Did You Guess — Rome?

Just bursting with adventures to share. Mini-adventures, to be sure, but delicious enough to this temporarily solo-travelling woman-of-a-certain-age.

But I’ve been out wandering all morning, managed to order my lunch from the table despite the restaurant actually being self-service at lunch and despite my limited Italian (the servers never used English although I’d guess they have some), and the realities of jetlag and vino bianco insist on a nap. Now.

So just a quick OOTD (it’s 26 degrees here today, a challenge for my Fall packing, but I’m wearing Vince sneakers, a JCrew T, and my wide-legged Citizens jeans, an M0851 bag), selfie-style…

And a photo of the model of Galileo’s pendulum in the Basilica of Santa Maria and the Angels and Martyrs above and of the Meridian Line in same, below

Before I sign off, do have a peek at my last post if you’re at all interested in stories…a few lovely readers have thought up some clever “postcard stories” in response to my “love locks” photos. Still time for more contributions before I choose three readers to send postcards to. Not a huge reward, I know, but perhaps such creativity is its own reward. Certainly, I’m delighted by what I’ve read so far.

But now sleep calls, my friends. A dopo…

33 Comments

  1. Patricia
    26 September 2016 / 2:33 pm

    Yes, I guessed! I just couldn't imagine where you would go for 10 weeks, especially on your own (at first). I have no doubt, though, that you and Pater will venture further afield in due course.

    Enjoy this time with your Roman family – I'm sure they are delighted to have you!

    • materfamilias
      26 September 2016 / 2:45 pm

      You did guess correctly, Patricia! In fact, I'll only be on my own until October 9th when I meet Pater in Paris. . . (and doesn't that sound romantic!)
      The plan was to spend time with the Roman crew, but problems with their schedules came up after I'd booked, and I decided to come anyway — we're meeting up with them in Berlin later.

    • Eleonore
      27 September 2016 / 8:18 am

      When are you going to be in Berlin? How much time have you got? Should we meet? Can I take you somewhere?

  2. Catherine
    26 September 2016 / 2:58 pm

    Enjoy your solo holiday, Frances, and very romantic to be meeting up with your husband in Paris!

    I feel ambivalent about solo travelling, mostly about struggling with different languages, approaching strangers for help, and how to buy tickets on scary machines with no-one around to help, but it is certainly rewarding too. I think it brings out my buccaneering spirit and jolts me out of my comfort zone. Have fun x

    • materfamilias
      27 September 2016 / 5:59 am

      I know! There's just such a ring to that meet-up phrase, isn't there?!
      I'm the same way about traveling on my own — it's not easy — the scary machines, yes! But there are rewards that remind me of strengths I've let languish, even disallowed. Here's to buccaneering! 😉

  3. Madame Là-bas
    26 September 2016 / 2:58 pm

    We might have been jets passing in the sky. I left Gatwick yesterday at 10.00am
    and arrived home at noon Vancouver time. Roaming in Rome solo sounds like fun!
    Are you staying in a hotel? The weather in Europe has been fantastic. I walked along Regent's Canal Saturday and it felt like summer! Enjoy!

    • materfamilias
      27 September 2016 / 6:01 am

      I wondered about that — my plane landed in Heathrow just before 2 yesterday, and the next one left a few hours later.
      I love Regent's Canal and it must have been a lovely walk in this weather.
      Yes, a hotel, perhaps a bit too budget, but clean and friendly and almost comfortable…

  4. Georgia
    26 September 2016 / 3:22 pm

    Roma si! Enjoy 'walking' around the city with you.

    • materfamilias
      27 September 2016 / 6:01 am

      Glad to have the company! 😉

  5. Anonymous
    26 September 2016 / 4:16 pm

    I'm amazed at what you are packing into your life just now . A normal house move , not involving islands , would exhaust most of us . Have fun .
    Wendy from York

    • materfamilias
      27 September 2016 / 6:02 am

      Honestly, Wendy, I'm exhausted from it as well and taking it slow in Rome. Probably booked this too soon after the move but then again, the time to ourselves away from the need to settle decor issues is probably good.

  6. LPC
    26 September 2016 / 4:52 pm

    I guessed, but not that you'd be there solo! Enjoy! Rome is one of my favorite places.

    • materfamilias
      27 September 2016 / 6:03 am

      It's worked its way up my list as well. Thanks!

