Then Felicity took a morning nap. Gabriel and I walked to the cemetery again so that he could walk some of his wiggles out. He posed like the mermaid statue :)

Then we got on the bus to the metro to the airport. The flight was not too challenging :) Gabriel and Felicity made friends with a lady in front of us who is getting married on Saturday. Gabriel was excited to meet a bride!

Then we got to Florence. BEAUTIFUL!!! I’m already in love. But boy is it hot. 95 degrees when we landed at 5. \240Gabriel and I took the luggage in a taxi while Andrew and Felicity took the bus.

Our host Annie showed us the place (and how to work the AC!!!). We got gelato and came back to our apartment just in time to share with Andrew and Felicity.

We walked to the river, but it was so hot, we just decided to get bread and milk from a minimart. Then we came back and I nursed Felicity to sleep. Andrew went out for pizza. Yumm.

We found our way to the Duemo and had some croissants and orange juice. We had fun just wandering around. We found ourselves at the chapel of Saint Felicity!!! The lady there gave us some postcards as a present.

We came home for morning nap. Then headed out again to the San Lorenzo market for lunch. On the way there was a huge thunderstorm and it was super close, within a half mile. SO loud. So we went into a flying tiger shop (we had seen one in Copenhagen). We bought two umbrellas and kept walking.

The market was like oxbow. We got some delicious pasta. Then headed back home very tiredly through the rain for afternoon nap.

Then we headed out again, first for gelato, then we were going to walk to the Bobbili Gardens. It was closed when we got there. We walked back to our neighborhood to have dinner. We found a spot in the piazza right around the corner from our apartment. Yummy!!!

We took a little rest back at the apartment until Felicity woke up. Then we headed out for the Bibliotecha Della Oblate. On the way we saw the imitation David and got gelato at the gelateria that Andrew has wanted to visit, Grom. The melon sorbetto was so refreshing!

Gabriel, Felicity, and I went to the children’s section in the library while Andrew got lunch.

We came home and had a brief nap. Then went to play at the neighborhood park. We went to the grocery store then came home. Felicity was so sleepy so I put her to bed.

Andrew had a phone meeting so Gabriel and I went out for a dinner date in the Sancto Spirtu piazza. I got a salad and a Quattro Formagio pizza. Yummy!!!

We really liked “Primavera” and “The Virtues”.

My little angel looked at all of the paintings of Jesus on the cross and kept saying “thank you Jesus”. He looked at one of the paintings and said “Jesus looks like he’s saying “you’re welcome””.

As we were leaving I asked at the ticket office if there were any tickets to see David, and there were!!! We got tickets for 11:45. It was about 10:15 when we left, so we had some time to get gelato.

The David was pretty incredible. We met Andrew and Felicity for lunch in the Spiritu Santo Square.

We came back and I gave Felicity a cool bath. She really doesn’t like the heat, just like me, poor thing!!!

During nap I watch a little bit of Victoria. When Felicity woke up, I had some very special time with her singing “head shoulders knees and toes”. She always checked that I had all of the proper parts :) She is SO thoughtful!!! She seriously is, if she asks for something like water or a snack she always offers me some then Gabriel some then Andrew some. She wants to make sure everyone gets what they need :)

Then we all headed to the Galileo Museum. The very old instruments were incredible. His fingers were there too.

Then we walked (very hotly) to Eataly for dinner. Yummy!!!

Then we got a gelato and heard the drums again. So we went to where we thought they would come and waited on a fountain while we ate our gelato.

SO much fun!!!

Then we searched around for eggs for breakfast tomorrow. Now sleep.

Then headed to Mass at the Basilica of Saint Francis. We got there a little too early and Felicity got antsy so Gabriel and I went outside to play with her.

Mass was nice, the songs were lovely, they even sang “How Great Thou Art” in closing (Gabriel and I sing that all the time!). After Mass (when Felicity went down for a nap) Gabriel came to confession with me. Then we went to see the tomb of Saint Francis. Gabriel really liked that all of his friends wanted to be burried near him :)

I made pasta for lunch then we went to a playground. And stopped for gelato and now nap. Everyone is SO sleepy!!!

