The Adventures of Two Pregnant Women, a Toddler and Myself

The graduate students had a three day field trip to northern Lazio and southern Tuscany this past weekend. On Friday, they went to Caprarola and Bagnaia, on Saturday, Pienza and Montepulciano and Sunday, Siena.

Palazzo Farnese in Caprarola

Villa Lante in Bagnaia

Papal Palace in Pienza

Montepulchiano

The wives of the students could not let the husbands have all the fun so we trekked up to Siena to met them. Since the program does not welcome the wives on trips not even for the bus rides, we had to find our own transportation. Figuring out how to get to the different towns, deciding not to go to all of them because of the amount of transfers and the organizing of all of the travel details took us a few days to do. Judy, Mercedes and I decided that we would travel by train on Saturday to Siena exploring the city until the husbands arrived Saturday evening then leave Sunday evening.

While George and the other husbands were on the field trip on Friday, we enjoyed leisurely walking around Roma, popping into shops, eating gelato and visiting San Agostino. George enjoyed the toy shops we went into and then slept for a good chunk of the afternoon luckily missing out on the shopping.

This is the leather store near our apartment that I have been in quite a few time to drool over their stuff. One of the ladies loves little George. Every time I walk in she remembers us and asks how Georgie is doing. (She knows his name.)

Our Lady of Childbirth at San Agostino

A famous toy shop near the Pantheon in which there are Pinocchios of all sizes. I bought George's first souvenir here!

At 6:30 am on Saturday, we headed towards the Ponte Sisto to hail a taxi (we got it in about a minute!) to take us to Termini. In Termini, we had a little difficulty figuring out the train system. Getting the tickets was easy but deciphering the ticket and knowing whether or not to validate it was a whole other story. It was at this point I was thinking if only we were in the States this would be so much easier. There would be signs everywhere explaining this in every language under the sun and there would be clear cut rules to follow. We finally figured it all out with the assistance of the information booth attendent and a female cop which were little adventures in and of themselves.

In Italy there is no such thing as a line, one must be aggressive and go where you want to go regardless of other people. So as a person used to lines, I tend to be at a disadvantage. Also in the States, I normally view cops as people who can help someone and being a woman, I normally go to the male cops because they tend to be nicer to me than female ones. So using that previous experience when needing help in Termini, I approached two male cops. They could not have been less helpful. They kept talking to each other until I loudly said "Scuisi" and when I asked my question the best I could in Italian/ gestures, they basically waved me off. Finally a female cop came up to me and helped me. Previous experience in the States will not always help me out here!

At the start of the train ride, the four of us had a whole compartment to ourselves but about haft way on our first train a younger Italian man came up to us and told us that we were in his and friend's seats. We tried to say that we did not think there were assigned seats and even if there was would he mind sitting in the many other available seats. But no he was very insistent that these were his seats and he must have them so he kicked two pregnant women, a toddler and myself out of the seats and the compartment. Is chivalry dead in Italy? And on this note, in Rome and while traveling we have encountered many stairs. In order to get up or down them, I hold the heaviest end while Judy or Mercedes (both pregnant and visibly so) grab the other. Only one man the entire time I have been here has asked if he could help us!

On to more pleasant things to share... Giorgio loved the train! We read one of his favorite books "Freight Train". I am not sure he realized that we were reading about a train on a train but he seem to be excited about the whole experience anyway.

Our navigator, no wonder we got lost later on ;P

We arrived in Siena around 1 pm and we all sighed with relief. It was not as bad as any of us had imagined and now that we have taken the trains it should make it easier for next time. We walked to our hotel, checked in and got to the room to freshen up. While freshening up, Giorgio got a bloody nose and in order to stop it I pinned him down, Judy squeezed his nose and Mercedes tried to distract him so he would stop screaming.  Thank you God for friends who are willing to help and to a child who consistently makes life interesting!

While in Siena we literally saw most of the city. We went to San Domenico, to Catherine of Siena's home, went into over a dozen ceramic stores, to the Campo and to the Duomo.

San Domenico

Duomo taken from outside of San Domenico

One of my favorite moments was eating gelato in the Campo while little George was napping (if he is awake then I have to share my gelato).