  7. Anonymous
    26 September 2016 / 4:57 pm

    Lovely photos e buona vacanza a Roma. Sounds like you have a fabulous trip planned and off to a great start. Once again am amazed by your ability to travel with carry on luggage. Lots of excitement in your life just now and you seem to be thriving on it. Hope the sun continues to shine for you.Mary

    • materfamilias
      27 September 2016 / 6:04 am

      Thanks, Mary. Honestly, I find the carry-on easier than trying to struggle with large cases. In the teeny hotel room I'm in right now, there'd be no space!

  8. Unknown
    26 September 2016 / 6:08 pm

    Mater, If you find yourself in need or any art supplies, I highly recommend Ditta G Poggi. It is near the Pantheon. I always go there when I visit Rome and I never leave empty handed.

    • materfamilias
      27 September 2016 / 6:05 am

      Okay, I'll make an outing of that, although I have to take care not to overload given the carry-on only. . . but turns out there's no Cerulean Blue in the watercolour travel kit I bought. . . So at least I could buy a wee tube…

    • materfamilias
      27 September 2016 / 6:21 pm

      Popped in there today, Kristine, and thank you for the recommendation — what a wonderful store. I was very good about resisting, knowing that I'll need to cart around whatever I buy — still have nine or ten weeks of stretching my carry-on. But wonderful temptations and gorgeous subtle, old fragrances, and products and possibilities I'd never thought of. And I'm quite delighted to have a small pan of Cerulean Blue bought in Rome, that I will use to paint a few Roman skies.

  9. hostess of the humble bungalow
    26 September 2016 / 6:34 pm

    I had no idea where you were jetting off to…have fun!

    • materfamilias
      27 September 2016 / 6:06 am

      Will do my best! 😉

  10. Anonymous
    26 September 2016 / 8:58 pm

    Sick with envy.

    • materfamilias
      27 September 2016 / 6:06 am

      I'd like to say I'm sorry. . . .

  11. Mardel
    27 September 2016 / 12:25 am

    I'd guessed as well, but solo! Have fun. I think you are far more adventurous than I feel at the moment.

    • materfamilias
      27 September 2016 / 6:07 am

      Oh, I was so filled with trepidation. . . sick, really. But it's all right now. (In fact it's a gas)

  12. Anonymous
    27 September 2016 / 6:22 am

    Buyng Cerulean blue in Rome….before meeting Pater in Paris!Poetic!
    And so grown up!
    Dottoressa

    • materfamilias
      27 September 2016 / 6:12 pm

      You could not have left a better comment, D — sometimes I love being grown up! 😉

  13. Eleonore
    27 September 2016 / 11:09 am

    Although I knew the fameuos quote from "The Devil Wears Prada", I wasn't quite sure what cerulean blue really looked like. Today I looked it up in the dicitonary. Yes, definitely the thing to buy in Rome.
    I love wandering about in beautiful cities all by myself. Within a week I will be roaming the streets of Vienna for a few days. I've never been there and I am so excited!
    Enjoy your wanderings. Perhaps this time you can spare a moment to have a look at the "cimitero acattolico", Via Caio Cestio, 6, with the tombs of Keats and Shelley as well as Antonio Gramsci, among many others.

    • Eleonore
      27 September 2016 / 11:11 am

      What happened to my spelling? "famous", of course! And "dictionary".

    • materfamilias
      27 September 2016 / 6:17 pm

      I never knew this precise colour until I took the watercolour class — now I love to toss the word around! 😉
      There's something absolutely delicious about having a beautiful city to myself. I love travelling with my husband, and that's much easier, but this, for all its awkward moments, and just damn tough stuff, quite honestly, this can be sublime.
      Oh, I've heard wonderful things about Vienna. Can't wait to hear. And as for that, yes! I'd love to meet up in Berlin. Can you email me contact info and I'll let you know our dates? my email address is fsproutATgmailDOTcom (substituting those signs for the At and Dot, of course.
      Meanwhile, I will make that outing to the cemetery one of my days' goals… Thank you!

  14. Duchesse
    27 September 2016 / 1:05 pm

    Oh joy, ma's taking us on a trip! So happy you've retired (any lingering doubts may be dispelled by Sept. in Italy!) Looking forward to hearing all.

    • materfamilias
      27 September 2016 / 6:12 pm

      It's true, K, nothing like a trip at a formerly verboten time of year to make retirement seem like the gift that keeps on giving.

  15. Susan A
    27 September 2016 / 3:34 pm

    I had a feeling it might be Rome. We were there last Sept. Highly recommend Centrale Montemartini. You will have the museum to yourself. Walk there via Ostinese and stop at the cimitero acattolico, Volpetti on the way. Avanti!

    • materfamilias
      27 September 2016 / 6:18 pm

      Thanks Stella! I will put that day together — perfetto!

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