Roman Holiday

After leaving the beautiful agritourism campground we headed for Rome. As we neared the turn off toward our campground, we stopped to fill up with diesel and propane. If there is one thing we dislike having to do, it’s pack up to go get fuel while we are stationary. Once we are parked, we like to stay that way.

We arrived at Flaminio Village campground just north of Rome on a gorgeous, warm sunny day. It is an ACSI site, which means rates are discounted during certain times of the year, like now. It is an odd layout, with the office at the front of the property by the highway and the actual campsites and holiday homes about a kilometer further down the road. Halfway in between is the dump station, which we pulled into to make sure we parked up with black and grey tanks empty and plenty of water onboard. But when Steven tried to empty our toilet cassette as soon as he started dumping, the spray mechanism would turn on and spit it all back out! It was the weirdest thing!

First impressions are a funny thing. We looked around and at first we really thought we weren’t going to like it there. Not only did the dump not work properly, the sites were uneven and close together. We spent some time getting level which is always a crapshoot. No sooner had we gotten that done when I told Steven I wanted to move to a different site. After working so hard to get us level, he is loath to move and he gets frustrated with me. Sometimes we just end up spinning and arguing, not really knowing what we want. Our arrival in Rome was kind of like that.

This was the first site before we moved. We don’t have a photo of the other one 🙂

Luckily, though, we found a lovely flat spot at the edge, away from the bumpy center. When we checked out the shower and laundry facilities, we also found another dump station much closer to where we parked and it didn’t try to return our deposit! Things were looking up! The shower building was amazing with rows and rows of sink, toilets and showers. But upon closer inspection….

Opera and classical music played 24/7, and water fell very loudly from a fountain inside, the sound reverberating off the tile walls. It turned out to be kind of creepy because I was usually the only one in there, I mean, to the best of my knowledge I was, and that was where the creep factor came into play. Between the music and the loud water feature, anyone could have been in there and I wouldn’t have known it. It creeped me out.

The laundry machines were expensive, €5 each. The good thing, however, is that the machines take all manner of small coins, so we were finally able to get rid of the five and ten cent coins we have been carrying around with us. That stuff is heavy!

So all in all, we came to be really happy at our campsite in Rome, which is a good thing, because we ended up staying there for five weeks. At first we thought we’d buzz south to Pompeii for a few days, but we couldn’t muster the enthusiasm. The city of Rome turned out to be quite enough for us and we made several visits to see some of the sites.

I have been to Rome a few times in my life, in fact, my first time there was exactly 52 years ago this month, when my family moved to Libya. Since this was Steven’s first trip, he was in charge of our sightseeing. We had two options for getting into the city from the campground, bus or train. For our first trip we decided to visit St. Peter’s Cathedral so we took the bus which included connecting to another bus in town. Traffic was light and so we made good time. The same was not true on the way home, however. The bus was crowded and it took well over an hour to get us back home. Plus we missed our stop and had to walk a couple of kilometers to get home. That was the last time we took the bus.

St. Peter’s Square and Basilica is really impressive and, with all the rain we had while in Rome, we were lucky to see it on such a beautiful day.
Around St. Peter’s Square.
I can’t imagine what it would be like to get into the basilica in the midst of high season, pre-COVID. It probably took us only about 20 minutes to be inside.
It would have been worth waiting in line for any time to see the beautiful interior of the basilica.
The ornate architecture was truly beautiful and breathtaking.
Michelangelo’s Pietà.
Swiss Guard at the basilica.
The Swiss Guards stationed outside the basilica are responsible for the safety of the pope. Often called “the world’s smallest army,” they serve as personal escorts to the pontiff.

The train station was just a couple of blocks further than the bus stop, so from then on we took the train into the city. From our stop into Popolo Square we walked everywhere, the Spanish Steps, The Colosseum and Roman Forum, Trevi Fountain and so on. Fifteen minutes to get into town and the same to return. It was awesome.

Popolo Square.
Statue at Popolo Square.
This street near Popolo Square was one of our favorites to explore. There were stores galore and it felt like walking down Fifth Avenue in New York.
The lights had just been put up when we arrived but would not be lit until the official start of Christmas which, in Rome, is December 8.
The Spanish Steps. Unlike Linda’s experience on her previous visits and what you see in the movie, Roman Holiday, it is now illegal to sit on the steps. If you decide to defy that law, you will be responsible for a €400 fine!
Rooftops as seen from the top of the Spanish Steps.
More city views from the Spanish Steps.
The Colosseum.
We bought tickets in advance for the Colosseum but we got the cheapest ones. When we got there, and after some confusion on our part, we though we wouldn’t have access to the grand view but that was not the case after all.
The lower level of the Colosseum.
This is one of the corridors inside the Colosseum. It felt like something out of an Indiana Jones movie. We were just waiting for the giant boulder to come speeding around the corner.
Arch of Constantine just outside the Colosseum.
The Roman Forum is located near the Colosseum and is a magnificent example of how Rome looked back at its pinnacle of power.
Historians believe people first began publicly meeting in the open-air Forum around 500 B.C., when the Roman Republic was founded.
The Pantheon. We didn’t go in because of the crowds but it’s pretty impressive outside.
The Trevi Fountain.Yes, we tossed in a coin to ensure our return to Rome!

