Roma > Campobasso

As you know we made it to Roma. Tonight we're in Campobasso, and tomorrow we'll go see the homes of the ancestors!

So, Roma was hectic. We arrived late, but managed to get to our early morning tour of the Vatican. The next day Linda woke us all at 11am! We raced to the Colliseum for our special tour, which was good, but the guide had a strong accent and it was difficult for Gram to understand her. We walked to the Carcere Mamertino after that, it's just down the street, but decided not to go in. Saints Peter and Paul were imprisoned there. New relics have recently been found, so instead of just being able to walk into the church that's been built above it and down to the pit of the prison, now you must pay for a long 90 minute tour. We had coffee instead and looked at the forum for a while, then went to the supermercato to get food for dinner and to the bread and cheese shop.

I think Gram liked the supermarket, she was chatting with a couple of Italians while we were in line. We got fabulous bread and a cheese called Burrata Pugliese, a mozzarella-like ball with soft runny creamy curds inside, really spectacular. I know Gram likes the food.

We then had a rather interesting taxi ride to the Pantheon for our free tour, ,the only free thing available in Roma.

The driver was really skilled, he had to be to drive 60miles an hour dodging pedestrians, cabs, busses, scooters, pedestrians, and trams while keeping up a non-stop stream of colorful language. Was in front and at first I thought he was crazy and talking to himself; then I realized what he was saying: Che fai Che fai cazzocazzocazzo incredibile cazzocazzocazzo Che fai vafanculo porcamadonna Che fai Che fai. he even obliged by shouting out the window at another car. Poor Gram said she had her toes curled up to her heels trying to put the brakes on!

Our driver to the airport was another story. he was right on time, drove slowly, and was super polite. He gave great instructions to get to the car rental office and even put the coin the the slot to get a luggage cart for us!

The car is a dream, we're going to have a very nice time driving around after this. A brand new Volvo 600, 6 speed. Gram refused to ride in the front saying she was comfortable like she was laying down. After suffering through a horrendous traffic jam around Rome and taking an hour to go 20 kilometers, and some heavy holiday traffic on the Autostrade, we got off onto a smaller highway into the mountains of Molise, the province of which Campobasso is the capital. Provinces and regions, think states and counties. Molise is called the province of fresh air. It's chilly compared to Roma, but very rural and beautiful. We stopped at a market selling regional mushrooms and cheeses, and Gram bought some beautiful cheese! And despite not having a map and directions that ended with "turn into street name unknown: arrive at destination" we found our beautiful hotel with very little trouble.

Gram had a wonderful meal; a nice piece of fish layered with paper thin potato slices and broiled. But the real prize here is the portiere! He suffered through my bad Italian, lengthy explanations, and impossible questions to help me locate the only evangelical church in Campobasso. It's about half-way between the great-grandparents' homes, and was definitely here when Giuseppina was a girl! Gram is thrilled that she's going to be able to see the church.

So tomorrow we see Campobasso, then off to Chieti.