Lucky 13 in Rome - Family Europe Trip Part 2

Rome was second on our stop on our family 

Europe trip.  We flew from London to Rome, 

took the train to Termini Station and then a taxi 

from Termini to our Airbnb  (click to see it - wow!)

situated on  Piazza Barberini.  (To travel to London or 

Paris on Delta from Salt Lake we can get non-stop

flights and they were much cheaper than flying to

or home from Rome.)

(Looking down on Piazza Barberini from the master bedroom.)

The only other time I had visited 

Rome was almost 25 years ago and we went  

with another couple and he drove.  We stayed outside 

of the city, and so I was least familiar with Rome, 

and was the most nervous about getting our tribe 

around in Rome. So I decided to look for an

Airbnb within walking distance of the major

sites.

WOWZA

 Penthouse BELLISIMA!!!

We were blown away with our accomodations 

after having just had a typical London place! 

Let me say I got so many hugs from everyone, 

once we walked around what we called,

ROMAN LUXE!!

Of course we all took our turns posing on

the gorgeous couch in the master suite.

SPACE

ELEGANCE

DECOR

LOCATION!!!

This place had it all and for a very reasonable 

price considering we were a party of 13.

And bathrooms - ahhhh amazing bathrooms,

After having left London with one beautiful 

bath and one small one between two rooms,

and the final one that had a tiny toilet room with

a shower across the hall - the travelers were

so amazed!

The manager told us that the owners had spent 

three years throughout Europe finding the 

decor for this penthouse suite.  It actually 

consisted of a separate Penthouse bedroom 

with couch and fireplace, table for four, large 

bathroom, a covered deck with a hot tub and 

a tiny galley kitchen (no microwave), and three 

additional bedrooms and baths that could 

be rented as a separate unit. 

We weren't doing a lot of cooking so the 

tiny kitchen didn't matter much.  We had a 

wonderful pizza and pasta place literally 

next to our front door and someone ate from 

there daily.  There were also many other places 

to eat within a block.

We got settled in about 10:00 pm, and my one son 

said that Trevi Fountain was just a couple of blocks 

away, so we grabbed a slice of pizza next door,

and headed out for a night tour.  We actually saw 

a large night walking tour on our route, so we 

felt really good about being out and about.  

Trevi Fountain has to be seen at night.  It was so 

beautiful and uncrowded. 

This was the crowd the next day when we tried 

to squeeze our way through back to our place.

And of course, gelato stands were still open, 

so we began our gelato addiction that night. 

 We had started Rome 

on a real high, a real "pinch me" experience.

I had arranged for a three-day pass on the 

Big Bus, so we could hop on and off and move 

easily around the city and sites.  Much to my 

surprise, it stopped right in our Piazza Barberini.

Our first stop was Castle Sant Angelo, 

where we immediately stopped for another 

gelato - where I had my first Passion Fruit Sorbet, 

and so had to come home and make it again.  My 

sister Jean and I had been making it since my 

trip to Bora Bora a couple of years ago, where 

they had passion fruit everything - sweet and savory!

Ms Angelina got to go along on all of the daily jaunts, 

and was just perfect for that (of course she loved

Castle Sant Angelo - she thought she was named 

after it!)

Meanwhile,

Miss Madi K held down the fort at the Penthouse - 

and relaxed in style. (Notice my darling small zippered 

purse designed and given to me by Jenna at

The Painted Apron.)  She comes on lots of my 

vacations too holding heaphones, earplugs, etc.,

all of those little things that can get lost in 

Miss Madi K.

Parents and baby joined us at the Castle. 

They were always running a little more on 

her schedule, but they easily caught up every time. 

Off we went to St. Peters and the Vatican which was 

really convenient on the Big Bus.

It was fun to listen to the history and know 

what you were passing.  The kids really enjoyed 

the hop on hop off bus. 

Although, we did more walking in Rome than

any public transit, and that was 

everyone's favorite.  Everything was so close 

and convenient to our place. 

Rome was in it's spring glory!

I realized that driving as we did last time, we missed 

so much of the charm of Rome.  Rome is made to be walked. 

Everyone decided they were in love with Rome.

