29 November 2015 - Happy Birthday to me!

We all had a sleep in which was great after our tiring but most wonderful day yesterday.   As instructed, I had to stay in bed for birthday morning blessings!  Luke wandered into our singing one of his endearing spontaneous ditties which went something like: "I love you Mummy, you are the best, most adorable Mummy in the whole world...etc" and then I had my cup of tea and breakfast (humble porridge as per request!) in bed.  The kids made me lovely cards and I opened my presents: A much needed new black cardigan (my old one is rather holey after a year of travel), a knitted wintry dress (which I tried on over jeans at a side of the road market) and a lovely pendant.  Annika took charge of meals and food for the day and it was perfect.  Everyone needs a daughter like her!

We trotted off in the perfect clear autumn sunshine to Rome Baptist Church for the last time while we are here.  It is such a wonderful, international fellowship that if I were to ever be back in Rome, I would head back there.  Luke, who was decidedly not going to be enjoying the morning, did willingly go up for the children's talk and participated and, joy of joys, volunteered that he'd go off to Sunday School by himself! Now, that was a great birthday gift!  The sermon was on materialism linked to the American celebration of Thanksgiving and then the Black Friday sales.  The pastor, David Hodgson, is from USA, but the congregation is a real mix. He did mention that there is much less commercialism around Christmas in Italy than in USA and I would say I also noticed the same.  Only in the last few days have we seen Christmas decorations and there certainly wasn't Christmas merchandise in shops from October like at home.  We had a great chat to Joseph, a physicist from Chennai, India who is working in Rome for 3 years.  He pretty much convinced us that a visit to Chennai was in order...and we could be tempted!!

Sunny morning in Rome!

The kids were pretty eager to get going after church as next part of the birthday celebrations was a visit to Giolitti's, the oldest ice cream parlour in Rome, established in 1890!  I remember this very classy and beautiful gelateria from my 1985 trip to Rome and the taste of the ice cream has been imprinted on my taste buds forever!  It was hard choosing two flavours each but we were all delighted with our choices.  I chose Vacanze Romane (Roman holiday) and Bailey's Irish Cream! (Tim chose Nougat and Caramel, Annika had White Chocolate and Baci and Luke chose Chocolate and Oreo - which he wore around his lips for the next hour!)

Giolitti's! First you buy your ticket, then you choose your ice cream!

When one enters Gioltti's Gelateria, it feels like the ice cream version of Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory.  It is a classy sort of magical atmosphere and it all seems a bit too amazing to enter.  Our eyes were darting along the choices available wanting to choose THE right ones for this rare treat!  I am sure if any of the kids come back to Rome, they will visit Gioltti's!

Delicious!

The choices!!!

No complaints!

Generous helpings for 2.50 Euro each

These little tuk tuk style vans are common in Rome and often two adults and sometimes a dog squeeze into the cabin!  Having been in Asia, we got used to them, but in Europe they seem sort of out of place.

He was just calmly waiting for someone to pat him!

More little tuk tuks.

 We walked through the little lanes of Rome, wending our way to Piazza Navona where the sun was blessing the entire square.  It is so lovely.  The artists were out in force and there were some street musicians playing guitars.  We were mesmerised by the spray paint artist who we have watched before.  His creation of the Solar System was so amazing that Luke decided to spend his pocket money on this bit of art.  Well chosen, Luke.  It will be great to remember Rome and the day in Piazza Navona where we saw the artist.

Piazza Navona in the sun!

See what I mean about clear sky!

Yes, it is another obelisk!

Chocolate faced Luke with painting and artist in the background.

A little bit of Christmas: tasteful and uncluttered.

The long shadows of afternoon were slowly descending and the warmth of the sun disappeared and it was time to walk back across the Tiber and down the familiar path to our Rome home.

Annika, had planned my birthday menu with perfection and created: "Mamma Mia's Restaurant" and all I had to do was enjoy it all!
 

Birthday menu!

Head of the table with dinner and Italian flag!

 

I even had a little bit of wine...which might be why my nose is twitching this morning with sneezes unsneezed if you know what I mean!

A lovely cake from our subterranean bakery which Tim and Annika chose and bought.

Happy birthday to me!!

We were all full to bursting with delicious food - a great celebration.  Movie choice is always tricky with our crew but we settled to a cute Youtube cartoon movie of Madeline Lost in Paris which was a most endearing story.  Tim and Annika used to love the Madeline books and series and Annika still loved it.  Tim chose a different movie - fair enough!  So that's another birthday, another year, in fact another very memorable year!