When Felicity woke up she and I went to get sandwiches from a shop that Gabriel and I found last night. She looked at all the dogs in the square and pointed to her tounge. I think she was trying to tell me that the dogs’ tounges were hanging out of their mouths :)

The festival was going on again today. We took our sandwiches and picked up Andrew and Gabriel and walked up to Rocco Maggiore. It was an incredible fortress. We enjoyed our sandwiches and wine and wandered around the garden. Gabriel wanted to pretend that we were Peter, Susan, Edmond, and Lucy from Narnia (we just started reading Prince Caspian :) ). Such a fun evening!!!

Then I gave Felicity a bath (in the shower) and nursed her to sleep. Gabriel and I played old maid.

Tomorrow we will hike!

Andrew watched Gabriel and Felicity for a couple of minutes while I got to look at the church Saint Francis built and the spot where he died.

Then we played in the fun playground outside the church for a bit. Felicity used her words to tell me that the slide was hot! I think it was the first time that she has used words to tell me something I didn’t already know! SO cool!

Then we took the bus back up. Went to the grocery store. Played in the apartment for a bit. Had some HUGE tube pasta for lunch and now naptime :)

This naptime was so nice because Andrew and I got to sit on the front steps of our apartment and chat. We haven’t had that many chats lately so it was super refreshing.

After nap we just walked the huge loop to the San Francesco Basilica. Then we went to the toy shop and got a treat for Gabriel and Felicity. Came back to have leftover pasta and nursed sweet Felicity to sleep.

Gabriel and I went out for second dinner - salad for me ravioli for him. Then gelato. The whole time he kept talking about how he and Felicity are going to live together forever as an old bachelor and old maid. And while he wants to be a florist, he’ll do whatever she want to do for a job. It’s SO SWEET!!!

Then Andrew texted and I headed home as quickly as I could without passing out (it’s hot!).

We headed out almost immediately because Felicity was ready to go! She brought everyone their shoes and hats and handed us the front pack :) We got gelato and then went to a museum under the temple. I just can’t believe that we were looking at things built over two thousand years ago!

Everyone was hot and tired so we got a sandwich at Friendly Fabrizios Place and headed back for dinner. I read almost all of Strega Nona to Felicity and Gabriel. She has such an incredible attention span these days! I LOVE story time. I can’t wait to get to Rome and buy a few children’s books in English! Then I nursed Felicity to sleep and Gabriel and I headed out to Saint Clare’s Basilica to light a candle and to pray together. I love praying with my little angel at my side. After we were done praying in front of the cross of San Damiano as we were heading out of the Basilica, I asked Gabriel what we should do next. He chose to see Saint Francis’ tomb again so we walked across town, but were too late, it had just closed.

We slowly walked back up (even though it was seven, it was rather hot!). Got some gelato and ate it at the columns of the temple. We read a little bit of Prince Caspian there. It was so pleasant to read our story in the square :)

Then got another gelato on the way down and hopped back on the train. Read a little more Prince Caspian (Felicity had fallen asleep). Then took a nice taxi to Tigre (the grocery store that we’ve been going to). Got some things for lunch. Ate lunch. Now nap :)

I headed out to Saint Clare’s again to pray in front of the San Damiano crucifix. I love seeing all of the nuns!!! Then I got a lemon sorbetto and headed up to San Ruffinos. I had read that Saint Francis, Saint Clare, and Saint Gabriel had all been baptized in the baptismal font there. SO cool!!!

Then Andrew texted that everyone was up so I hurried home. We played with bubbles and crayons in the apartment for a bit then headed out. We went to get gelato and a dinner recommendation from Friendly Fabrizio. Then we ordered some pizzas near San Ruffinos and I took everyone to see the baptismal font.

We went home, ate pizza, read Strega Nona, and I nursed sweet Felicity off to sleep.

Gabriel and I went to Saint Clare’s Basilica again and prayed in front of the cross and went to the tomb of Saint Clare. I wish so much that I had named Felicity “Felicity Clare” instead of “Felicity Grace”. Then we went to buy Gabriel a short sleeved T-shirt (he only has long sleeved and it’s HOT). He was happy to match everyone else in the square :) “Mama, everyone is wearing short sleeves or tank tops - and now I have short sleeves too!” \240

Then we went to a fancy dinner (but just ordered salad and onions for me and plain noodles for G) on a terrace in “our square” (near the temple of Minerva). I LOVE going on dates with Gabriel and he LOVES going on dates with me. I hope he always likes spending time with me.

