May Day

Il Primo da Maggio is a national holiday in Italy, sort of their Labor Day, and in Rome that means that all the stores and businesses are closed and everyone is on the streets enjoying a gloriously warm and sunny day.

Our routine is just the same as every other day we've been here. We wake up shockingly late and then head like homing pigeons to our old neighborhood of Trastevere where we sit in the square and drink fresh squeezed orange juice and watch the world go by. Since today was our last day in Rome, we even went into the church of Santa Maria da Trastevere to ooh and aah at the mosaics and then took a sentimental walk past our old house at Vicolo del Cedro 12.

By then, it was time for lunch so we strolled across the Ponte Sisto to the Pantheon, the most perfect building in all of Rome. After the required awestruck gaze up at the dome, we had a fabulous lunch sitting outside at La Rosetta. We were on our best behavior and only ordered a half bottle of wine to go with our oysters and fresh fish.

Our post-lunch activity was another stroll. . .this time to the Piazza del Populo and then up to the Borghese Gardens. I have never seen the Borghese as crowded as today. It seemed like every Italian family was there pushing strollers and carrying balloons. Even the grass was crowded with kids playing frisbee or lovesick teenagers making out furiously. We wandered through a festival featuring food and drink from every area of Italy and Steve staunchly resisted the temptation to sample every salami and cheese on display.

Last stop on our march was the Spanish Steps, mobbed as always with tourists but worth a quick visit to see the masses of pink azaleas arranged on the steps. We walked along the river back to our hotel on Via Guilia in time for Steve to get a massage and for me to relax before we need to stroll out once again to dinner.

Not a bad schedule but it ends tonight. Tomorrow, it's on to Tuscany.