Family Time in Rome

We departed Praiano and headed to Rome to pick up my brother Ron, Rose Ann and their daughter Gena.  The drive from the Amalfi Coast to Rome was uneventful, other than Naples traffic we sailed up the autostrade pushing the little Fiat to get to the airport on time.  I am likely in for.a speeding ticket when I get back stateside.

We did get a nice view of Mt Vesuvius, our trip several years ago with the kids included a hike up to the top, highly recommended.

 

Their flight arrived at 12:30 and we had just the plan to help them combat the jet lag, a visit to what Rick Steves and others call the hidden gem of Rome, 

Ostia Antica,  This was the port city for ancient Rome, the most important port in the entire empire, 10 minutes from the airport, and virtually un-visited by tourists.  It was perfect to get out and walk among the 2000+ year old city for the afternoon after the long flight, I highly recommend it.

The place is really interesting, the city's size and layout really lends one to imagine life back in the Roman Empire times, the shop keepers, the bars, the security, all are evident.  Additionally it is now inland a couple miles as the land has shifted with silt from the river, that physical change to our land in a relatively short amount of time is quite interesting to me.

The crew

 

This was a gym where they boxed, no weight classes, and a spa:

 

The forum of Ostia Antica.

 

The garden and theater

 Only the Ostia bigshots sat in the first three rows, the marble seating, at the theater.

 

We then headed to B&B Zoe in the heart of Rome's dining district, Trastevere.  The place was very convenient, comfortable, and after a nice meal at a restaraunt on Piazza di Santa Maria we crashed for the night.  

Ciao