Rome Heat and a Welcome Haven

We had a wonderful 8 days in the Rome area! I have to admit though....if this had been my first trip to Rome I wouldn't be overly excited to go back. I never want to see Rome again when it's HOT! and tourists have swarmed the city. Having been there in the Spring when the weather was perfect and tourists were at a much more likable level I know that Rome can be a beautiful city to visit!

We rented a villa northwest of Rome. Villa Rosalba is in the friendly town of Santa Marinella. Our hosts Rosalba and Avaro live in a villa on the same property. They were very warm and friendly as was everyone we dealt with in that town. Villa Rosalba is shaded by several large, magnolia trees and surrounded by many colorful flowers.
The villa was very clean and roomy. We had a washer and clothesline outside off the kitchen.
We found this villa through www.vrbo.com They have rentals worldwide and it is much cheaper than staying in hotels!
It was a quiet, shaded haven after HOT!, crowded days in Rome!! Rosalba and Avaro have a dog named Benjamin and he wandered in and out of our villa. We enjoyed that as we miss our dog and cat alot :)

Sunday the girls, my MIL Vivian and I went to the Colosseum and DJ, Ben and my FIL Dan went to the airport to get the girls' tickets redone for their flight back to the States later this month.
It was unseasonably hot in Rome the first few days we were there. 85* - 90* plus humidity, lots of people and being in a big city where heat bounces off the streets and buildings.
We didn't feel the heat standing in line for the Colosseum as it was shaded. Once we got inside the Colosseum we quickly realized we wouldn't be staying long. There was no air movement and it was crowded. I'm glad I got pictures in the Spring!
The Colosseum is still one of my favorite places in Rome.

We bought umbrellas from a man who wanted 10 Euro each. We talked him down to 5 Euro each and just as we finished paying him the police started blowing their whistles and the guy took off running. He obviously wasn't legally selling his umbrellas! We had our shade though so we were happy....and a little cooler :)

We met up with the guys at a visitor center where we cooled down with water and ice cream. Then we bought hats at a (legal:) vendor.

Open Bus Tours are a fun way to see a city from a perspective you'd never get walking or driving. We got 48 hour tickets. It included 2 different bus tours. One in Rome and the other went on the outskirts of Rome stopping at different archeological sites. We did the in Rome route Sunday and Monday and then rode the archeobus Tuesday morning. The archeobus took us along some very pretty country roads.

I'll blog more tomorrow.....I'l also keep adding photos to my PhotoStream over the next couple days :)

I hope the summer heat hasn't engulfed you yet....though I know some people love the heat! No thanks :)

Blessings to You :)