Into the Depths

One of Louise's wishes had been to learn and use the Rome subway system, and after waiting fruitlessly at the cab stand outside the Vatican Museums for ten minutes we decided to follow the signs to the nearest subway, which would take us to the Spanish Steps.  It was a little farther than we had thought, and not clearly marked, but we found the entrance, got out tickets and climbed on.  Harold whipped out his guidebook and realized that if we took the subway one step further we'd be able to get off at Piazza del Popolo and be right at a church with another two Caravaggios, from where we'd be able to walk down to the Spanish Steps.  Church was right there and Caravaggios were magnificent:  Conversion of St. Paul and Crucifixion of St. Peter.  

We then walked down Via del Babuino, the "Street of the Artists."  The Artists must have done pretty well, as the street was lined with the finest names in Italian luxury goods.  Via del Babuino turns out to be the twin of Madison Avenue, as declared in a beautifully sculpted marble plaque on one of the walls.  Harold nipped into a store for a lovely Italian cologne; Louise, Annie and Daniel went ahead in search of gelato at the Piazza di Spagna.  We had our gelato sitting at the fountain at the base of the Spanish Steps; we then climbed the steps, appreciated the view and hopped back on the subway to go home.  We got off right near the big supermarket near the apartment and decided to cook in again.  Tonight was the leftover artichokes from last night (with vinaigrette instead of butter), a selection of cheese and a scrumptious sausage, mushroom tortellini with pesto, veal scallopine with a red-wine reduction, parsley and capers, and asparagus with balsamic vinegar.  Yum yum!

After dinner Harold took a nice long bath (Harold loves his bath) while Louie cleaned up, then out for more gelato and back to watch a DVD on ... you guessed it ... Caravaggio.  Tomorrow is 10:30 services at the American Church (St Paul's), then a walk through the Forum, then 5 pm tickets to the Galleria Borghese - a return trip for Harold, a first time for Louise, Daniel and Annie.