Around 6 pm, we heard that the bus the student's were on had broken down so they were delayed. Knowing that news we decided to stay out in the city. So we rested a little at a cafe and then we went on to explore more shops. When we began to gradually make our way back to the hotel, we ended up getting turned around twice and thus accidentally explored the rest of Siena.

When the husbands arrived, we headed out to lovely dinner to celebrate Judy's birthday! Giorgio was great! He had slept during much of the walking around Siena so he ended up staying up quite late!

I recreated two dishes that we had at dinner a few days after we got back from Siena. I made an appetizer of pecorino cheese, crisp pears and honey then the main dish was steak, arugula and tomatoes tossed in balsamic and pecorino cheese on top. George bought the cheese in Pienza (home of Pecorino cheese) for me as a nice surprise!

On Sunday, George, Giorgio and I headed out after breakfast slowly making our way to the Duomo for mass. We had been told mass was at 11am at the Duomo but it ended up being in the church on the opposite side of the piazza, Santa Maria della Scala. I was a little disappointed since I wanted to go to mass at the Duomo again (we had gone when we had first arrived in Italy.) But it was great to be introduced to this gem of a church as it is easy to ignore it when the magnificent Duomo is right there.

The fresco over the high altar is Santa Maria della Scala

After mass, we walked towards the Campo going into shops, grabbing lunch at a neat little formaggio/ salumerie shop and then spending time appreciating our surrounding in the Campo.

Around 2 pm, George went to meet his classmates and professor at the Duomo for a tour and I went to meet Judy and Mercedes at the hotel in order to head to the train station. Our train ride back to Roma was uneventful. We all enjoyed resting our legs after all the walking and seeing beautiful Tuscany go by. Georgie especially enjoyed the sights outside the train. At times, he vigorously pointed outside and talked very passionately. Wish I could know what he was so excited about!

Giorgio and I enjoyed our adventures with Judy and Mercedes and are looking forward to many more to come! The next field trip the students are going on is to Venice, Vincenza, Ferrara and Florence! The wives are planning on tagging along. We have been also talking about taking a day trip to Assisi soon!

Playground delights

We found a playground about a 10 minute walk from our apartment and near the market, butcher and bakery that I like to shop at. So since we found it we have been visiting it at least once a week, sometime twice.

Late last week, Dad finally was able to come with us to see Giorgio in his glory. He was trying to do all the things the big boys were doing in and had such delight in them. I think he enjoyed showing off for Dad as well.

His favorite part of the playground is the slide. When we put him at the top he has this look of absolute pleasure, then when he starts to slide down his face changes to terror and finally at the bottom he is giggling with pleasure and pointing at the top of the slide insistent on going again.

I tried my hardest to photograph this adorable event but none of these photos do it justice. But they at least help to imagine it.

Over the weekend, George had a field trip to Caprarola, Bagnaia, Pienza (home of Pecorino), Montepulciano (amazing wine) and Siena. So the wives decided to meet the husbands in Siena for Saturday and Sunday. Giorgio and I traveled with two of the wives, both pregnant. We had many adventures along the way and will post about them soon!

Giorgio the Gorilla

Recently, Giorgio has been mimicing Mom and Dad more. This morning he saw me brushing my hair so he wanted the brush and then started to brush his own hair.

There is a book we have called "From Head to Toe" in which on each page an animal does a movement and then the readers are asked if they do it to. Well his favorite page is when the gorilla thumps his chest and he can do it to!

Also this morning, Georgie found a coin that was on the ground. He carried that thing around with him everywhere for about 30 minutes (No worries G-Ma and Nana, I watched him like a hawk to make sure he did not put it in his mouth and I cleaned his hands well afterwards ;)! ) He is my little miser.

Over the weekend, one of George's assignments was to watercolor the gate to the Farnese gardens on site! He did such a wonderful job!

It was a neat assignment for him as the first watercolor he did at Notre Dame was this gate and now he was able to paint the same gate but while actually in front of it!

Georgie and I met George at the Farnese gate when he completed the watercolor and from there we walked to the Lateran. Wow! It was the first time I was there and I want to go back at least a few more times. There was so much to see and take in that I need more time to do so.

