We got up at 6am and left the apartment at 7 in the dark to get to Villa Borghese for a 9am tour. Took the subway to the Spanish Steps station. We had seen signs to turn right for the Spanish Steps and turn left for the Villa Borghese. Rode an escalator to the top and asked which direction. A worker pointed left. We walked down a dirt path to a sign that pointed right, and we went in to a field with somewhat of a road cut thru. After quite awhile, we decided we were wrong and started back to the subway. Met two American guys from Virginia who were on the same quest. They had a map and a phone. It was very foggy as we walked, and walked and walked. We asked questions of everyone we saw. Where is the door where we pay to visit the Villa Borghese. And we walked even more and finally found it…and our guide. I have decided there is NO WAY I’m walking back to any subway station. I’ll spring for a taxi. Those of you who know how frugal I am will realize I am desperate and worn out and we haven’t even started. Our guide, GianLuca is an art historian who gives daily guides. We are waiting for another couple to join us for this three hour tour. They are no-shows. So we start. After about 30 minutes I start feeling light headed and need some orange juice and to sit down…before I pass out. Have had no trouble with low blood sugar for eons…but I usually don’t walk three hundred miles before 9am. So we went to the cafeteria in the Villa and I have a glass old freshly squeezed orange juice and sit for a few minutes. In the meanwhile, GianLuca finds the other couple who came by cab. Evidently, their cab driver was training his son and they got into a fight and were late arriving. We all went back to continue the tour. It was wonderful! We saw many Carravaggio paintings and Bernini statues. The whole place is filled with art and amazing painted ceilings and walls and mosaics so tiny you have to get up close to realize they aren’t paintings. One darling sculpture was of two little angels and a bird done when Bernini was either 7 or 10 years old. I was making messes at 7! And 10! The gardens are magnificent also. After two hours in the villa, we walked thru the gardens of the park. The whole tour could have gone on all day as far as I was concerned….and guess who walked to the subway and then back home?
Now, I have been forgetting to tell you about the subway station where we have to go to catch the bus and walk the 1/2 mile to the Tax ID office. After we get out of the subway car, there are about 30 steps up to a huge escalator. Tallest I’ve ever seen. Then there is another of equal height. And then a third one of the same height. Then about 30 more steps. I can’t imagine how far down into the earth we started and how did they ever excavate that to build the station?
Also, after seeing that Andy put a ‘C’ in the space for sex, i decided she didn’t want anyone to think she flunked SEX…especially since she didn’t even know she was taking it! Hey I know that’s an old joke, but the opportunity presented itself….
We came home to a big pot of bean and vegetable stew we made up last night. Sure would be good with cornbread, but they probably don’t have that here.
Remember our word Domani? Tomorrow. Well Domani we go back to the tax office. Pray that the third time is the charm.
Good night, all.