Then Gabriel got a gelato and we read some Prince Caspian while sitting in the fountain. Heavenly.

I went out to Saint Peter’s Basilica during nap. It was a little overwhelming after the peace of Assisi. There were SO many people there!

I just ended up walking a big circle around the Vatican. It was warm and I was wiped out! The hill that we are in right behind the Vatican is very large! I got home before everyone woke up. When everyone was awake we chose to go to Villa Bourghese Park. We played at the playground for a bit then Gabriel and I rented a row boat. We all headed home and stopped at a trendy pizzeria near the metro. We were all so tired we went straight to bed.

We all must tell the truth because none of our hands got bit off!

Then we decided to get tickets for the hop on hop off bus. We walked back to our apartment and I thought someone had picked my pocket and stolen my phone. Gabriel got SO scared. He was sobbing. It was very sad.

Then we got gelato at Old Bridge. Andrew and Gabriel went to the store while Felicity and I got some more very very sweet moments together at the apartment reading Peppa and playing with markers.

During nap I just worked on booking some more Airbnb’s and answering emails. When everyone was up we headed out for a gelateria that our host Alessandro had recommended. I wasn’t too impressed. Then we took a bus to Trastavere during a huge unexpected downpour. When we got there we went to an English bookshop (the purpose of the trip) and bought replacement books for Gabriel and Felicity (I think we left all of Felicity’s books on a train somewhere in France). For Felicity I got the Very Hungry Catapiller and a boardbook and Gabriel got a book about Romans. Trastavere was a really fun region. We enjoyed roaming the streets while eating some pizza we got.

We came home and Felicity was oh so sleepy, so after reading a little more Peppa, I nursed the sweet girl to sleep. Then Andrew, Gabriel, and I had a tea party (Gabriel set the table so carefully) and read about Romans.

Then we hopped on the tour bus to take us back to the Vatican for the Angelus with Pope Francis. It was crazy crowded. But Felicity and Gabriel found a spot to run around in :)

Everyone was so wiped out. We got gelato for lunch on the way home and Felicity fell asleep in the front pack before we made it in the door.

Gabriel woke up earlyish so we went out to the sandwich shop that Alessandro had recommended so that Andrew could work a little more.

When Felicity woke up we all walked to Trastavere to try to go to the botanical gardens (they were closed). So we got dinner instead. Felicity really liked the meatballs and pasta :)

I had a nice chit chat with Mommy while Andrew and Gabriel went out for a gelato.

Then we started looking at art. We got the kids audio guide which was fun. I really liked the Raphael.

And the Sistine Chapel was beautiful. I wish I had more time to look at the Last Judgement painting.

Then we took the Big Bus tour to Trevi Fountain. It was SO crowded. Everything is so much more crowded than I remember!

Then we walked to the Spanish steps to take a metro back home. Nap :)

After nap we went to the Pantheon. It was impressive. We got gelato at a place I had read about (not impressive).

Then we walked around a bit. Andrew and Felicity went back to the apartment for sleep and Gabriel and I headed out for our pizza class date. We started with gelato at Venchi (which turned out to be a disaster - Gabriel does NOT like having gelato drip on him!). Then we walked to the meeting location, but we were a few minutes late and nobody was there! We waited for about 20 minutes then a woman came to escort us down to the bank of the Tiber where the class was in full swing!

Gabriel really loved it!

We got lunch at Termini and headed back.

After nap we went to pick up tickets for the papal audience. The nuns distributing the tickets were very sweet. They gave Gabriel and Felicity cookies. Then we came home for pasta and green beans.

Oh my gosh. It was INCREDIBLE! The audience was so lively. Pope Francis is truly my hero.

We sat among a group of older Polish pilgrims. They were very sweet to Felicity. Gabriel was super nervous that they were going to put him in the Popemobile (Sister Theresa had said that they do that sometimes and he’s been anxious ever since!).

So Gabriel stayed back with Andrew while I took Felicity up to the barricade. When Pope Francis came around I held Felicity out and a guard took her and held her up to him. It was amazing. After he left I was completely overcome with emotions and just sobbed happy sobs while holding my sweetest soft little girl. The woman standing next to me spoke Spanish and said “fortunate mama” as I was crying. Yes. I am a very fortunate mama!!!

