We took the 610loop west instead of East...

and thus our feet are killing us because we walked the whole way. We have had a doozy of a day navigating Rome. It feels like we have been here a week given all we have done today. Here are the highlights: We have met all shifts of folks at our hotel now and have decided that we like Mario "with a dot" after his name (as opposed to the Mario w/o a dot) but the most charming part about him is that his name is really Andy. We are thinking this is like the sweet woman that does our pedicures. Her real name is Theung Foung but she goes by "Jenny" and we like her just as much as "Andy". We have't figured out what kind of birds are keeping me up at night because Ledian, the daytime staff at the hotel could not understand what we were asking him even though Anne crowed like a cross between a howler monkey and a McCaw, not once but twice, so that he would know exactly what we were asking him. Still, no clue, but I am sure he is enjoying describing the crazy American woman to his friends. So we set out today to a new area of town and made it to the piazza of flowers. Sweet little place. We found all sorts of other places we needed to see including an enormous church in route to the Capitoline Museum. So we go in and we couldn't make this up...we crashed an Italian wedding. Assuming they can't close the church for this event because its a public gov't run space, all of us that happened to be inside got to be witnesses. But the sheer irony is that the place was so oppulent and yet this was a one of a kind white trash, Italian style, wedding complete with family members with Mullets (see the pictures for proof) and girls that were smacking gum and couldn't walk in their nice heals and prom dresses. So then we get a bite to eat at an outside cafe where Anne decides to practice some acrobatic feats and bites the dust pretty hard next to our table. The tiniest, un-Fabio, was our water and jammed both of his arms under hers to hoist her up. It was not funny at the time, but we sure laughed a lot later. And by "we" I mean me. I could have thumped this fella and knocked him over but he scooped her up like his job depended on it. Very sweet but very Saturday night live from where I was sitting. So then we get our bearings and decide to go to the Colliseum and ancient ruins. Well this is where we got off track and took the 610 loop West and walked a good two miles completely around it without seeing it. Which if you have any idea of the scale of this thing, you'd really appreciate the humor. Our feet weren't laughing so much however, as when we arrived the Colliseum was closing. Nothing for a girl to do at this point but to have an expensive meal in a sicilian mom and pop restaurant. We are worn out but feel satisfied that day one in this complex city has been a success. Oh and by the way, we did see some art in the mix of all of this architecture, at the Capitoline Museum. They house a few Carravagio's in addition to some of their local favorites (Remi). Now, if we can just figure out how to use these dang phones here, we'll start those crank calls home. This is the one part of our experience we are rating as an F. The phones are just not good. If you have been here and have any advice for us, please post. Stay tuned for tomorrow, if we can top today, the blog will be a doozy. (Lisa)