Boy Scouts, a cell phone and no hands, a freak, Holy Doors an exorcism and Jen from Arizona: Firenze to Roma Day 6

Boy Scouts, a cell phone and no hands, a freak, Holy Doors an exorcism and Jen from Arizona:  Firenze to Roma Day 6

I got up around 7:15 to wake the kids and when I went into the room where Isla, Malcolm and Duncan were I noticed that she's missing.  She couldn't really have gone far but I'm not really sure where she could have gone.  After checking the other rooms, I went back in turned the lights on and there was a rustle in the sheets and blanket on the floor...

“Hey - wha…how did I get on the floor?  I didn't know I was sleeping on the floor. Dad....did...” and keep going without a breath.

Duncan wakes up and he's flushed and says, “I need to flush my poop.”

When asked to get up and get moving, Malcolm says, "I can’t move my leg is asleep."

Turns out Duncan had a 101.7 fever.  What the fuck?  We seriously can't win.  

Someone was in a mood today...and it lasted.

We got ready in pretty decent time and got on our way out to the train.  Same seats, in the same car.  Our train was pulling in as we began walking out to the platform.  We have been through a lot of stuff on our travels.  Just when you thought you have experienced most of the traumatic shit possible when traveling, (stinky people, kids crying, touching down and then going right back in the air, watching a lady wipe her dogs ass after it shit  the list goes on) try sitting next to a pod of fucking 18 year old Boy Scouts on a train from Florence to Rome.  Holy shit - I never heard people talk so fucking much and not take a breath.  I like to put music on and try to zone out - loud enough to cover the din of regular travel - but you know you’re in a shitty situation when you can hear their fucking incessant mumbling over John Bonham and John Paul Jones’ rhythm section.  Not to mention it’s a little fucking hot for their black corduroy shorts.  The ride was generally ok, except for the Boy Scouts' troop leaders who talked more than the kids and was in the aisle for a lot of the ride.  Jess got a crotch or two in the face while we were moving.  We went to get some coffee and that was a little disaster - I said I wanted a latte - cause that's the only thing with milk and I got a cappuccino.  Listen, I like my coffee and I like to relax while drinking it.  I'm not into this suck down a shot and keep it moving business.

Got to the station and looked for a place to meet Jennifer from Australia who Isla dubbed Jennifer from Arizona.  We grabbed seats at a sushi place and Jess bought some stuff so we could sit there - while, you guessed it, Malcolm and Isla went to use the bathroom.  Not long after sitting, Jennifer arrived and we made our way down the the metro to head to our apartment and drop our stuff.  

We headed to the market near the Vatican.  We got a variety of food - for lunch and and Isla added a dog to her collection.  

There was live Italian v African arm wrestling - we're not really sure how that started, since you know, none of us speak Italian.  I should have taken pictures.  People were really excited.  I wonder if it was sanctioned like the guys playing the shell game outside of the Duomo - I forgot to mention that yesterday, I took a picture of them too.

We then headed over to the Vatican to see the square and what was going on.  It was packed.  There was a mass wedding that the pope attended to.  A woman who was behind us got a glimpse of the pope and shared her picture with us.  We headed back to Jennifer's hotel which she still had but would be staying with us for the next four days.  This was kind of a bad idea since no one could get the TV to work and Isla was out of her mind.  At some point I snoozed and they decided that it was time for gelato.  By this time, Neil had fallen asleep, so I put in an order.  The caramel was excellent - the white chocolate, not so much.

We got everyone moving in the right direction because it was time to see St. Peter's.  We were excited to go - well, the four people above thirteen were.  The other three, not so much.  It's worse than pulling teeth.  I was excited to hear Neil's take on a bunch of stuff because her really was amazed at the size of everything.  We used our Jubilee door reservations to skip the line - which was pretty excellent given how packed it was.  I'm not sure if it was since Covid or something else - maybe just because of the crowds expected, but everything was roped off and was very regimented.  In the past you could wander where you wanted and you weren't so overwhelmed with the number of people.  

Neil and I got separated from everyone else and they Shanghai'd Jess to go through the Holy Doors for the jubilee before we could catch up to them because they thought that would end their misery.  It did not.  We caught them moving towards the exit again and walked out so that Neil and I could do the door.  Unfortunately for Isla, she tripped Malcolm and was forced to come back through the holy doors for a second time.  I can tell you that they had no effect on her because I was going to ask to see if we could get an exorcism.  

Neil about to go through the Holy Doors.

We made our way back through, saw the Pieta and then went into the side area for the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament for two reasons, torture Isla and say a prayer for my parents.

We then made our way back around with Ms. Happy who had her hat over her face and bumped into and tripped no less than three people.  I mean if you can't get an as needed exorcism at the Vatican, what's the point of going?  They had reconciliation in multiple language but I can't get a simple exorcism?  She hadn't even started projectile vomiting yet.  

When we got back outside, we grabbed the others and the little ones Jess and Jen went back to Jen's to grab her stuff and get a cab because Duncan wasn't feeling great.  Neil, Malcolm and I walked back to the apartment - about a 35 minute walk.  

St. Peter

We saw the Swiss Guard...you must be Swiss, Catholic, 19 to 30 y/o and unmarried.

We stopped to grab some water and wet our cooling towels before hitting the concrete.

As we exited Vatican City, Neil, who has been struggling with why he doesn't have a phone astutely noted, that one of the homeless beggars had no hands.  He then said, "Why does he have a phone - he has no hands?  Did someone put that there as a joke?"

We made our way back to the apartment and they schooled me with all the things that are going on with their friends and any other foolishness that might be happening.  We got back to the apartment and Jess and the crew had made it back.  We went in and decided what to have for dinner - Pastasciutta - which was close by and may or not be a chain - but, it was good.

Grabbed my first beer of the trip with a Leffe on the way.

Then there was this freak:

She was doing a video outside the Vatican - I did my best to get in it - then she started doing another inside the Vatican.  Now, I'm guessing it was yoga and she is some kind of "influencer."  And by influencer, I mean douchebag. It might have been interpretive dance.  I should have asked what her name is and if she is on TT or Insta because aside from the absolutel fucking stupidity of what she posts, I might be in one or two of the videos.  Anyway, security came and the older, angry guy came over and put his hand over her lens and then they told her she needs to stop fucking around.  Honeslty, what kind of asshole takes their shoes off and does yoga/interpretive dance in the Vatican - the Vatican, one of the mostly holy places on Earth.  Even if you don't believe, you show respect.

Tomorrow is the Colosseum, the Forum and some other things.  I really hope Duncan is feeling ok, because I know he will really like it.  It's 9:30 and now we wait for Jane to arrive from Manchester.