Pope Francis spoke about keeping holy the sabbath and the necessity of rest.

Gabriel and Felicity behaved so well that we went straight out for gelato. Then played a little at home before nap.

I ran out during nap to look at the professional photos of Felicity in the Vatican. I got to walk past the Swiss guard :) When I was searching through photos on the computer and found the one of Felicity I started sobbing again. A sweet bun was waking past and I told her “that’s my daughter!” She gave me a warm hug. \240Then I got some Vatican postcard stamps. Finally I got some lunch at a cute little cafe, Arline, \240near the Vatican. I showed one of the waitresses the photo of Felicity and Pope Francis, she said that Pope Francis blessed her son and she couldn’t stop crying either. I’m not alone :)

After nap we headed to Saint Sussanas where Saint Felicity is burried. But they were closed. Then we tried to find shoes for Gabriel but failed. Finally we just got some gelato then came home for sleep. Felicity is loving story time before nursing.

Gabriel and I sewed a blanket onto his shirt to look like a prince’s cape. \240Then read some of his Roman book. Now sleep :)

Then we went to the train station and had a very pleasant FAST train ride to Naples.

There’s no sugar coating it. Naples is rough. It’s gritty and dirty and I haven’t been able to find any redeeming features about it. It’s the first time on our trip that I’ve been counting the minutes until we can go.

After nap we walked to the place where pizza was invented: Antica Pizzeria. The walk was scary and the pizza mediocre.

We came home. Gabriel and I played a beaver game that they have in the apartment then off to sleep.

It was so sad to see the casts made of the people who died from the eruption.

We took the train back. Everyone was sleepy and a bit grumpy. Gabriel got the special treat that I promised him from the flying tiger. He chose fuse beads :)

We had a nice nap, then headed for the long walk to the shop that was supposed to be like Eataly. It wasn’t. We came home and had bread and cheese for dinner then I put Felicity to sleep while Andrew had a MAC phone meeting. Gabriel and I did fuse beads. Then watched “I Lava You” to prepare for Mount Vesuvius tomorrow :)

It was so cool when we got to the top. There wasn’t any steam, but definitely a huge crater. I got nervous on the steep parts. Gabriel and Felicity are SO precious to me. I held them tight.

We took the bus back to the train. And it was late. Naptime. In Naples, even in the daylight, I don’t feel safe going out alone. So during nap I watched the second rate film “Pompeii”. It was fun to see the reconstructions of the ruins that we just saw yesterday.

Felicity and I have an hour or so of special time each day after nap. Because Gabriel likes a longer nap. I love these precious hours. She is so much fun! Today we did some laundry and she enjoyed showing me how it goes around and around with her hands. She has the most expressive, intelligent face!

I made some pasta for dinner. Then we headed to the train station. Gabriel wanted another treat at the flying tiger. He has been good at sharing, so he gets special treats :) I tried to exchange our train tickets for earlier ones to Rome (we armed cutting the Naples portion of our trip short).

I gave Gabriel and Felicity a bath with balloons (Gabriel’s idea). Then nurse and bedtime for Felicity. Gabriel and I did more fuss beads for Mama-Gabriel special time.

Then we slowly walked to Castel Nuovo. We saw some of the old town which gave me a nicer impression of Naples (still not great though!).

I cooked some pasta for lunch. While Gabriel and Felicity napped, Andrew and I had a pleasant time packing up and chatting.

We took the 4:40 fast train back to Rome.

Felicity insists upon her own seat. Since we only had three seats, I had to stand or sit on Andrew lap for a bit.

We got to Termini and it was a sight for sore eyes. It was so nice to have a taxi take us into Trastevere! I put Felicity to sleep immediately (poor sleepy girl!). \240Then Gabriel and I headed out for dinner and a gelato. First we went to Santa Maria di Trastavere because it is Sunday and we hadn’t yet been to Mass. They were in the middle of Mass so we quietly grabbed a pew. It quickly became clear that this was not an ordinary Mass (it was some special feast day). It was so hot so we left early.

We stopped at a nice restaurant and had a dinner date. Then we went to Old Bridge for gelato. It was so bad, not nearly as good as the Old Bridge by the Vatican. We actually threw our cones away!

Andrew was very happy to get half my lasagne and we a quickly went to bed although my sore throat kept me awake for a bit.