We made it! After months of planning, and constant alternating between excitement and anxiety, we boarded a plane, flew for 9+ hours over the Atlantic and landed in Rome.
Overall the flight was mostly uneventful. Being the first flight of that duration with two young children, it could have gone either way, but as we boarded and got comfortable, the boys spread out and went to sleep. Allison and I tried to sleep, but were less successful.
We landed at 11:00 in Rome. Silas developed a cough while we were on the plane and as we approached customs, we were “randomly selected” to take a rapid COVID test. Thankfully only Allison and I had to take it and we were both negative. Other than that we made it through customs smoothly and our prearranged car was waiting for us.
After a short commute from the airport we arrived at our apartment adjacent to the Piazza di Santa Maria Lberatrice. Since our place wasn’t ready yet, we dropped our bags and explored the neighborhood. The boys played at the playground which, in addition to a normal playset, is covered with what seems to be one of every push toy ever created by man. In exploring the neighborhood, we ate our first suppli, which are a Roman street food. They are balls of rice, tomato sauce, and melted mozzarella that are then breaded and deep fried. Needless to say, there will be many more suppli in our future.
Later that evening we went out for another walk before dinner. Back at home, we typically eat pretty early and are usually the ones dining alongside those taking advantage of the early bird special. This is likely going to be one of the bigger things we’ll have to adjust to because Italians eat later and rarely are restaurants opening before 7 or 7:30 PM. So while we waited we went for a walk along the River Tiber. We walked past the Aventine hill and then crossed over the river to meander through Trestavere. It was beautiful to get our first glimpse of the city in the twilight and to walk the narrow alleyways seeing the city awake from its nap as tables were being set out and strings of lights were coming on over outdoor restaurant patios.
Finally it was time for dinner and the walk had definitely fueled our appetite. We stopped at Pizzaria Remo, a small pizza place at the end of our block and enjoyed our first taste of authentic Roman pizza, margherita and salciccia e funghi (sausage and mushroom). After dinner, came the time the boys had been waiting for, gelato time! We found a gelato place close by and the boys got cones with chocolate while I got ricotta alla’arancia (with orange) dipped in chocolate and Allison got a mix of a chocolate cherry flavor with a marsala wine flavored gelato apparently churned by hand. They were all delicious!
Before coming, I tried to learn some Italian, which I’m very grateful for. It’s made figuring things out a little less intimidating. What’s funny is that, while I am trying to speak Italian when I can, it’s pretty clear, probably because of my accent, I’m not, so those I’m conversing with end up talking to me in English, while I fumble through Italian and it becomes very ironic. But I’m still going to try and continue to learn while I’m here because it’s fun and why not.
Overall, the first day here was pretty magical. I’m looking forward to all that’s to come.