This is where the Holy Stairs are! Emperor Constantine's mother, Helena, went to the Holy Land and brought back to Rome with her many reliques of the Passion. One of these being the stairs Chris walked up to meet Pontius Pilate. One can climb up them on ones knees. 

At the top of the baldacchino are two figures, one is St. Peter and the other St. Paul. Those figures are actually reliquaries for the heads of St. Peter and St. Paul.

Relique of the table where the Last Supper was.

For mass on Sunday, we went to the NAC (Pontifical North American College). We had dinner with Brandon Macadaeg on Thursday and he invited us to come to mass on Sunday at the NAC where he goes to the seminary. How could we turn down mass in English? It was so nice to be able to understand the reading and the homily! We got to the NAC early for mass so Brandon showed us around. The highlight was going to the roof and seeing the view of Roma and the Vatican!

We have been spending more time at home this week as I am trying to fight off a cold and George is working hard on a project in studio. (Will post photos of it once he is finished.) But we have been planning a trip...

Begin Rome-ing...

Now that we are settling in, we are all either together or separately exploring Roma!

Little George is exploring not only Roma but everything now that he is primarily walking! Last Thursday, he walked from the kitchen to the bedroom all by himself. This was the first time he had taken more than a few steps alone. Ever since then he has been going! At nights when I try to put him to bed, all he wants to do is walk even when he is stumbling around clearly exhausted. He is just too excited to sleep!

Here is video of one of those evenings:

Last Friday, George went with his professor and fellow students outside of Rome to Hadrian's Villa and to Villa d'Este. They went in order to study the gardens of each places since their first project is to design a garden on the Palatine. George really enjoyed both places but his favorite with Villa d'Este.

(The last pictures were of Ville d'Este, the following are of Hadrian's Villa)

Georgie and I met up with Mercedes and visited two of my favorite churches; the Gesu and St. Ignatius Loyola. I love both because on the ceilings of each is a fresco of heaven and when you look up it really feels as if you are looking into heaven.

Sorry it is sideways- I cannot seem to turn it so you are just going to have to turn your head...

On Saturday, George, Giorgio and I went roaming and we ended up going so many places. To the Circus Maximus...

On the way around the Palatine Hill, we passed at stopped at an amazing pastry shop (will be visiting there again) and found an organic market were tasted some yummy cheeses!

Tarpeian Rock, what traitors where thrown off of in Ancient Rome.

We walked up and over the Palatine Hill and this was our view!

On Sunday, George had studio work to do. So we all stayed around the apartment doing work of some sort. You can see what little George was working hard on! Like father, like son.

On Monday, Mercedes, Georgie and I went to the Pantheon and listened to an audio tour of the place that we downloaded for free on to an ipod. It was great to learn more about this place!

Little George slept through the whole trip to the Pantheon. What a cutie pie!

After the Pantheon, we went to Santa Maria Sopra Minerva. This is where St. Catherine of Siena is buried. It also has a statue of Jesus done by Michelangelo (the above picture). I want to come back to this church and look at all of the side chapels again. Each one had such incredible art work but I could not appreciate it as much as I wanted because little George wanted to explore instead.

On Tuesday, Mercedes, Georgie and I wandered down a street that according to my tour book is the "mecca of secondhand clothing stores". We went into a few shops but soon realized that secondhand shops here are not a bargain and are really sell vintage clothing.

We then went to San Luigi dei Francesi, which is the French church here in Rome. Caravaggio painted three paintings in this church dedicated to St. Matthew. (I took photos but they came out really blurry. I will have to visit again to take better ones.) This church was also gorgeous except I did not really get to appreciate it as Georgie was throwing fits every few minutes because mean mommy would not let him go where ever he wanted.

We found a playground close to our apartment and visited it on Wednesday. Little George had a grand time on the slide, on the horse and trying to imitate what the big boys did. The cutest moment was when he got off the slide, which he loves, in order to follow this 4 year old boy around and try to imitate what he did. He wants so badly to do what the older kids do!

I am also starting to shop Italian style (going to the bakery, butcher, salami & cheese store and market instead of trying to go to grocery stores) and trying to cook more than just pasta. Hopefully I will have some updates in the food department soon!