According to the Guiness factory tour, Rome has the second most Irish pubs of any city in Europe outside Ireland. In case you wanted to know, the most are in Berlin.

The next day in Rome, we kept up our impersination of a tourist. The Spokane contingent took the touristy business to the next level here:

Then it was back to the apartment to drop off the portait and pick up our passports as we were heading to another country:

Vatican City.

Inside Saint Peter’s Basilica:

From this point on you might notice a very large bump on Lexi’s forehead, no we did not drop her. She just learned the hard way not to do a header on the marble floor of Saint Peter's Cathedral.

The next day we got a guide to take us on a walking tour that Natalie Tobin recommended. She did this same tour one year and one day ago.

Lexi is either really happy here or Kate just pinched her and she is about to burst out in tears. Either way, good pictue:

Back to the Trevi fountain to throw the coin over the 'correct' shoulder:

We ended our walking tour at the Coliseum. It was a very clear night with a full moon. Nice evening for a stroll through the city.

When the baby has a #2, you have to change her. And sometimes you just have to make the place you are work. Besides, how many people can say they had their diapers changed in the shadows of the Coliseum?