That afternoon came the crowning jewel and the 

motivation for the trip - The Rome Temple of

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints,

of which we are members.  Several years ago when 

they announced the building of the Rome temple, 

I told the family I would take those 8 years and 

older.  One son and his family were expecting 

within weeks of our planned trip, so they put 

their own trip together and went to Europe in March. 

We found Uber very easy to use, rather than 

taking buses and changing them as the temple 

complex is out of town a little way.  Rome 

had Mercedes and Renault Uber vans that would 

fit 6-7 passengers and could easily handle a stroller, 

so it was inexpensive and convenient for our large group. 

Temples for our church are where families are sealed 

for time and eternity and where baptisms are done 

for our family members who didn't have the Gospel 

in this life.  

They are always open to the public for tours for 

about a month after they are completed.  After that 

you must be 12 and older and a practicing

member of the church.  We had planned on going 

to the open house, but when it was announced that 

it would take place in late January and early February, 

I told the family I would rather wait until it got warmer 

to visit Europe.

There is a gorgeous visitors' center that is open 

to the public, with a huge Christus and statues 

of the twelve ancient apostles of Jesus.

Our eight year old and the baby and I stayed outside 

and enjoyed the temple grounds and visitors center. 

While the two oldest grandkids did baptisms 

for their ancestors, with their grandpa doing the baptisms.

Hubby and I stayed later so we could do 

a session in the temple.  I was so happy to 

be there at dusk.  It is a huge temple with a 

chapel, a visitors center and family history center 

all set on a hill.  

We chose to go back there on Sunday to attend church 

in the chapel.  They provided headsets and a missionary 

translated the meeting through the headsets for us.  

I did my best to gather the tribe and get a few 

pictures of all of us together.  This is the Master Bedroom 

with the bed up on a platform in our Rome Penthouse.

Sunday after church we planned to take a picnic 

to the rose garden we had passed on the bus tour,

but just as we were getting ready to leave a 

major downpour and hail storm started, so we 

ate at home and went out later that afternoon. 

It wasn't sunny and beautiful, but the roses were glorious. 

Then we walked back to our place, passing buildings 

built around the time of Christ across the street from 

beautiful public buildings built in the 1800's.  It was 

such a grand place to walk and walk.

The Big Bus also had a purple line that took 

you down the Appian Way, where Roman 

troops used to march into Rome. 

It was so lush and green and picturesque.

Then by night fall we went over to see the 

Colosseum lit up.  You have to go out at 

night in Rome to see it in its splendor,

and so uncrowded!

Monday morning we were up early and were the 

very first group to enter the Colosseum for our 8:30 tour 

through the Gladiator's Gate.  Not all tours get to

go down on the floor of the Colosseum, so be 

careful when you book.  

I couldn't get all of us on the same tour, so

our group got to go on the floor, and we saw the 

rest of our group - admittedly they were only one 

step above us, but they felt jealous that they 

couldn't go down on the floor. 

When we had visited Rome years ago we went 

into the Colosseum but didn't take a tour.  I thought 

the tour was fascinating and well worth it,

and it included the Forum and Palentine Hill, which 

our kids loved even more than the Colosseum.  It was 

about a three hour tour.

Our lovely host let us put our bags in one room 

of the Penthouse so we could return from our

tour, grab a gelato and pizza, and Uber to the 

train station.  We loved Uber in Europe.

We all want to return to the Penthouse and enjoy 

more of Rome and Italy.

We had a couple of times when Uber didn't 

show and we got charged, but as soon as I got 

home I disputed the charge and they were taken 

off my account.  It was perfect as their vans were

perfect for a large group and the price was set.

Here we are gathered at the train station to 

go to the Rome Airport and then on to Paris.

We flew Alitalia and it was only about 150 Euros 

round trip from London to Rome and Rome to Paris, 

but they only allow a 17 pound carry on.  I had

mine pre-packed and had a family meeting and 

showed them how much they could fit in a

carry on.  They all did it!!!

They charge 25 Euros if you pay for your checked luggage 

in advance and 45 Euros if you pay at the airport. Be 

sure to do this at home as the airline's system

wouldn't accept our payments 

on our computer while abroad.

Of course we didn't know this ahead of time,

but with everyone just having one rolling

carry on, we were able to pay for only 

one checked bag.

In our next edition we are off to 

Disneyland Paris - I tried to make this

trip something that the kids would love and not be 

bored with, and something that the kid in all of us 

would enjoy!