On one of our return train trips, Steven forgot to “Mind the Gap” between the edge of the train and the edge of the platform. He caught the toe of his shoe in between and went down. He landed his right kneecap on a hard tile that was slightly raised to provide traction in the rain. Weeks later it is still causing him pain and it’s something he is going to have to get checked out upon our return to Europe.

And not only did he kneecap himself, he has also been suffering from some kind of lung issue for what we now realize has been several months. For example, in Norway, when we hiked Preikstolen, I thought he was going to die on the way up. He was just so out of breath and every few yards he had to stop and try to recover enough to go on. Knowing what we know now, he was a real trouper to make that hike (and others!) Of course, I was like, “that’s what you get for eating all those pastries, now you are just so out of shape!” and off I’d go and just motor up the hill. Now I feel bad for giving him such a hard time… kinda. I mean, those pastries still didn’t help.

Anyway, his breathing and coughing had gotten so bad he finally decided he had do something about it. I gave him some antibiotics which seemed to offer some improvement, but he finally decided it was time to see a doctor. We are members of an Americans in Italy Facebook group and we asked for advice on the best way to get medical help. Almost unanimously we were told to go to the nearest Emergency Room. Turns out we had one about four or five kilometers away from us, so we hopped on our bikes and took off for the ER.

Steven waits for a private room to isolate before being treated at the ER.

Because Steven’s issue was lung/breathing/coughing related, they could not examine or treat him until he first had a Covid test. I returned home while they did the PCR test and some bloodwork and isolated him in a private room. It took about four hours to get the results and he was negative. After that came two X-Rays. The doctor said there was evidence of an old infection in his lungs, but that he could see nothing that concerned him. He gave Steven a prescription for something, we are not sure what, although we do know it was not antibiotics, and sent him on his way. At the check out desk, Steven was given a complete write-up of his test results and doctor’s notes of his visit. He asked where he should go to pay and the receptionist replied, “No charge! Goodbye!”

Have I mentioned that we love Italy?

On December 9th we celebrated Steven’s birthday by going into Rome – at night! We are not night owls, so once darkness falls we are usually tucked in for the night. But in this case, we really wanted to see the Christmas lights in Rome and go out for a nice dinner. It was a lovely evening. I can’t say we’d return to the restaurant, because once there we were tightly packed with three other couples, all American, and it felt a bit like a tourist place. The food was really good, but you’ll see no photos because honestly it looked like vomit on a plate. Steven had liver and onions, so it was not photogenic. I had roast beef, and it didn’t hold much more visual appeal than Steven’s dish. We nonetheless enjoyed ourselves and we might try to venture out after dark more often. Maybe.

Cheers! Steven celebrates his birthday with a glass of Italian vino!
By Steven’s birthday, all the lights were on in Rome.
Nightlife in Rome. Who knew that humans are out and about after dark??

During our last week in Rome we turned our focus to preparing for our trip to the ranch in Texas for the holidays. Thanks to Covid, we have not been home in two years. We have not seen my parents or our kids during that time and we wanted to make sure we met every requirement and followed every rule so we could get on our flights home without issue. We found a motorhome storage facility just south of Rome where Bijou would stay for three weeks while we were away. We arranged to drop her off there on the 13th of December.

On one of our trips into Rome we purchased two new suitcases, hard-sided ones so we could take two years worth of gifts and souvenirs home safely, including the adorable glass Christmas tree from Venice and the bowls I had purchased in Morocco. We packed up clothes we wanted to take home and leave, and we had to clean out all our cabinets, particularly those with packets of soups or spices, literally anything a mouse could get into. We used our oven and microwave as mouse-proof storage, as well as a few tin boxes we purchased at IKEA and used last time we came home. So if a mouse does find its way into Bijou, it will be sorely disappointed in the food offerings. We also had to empty our fridge of all contents, so bye-bye condiments.

Packing up and organizing Bijou.

We washed everything and cleaned Bijou within an inch of her life, so she is ready to go upon our return. We did put our bikes on the inside and tried to anticipate any issues that might arise. We put her front tires on the blocks and purposely made her unlevel so that the constant Roman rain would run off rather than just sit on her roof and perhaps find its way into a crack to the inside. So we did the best we could to protect her and hopefully we will return to a safe and dry Bijou, ready to hit the road.

All packed up and ready to leave Bijou in storage for three weeks.

After saying our goodbyes to Bijou we made our way via taxi to an AirBnb near the Rome airport. We had a lovely room and a super helpful host who had found a nearby pharmacy where we could get Covid tests after we checked in. Our tests had to be administered within 24 hours of departure so this worked out perfectly.

Given the amount of travel we have done during the pandemic, you’d think we would have been tested multiple times, but this was actually my very first time and Steven’s second, since he got tested during his ER visit. It was easy peasy and ten minutes later we both had negative results.

