Sophie and Nonna do Rome - Day 1

Day 1 9:50 a.m. and all is peaceful but I suspect not for long. We have left Kathryn at work - she is facilitating a climate change conference and now it is just Sophie and Nonna.

Sophie is asleep in stroller and I have bought panini for lunch for Kathryn and myself for later and I have enjoyed a small pastry and cappucino at a cafe opposite the FAO building. Sitting here watching the world go by (for 5 minutes) either stopping for coffee or on the move somewhere.

She is waking now so possibly a long haul until lunchtime when she works out she's got me and not mama.

We walked to the Piazza Bocca della Verità along via del Circo Massimo where we had a play for about an hour next to the pretty Temple of Hercules the Victor dating from the 2nd century B.C.

We got a photo of Nonna and Sophie in front of the adjacent Fountain of the Tritons - but then it got hot and Sophie got stroppy. 

We walked some more trying to ‘string things out‘ but by about 1/4 to 12 we were back at the FAO building where Sophie definitely wasn't happy and Nonna is thinking this is going to be a very long day - and week!








The FAO building is like a ‘rabbit warren’ plus the security to get in: I have my own card; I feel like a working woman - ha, ha not really in my 3/4 pants, scrappy t-shirts, not like the young smart Italian women in their suits and skyscraper high heels!

In the afternoon we walked up behind the FAO to the Terme di Caracalla and the Stadio delle Terme out along and then back again up a steepish hill to Monte Celio past San Gregorio Magna (a church attached to a Benedictine monastery).

And then to the Santi Giovanni e Paolo which is one of the largest churches in Rome and used after the 15th century for the funeral services of all of Venice's doges - both dramatic-looking buildings - and into the Parco del Celio gardens. Pleasant - but once Sophie woke she wasn't particularly happy so we had a crying baby by the time we returned to the FAO.

Fortunately it was afternoon tea so not too much of a distraction and Sophie stayed in and ‘chatted' to the participants. Once the formal meeting was over, Kathryn and her team stayed on working and preparing for the next day as well as debriefing. We did not get away until 7 p.m. - long day for all of us. 

Quick dinner out then bath time for Sophie, tidy up and into bed. We are all tired and Nonna has walked her legs off.