After 4 days of heavy sightseeing, Monday is going to be a slower day.  As we came out of our hotel, we were shocked at the lines of people waiting to get into the Vatican (the entrance is just across the street).  Clearly, Monday is not the day to sightsee in Rome!

Prior to arriving in Rome, we were totally intimidated by the breath of sightseeing activities and the size of the city.  When we arrived in Rome, we were overwhelmed.  The map of the city makes everything look so far away.  After 4 days of walking (not one taxi, subway or bus ride), we realized that the city is not that large (at least the tourist part of Rome).  We really have gotten to know the area and have found that it is easy to get around.  Tourists are everywhere with maps in hand.  While Lesley was in a store, David even helped some Americans find their way.

We made a quick stroll through one of Rome’s best-known food markets, the Campo de’ Fiori market.  The market is filled with great colors, smells and tastes and made us hungry.  We always like to visit the most popular outdoor market in each city and were surprised that Campo de’ Fiori was much smaller than the major markets in Buenos Aires, Sydney, Melbourne, etc. given that Italy, especially Rome, is a foodie’s paradise.

We crossed over the Fiume Tevere (Tiber River) into Trastevere which is a charming medieval neighborhood with loads of cafes and restaurants without the crowds.  We headed toward the Piazza di Santa Maria which felt like the heart of this labyrinthine district.  We walked into the unassuming (from the outside) Basilica di Santa Maria and were absolutely stunned by its beauty.

After lunch in the shopping district, Lesley could not resist purchasing a few Italian-made shoes.  Fortunately, she was limited to buying only two pair because she will have to drag them around for another 3 months of travel!  On Tuesday, we fly to mysterious Istanbul for 7 days where we have two day trips by air to both Ephesus and Cappadocia.