APPIAN WAY

Because today is the last day of good weather, according to the forecast, we opted to get out of the city proper and see some of the green, rolling country side.

Andrea awoke shortly after 10:00 am, and by the time we ate breakfast, showered, dressed and headed out the door, it was 12:30. Hey! We're on vacation! Unfortunately, we picked a bad day to be pokey, because the sites we wanted to see close at 6:00 pm.

On the way out, an American woman approached us with unused bus sightseeing tickets, which we may use tomorrow.

It is interesting that when one travels in a foreign country (at least more so than when travelling in one's own country), conversations with people occur much easier and one finds oneself engaged with persons who you might never imagine speaking.

That was the case on several occassions today: waiting at the bus stop, we began talking to a Romanian couple, who approached us asking if we spoke English so they could ask us about the bus schedule; at Piramide, Piazalle Ostiense, a son, daughter and mother from Los Angeles approached us with questions about directions; and later, a young Canadian woman from Vancouver and us spoke waiting and while on the bus. That is a large part of what makes travel so fun, interesting and gratifying (although in my old age, I find I am much more reticent.)

Piazzale Ostiense

Piramide at Piazzale Ostiense

Andrea on the Appian Way

So we ventured out to the Appian Way (Via Appica Antica). I must say that none of our guide books did a decent job of describing what to look for and where to go, so we wasted another 30-45 minutes going back and forth in search of where to rent bikes and find information on the "park."
Appian Way Park

It was 3:30 pm by the time we started rolling. By this time, Andrea was going ape shit on the Appian Way because she realized she was not dressed appropriately, she was hot, we were riding third rate bikes on cobblestones, uphill on a very busy road with speeding cars and motorbikes.


and on the way to going Ape Shit

But once we went back to replace her bike and got on a peaceful stretch of road, calm returned. Absolutely gorgeous riding on the world's first super highway, past ancient burial places.

Catacombs of St. Sebastian

To the church and catacombs

St. Sebastians

St. Sebastian relics

We stopped at St. Sebastian church (built by Constantine in 340) to visit the catacombs there. 100,000 Christians were entombed there over a 200 year period in 7 miles of underground tunnels. Apparently, St. Seastian, St. Peter and St. Paul were originally interred there before their bones were moved to their current resting places.


We then pedaled dowm a few more kilometres to he tomb of Cecilia Metella. We did not spend a long time there as itas 5:40 pm and we had to return the bikes at 6:00. However, Andrea said it was worth it because they weree the cleanest bathrooms she had seen outside of our hotel.

Tomb of Cecilia Metella

Inside examples of statues commemorating the dead along the Appian Way

Inside Cecilias

In fact, other than Cricket and Vixen, Andrea says the only thing she misses about the States are our bathrooms and to go coffee! (Really, we are so very lucky to be American citizens and to enjoy the standards, if not the quality, of life we do.)

Had we not been rushed to return the bikes, the Appian Way is an ideal place to spend an afternoon riding or walking and picnicing.

Waiting for he bus is when we met Meghan from Vancouver. We talked with her all the way back to Circo Massimo. AAt hat point, we separated and headed up he hill to St. Sabina church, a church Andrea wanted to see. there was a wedding going on, which made the trip worthwhile. we stopped at an overlook to see he hills and spires of Rome before heading back down the hill. At a rose garden, we read with interest that this plot of land was deeded to he Jews by he pope in 1645 as a cemetery to bury Chasidim outside the city walls.

After overlooking the place and stepping on the hallow ground where Charlton Heston raced chariots in Ben Hur, we found a fun little joint to eat some apertivos and dinner. 0.75 is he name of the establishment where I had roast beast (very thinly sliced and rare) with salad. Andrea had a really tasty dish of what I would describe as potato lasagne.

With food in our bellies, we trucked back to the metro and made our way home, arriving around 10:30 pm.

Tomorrow, Andrea gets to choose what to do...

Happy 24th birthday to my dear, sweet daughter, Alexi, who spent the day at Pimlico Park o view the running of the Preakness!

And thanks to Erin and Phyllis for your comments. Keep them coming!