At the crack of dawn the next morning we took a taxi to the airport to catch our 8:00 am flight to London Heathrow, then on to Dallas and finally, Abilene. My parents met us at the airport and took us to their house where Toadie Hopper, our little Chevy Sonic that we towed behind our big rig for nearly five years, was waiting for us. She is now a ranch car and we are happy to have her waiting for us so we have our own transportation.

On our way to the States after two years!
Our trusty Toadie Hopper.

The last leg of our long trip was the 45-minute drive to Live Oak Ranch, our Happy Place out in the big middle of nowhere. After twenty-five hours (and two long pandemic years) we were finally home. Over the next few days our kiddos arrived and as of today, we are all together. Finally!

And with that, we are caught up with our travels for 2021. But we are not finished just yet! Steven has a blog post coming up that will feature a few of his favorite photos from this year, so watch for that post in the next few days. And after that, we look into our crystal ball to try and imagine what our travels might look like in 2022. So lots still coming up over the next couple of weeks, we hope you will find time during your holiday season to spend a little more time with us.

Thank you all for your amazing support of our little blog over the year(s), we really do appreciate you so much. Happy Holidays, and here’s to a Happy New Year!


UP NEXT: Steven’s Favorite Photos from 2021


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32 Comments

  1. Carla Montori

    I am astounded that you didi not go into the Pantheon! I have been to Rome multiple times, and the Pantheon is always my first stop. It blows my socks off every time, and I would love to see a Steven photograph of the interior. Next time??

    1. 2chouters

      I know! I know! It is so difficult to see it all, even if we’re there for a long time. But in this case, to be honest, the crowd was more than we were willing to deal with. We have so far stayed safe in this global pandemic in part because we set fairly strict boundaries of what we will and will not tolerate. Another time, perhaps.

      Happy Holidays, Carla, and best wishes for a Happy New Year!

    1. 2chouters

      Thanks, Bob! Happy Holidays to you guys! I hope all is well and that you are on track for your move to Europe in the New Year. We look forward to crossing paths with you during our travels.

    1. 2chouters

      Thank you, Dolores. We appreciate you traveling along with us this year and taking time to comment, it means a lot to us. Here’s to a happy and healthy new year!

  6. Jodee Gravel

    The basilica is stunning – it feels old but on the inside it looks like it was just built! Pieta is one of my favorite sculptures, I’m so glad you included it here. Five weeks in Rome sounds wonderful – all those ruins look like the beginning of the world 🙂 I really love the energy in the photo of the street near the square, feels like I’m sitting on a bench taking it all in.

    Glad you’re safely at your Texas home enjoying family after so long. I bet you haven’t stopped smiling. Wishing you all a perfect holiday. Love and miss you both!

    1. 2chouters

      Thank you, Jodee. We are so very happy to be home. Unfortunately our time here is short, but we will take what we have and enjoy every minute. Happy Holidays to you and Bill. We will look forward to meet up with you guys again! Until then, stay safe!

  9. Vernon Hauser

    Merry Christmas and Happy New Year . Glad to hear your back in the states even if for just a short while . Your pictures are stunning and the best one’s that show up on my computer . I don’t know what you guys use or do to make them so great , but thanks . Do take care of yourself and Steven as I depend on you two take me around the world , well with your blog so to speak . Enjoy your family time and stay safe . Vern in no snow yet Boise ( the mt’s are getting hammered )

    1. 2chouters

      Merry Christmas, Vern! It makes me sad there is no snow yet! I wonder if our property in the Teton Valley has snow yet, I’ll have to look at the cameras to see! Thanks for your kind words. Like you, I don’t know what magic Steven works to make his photos look so good, but he’s been at it for a while so I guess he’s learned some stuff. You take good care of yourself, too, we have big plans for 2022! 🙂

  11. Arrowhead Gramma

    Have so enjoyed traveling along with you this past year. Your commentary and Steven’s photos are just fantastic and have brought back so many wonderful memories of travels to the same places. Happy holidays and look forward to your continued travels in 2022!

    1. 2chouters

      Thanks for your kind words and for taking time to comment. We have some big plans for 2022, but who knows what Covid has in store for us. I guess we will just all have to wait and see. Happy Holidays!

  14. Steve Colibaba

    As usual your photos of the Roman architecture are spectacular! Glad you finally made it back to family for the holidays. Merry Christmas and all the best in 2022!

    1. 2chouters

      Thanks so much, Steve. Merry Christmas to you and Dianne. It’s good to see you back out in the desert at Q, I’m sure you are thrilled to be back there. We are slightly jealous. 🙂

    1. 2chouters

      Merry Christmas to you and Ruth! We are hoping to make our way to Greece as soon as we are done in Berat, but Covid may have other ideas. Right now we are keeping our fingers crossed that our return flights don’t get canceled! If we make it back, it will be a miracle!

  16. Rhonda

    Merry Christmas!! My gift this year is following along on all your spectacular adventures. I look forward to these posts so much. Enjoy your family and I can’t wait to see where you end up next!

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