It's hot, really f'n hot. Ostia Antica. Busses, trains and the shitty Roman system: Roma Day 9

 We got up somewhat early because we wanted to get to Ostia Antica early since it was going to be 102 today. The plan also included heading to a beach that was not too far from the site.  The site is supposed to be pretty cool - like Pompeii but not as far.  And if you're in Rome, it is usually less time to get there than the 3-3.5 hours to Pompeii.  While we were all getting ready, the power in the apartment went out.  Once it was back up and running we headed out.

It was another shitshow of a public transport kind of day in Rome.  We waited for a long ass time time the bus near our apartment. Then Jess ran to go and get tickets and when she did, the fucking 3 bus we were waiting for rolled up and away.  

We ended up having to transfer to another bus because when we got to the station that we thought we were going to get on the train, the station was closed.  WTF.  The bonus was that we got to see these things...

We do a lot of waiting for the busses around here.  It's even worse with somoe water main leak that has caused the B line to close.  We finally made it to the train and got on.  Two kids were spinning like lunatics on the poles.  I'm not one to laugh at developmentally disabled people - and technically, I wasn't because I would have laughed no matter what.  Especially with Malcolm giggling next to me.  The guy was sitting there listening to his phone out loud so everyone could hear it.  Then a Roma lady gets on with her speaker and starts singing a song looking for tips.  The guy is getting mad because he can't hear his phone.  Then when she leaves, he leans forward and rips a really loud one.  Malcolm starts laughing.  I'm covering my face and nothing is better than farting in public.

We made our way out of the station to the site and Jess helped a Russian family understand that they did not have to pay for the train.  I'm not really sure that they trusted it, but they got on the train and didn't pay because it was free because of the train mess. 

We arrived at Ostia Antica and Neil and Malcolm took the opening shots of WWIII - and this would last most of the day.  It started over who would be carrying the bag, who hasn't carried the bag, why hasn't Duncan carried the bag and when is Isla going to carry the bag!

Before you even get into the city, you walk through the necropolis.  By Roman law, it had to be outside the official city.  There were a lot of these arched where they put the cremated remains of people.

The amphitheater - I believe that it was built by Hadrian. 

The mosaics below were to show who the merchants were.  There were buildings behind them that were the storekeepers.  There were people from all over the place as Ostia was a large port. 

Sometimes I know better than to ask.

I managed to flatten the amphitheater.

I wish I could have gotten a chance to listen to the guide because there was a lot of cool stuff to see.  I spent much of the time reffing the stupidity.  As Malcolm and I were walking, I must have stepped on a nest because I got stung by a yellow jacket - there were more on me but thankfully, I shook them off.  We stayed for probably 2-2.5 hours and I think we maybe saw half of the place.  It was really hot and we were headed to the beach for a little while before heading back for our tickets and the Pantheon.

I think this was Malcolm's favorite part of the trip so far - I didn't take any pictures of that though.

The ride home was as exciting as you'd expect...

We got in the city close to the Pantheon, and stopped at the cat colony - some ruins that tey allow tons of cats to live it.  We saw like two.  

We grabbed some gelato and then went to the Pantheon.  Then line was huge because there was a 5 pm mass.  It has the world's largest unsupported open dome in the world and it is cool.  It is where Rafael is buried.

There are 16 columns and they were all quarried and shipped from Egypt.

The ride home was another shitshow with the busses.  We finally made it, got some take out and are starting to get ourselves together to say goodby to Rome and Italy.  Jen and Jane also leave tomorrow.  It has been an interesting trip and seeing it from a very different perspective when traveling with four kids.  The rural trips are much easier - they are more relaxed and there is more stuff for the kids to do.  City attractions work for a little but then I think they get pretty bored - like today, I could have stayed in Ostia for four more hours.

After an unfortunate incident, there was some making up at the end of the day.