Journal 5

Sunday, June 18, 2006
Day Five
Today is Sunday and we return to Rome. Stacey, thinking the back roads wouldn’t be crowed decided to take the scenic route. Thirty minutes into the trip we realized that everyone must have decided to take the scenic route also, because it was stop and go, and bumper to bumper traffic.. I took a Dramamine and laid the seat back. Stacey thought I spent the next two hours sleeping, but I was really listening to the Italian radio station, trying to give myself a mini Italian emersion lesson. My eyes were closed most of the time, but I did spent a time peeking up at the tall pine trees that I could see lining both sides of the road. I knew we were on the section of road that is called the Apian Way, which is one of the oldest highways in the world. The Romans built it thousands of years ago. In some sections the modern highways are actually built over portions of the original road, and hundreds of trees still line both sides for miles. We were told that the Romans planted the trees along the roads to help shade their armies when they marched them into battle. I will have to remember to tell that to my students. Just before we arrived back at the hotel, we stopped at a little store and picked up some fruit, bread, and a few other items to eat in our room for dinner. I cleaned house when I got back, which consisted of arranging the fruit and bread in the middle of the little table, and putting the suitcase back up against the wall. We decided to walk up the road later on in the evening instead of getting back on the treadmills. It was nice to get outside. A wedding party was pulling into the parking lot when we got back. Weddings are a big deal in Italy. You won’t find cans being dragged behind the get-a-way car, but you will see several cars with white bows attached to the hood or antennas. The Italian men look even sharper in these suits compared to their everyday work suits. Young boys wear a suit or their best linen. Young girls are always in dresses, and the women, now that’s another story. I think I can spot an Italian woman in any crowd because of their cloths. They are much more interesting to look at then the American woman. But even more so at a wedding_ No respectable Italian woman would show up in anything other than a designer shoe, designer handbag, lots of jewelry, and a very classy dress.. They are not afraid to sparkle or wear something that shows off their figures, no matter what shape they may be in at the time. Back in the room, Stacey received Father Day phone calls from the boys back home. Matt and Kendall painted a nice picture for us when they said they were sitting on the back porch drinking their morning coffee watching the dogs take sun baths. Later, as I was looking out my window at the hedge and getting ready for bed, I had a thought that stopped me in my tracks. I did not have a glass of Lemonchello today_ RATS___