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Pompei is a super tour for families with kids. First off, it’s only about 1-2 hours outside Rome and a very pleasant drive. Second, unlike the Colosseum, it’s all single story, so no worries about your kids plunging to their deaths. Third, there’s not much damage your children can inflict on Pompeii. After all, the place is already in ruins, and besides if a freaking volcano can’t destroy Pompeii; your kids can hardly do worse. It’s also really spread out so your kids can use their outside voice and generally run amok without much repercussions.

The guards actually laughed when Olivia jumped in here. This was actually a store that sold olive oil and this container held their inventory.

 

For a city thousands of years old, this place was remarkably well organized and pretty.

 

Unbelievably there are tons of artifacts completely intact. This is just a small portion of the stuff found here.

 

This is an actual Pompeii man. Archeologists were able to inject plaster into the volcanic remains and recreate a human form.

 

Incredible because you can actually see the sorrow and suffering just from the statues.

 

Ancient Legos…

 

Even the gardens have been recreated.

 

The frescos and carvings are still present. They are so clear, you can actually read the inscriptions.

 

This is a dining room with the original paint. The colors are still vibrant and fresh.

Original movie trailer for “Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters.”

 

A pizza oven-this design is still in use today. They actually found 28 pieces of bread inside when they excavated this oven!

 

Grace enjoying the wonderful sunshine and sea breezes of Pompeii.

 

For some reason Olivia really took to our tour guide, Vincenzo. She held Vincenzo’s hand almost the entire tour, which delighted him to no end.

 

He was so fun and so stereotypically Italian with his booming voice and expressive hands.

 

Look how pretty and perfect the day was!

 

Arrivaderci Pompeii! We loved visiting you!

 

 

 

Before this trip to Italy, I was woefully ignorant of almost everything about this country…except for its most important factoid….mainly that George Clooney lives here. I happen to know from reliable journalistic sources that he loves Lake Como and the Amalfi coast. And well frankly, if it’s good enough for George, it’s good enough for us. Today we went in search of the Italian Riviera and maybe/hopefully a sighting of George ourselves.

Travelers be forewarned though, if you are prone to car sickness, think twice about this trip. You will lose your cookies in about 30 seconds. However if you can handle the breakneck speeds, the hair pin turns and the careening buses, you will be rewarded with a magical sight of mountainside villages perched precariously over turquoise blue waters. This place really is postcard perfect.

I did not photoshop this. The colors are really this intense.

 

Perfect weather for this day trip.

 

Positano is very expensive. This meal costs 3xs more than any meal in Rome, but so worth it!

 

Chez Black is right on the water and the waiters are very handsome! The food is pretty good too.

 

Fabio-our extremely good looking driver and tour guide.

 

Amalfi coastline…

 

Grace and her still great looking hair.

 

Brian’s impersonation of an Italian Don.

 

Yeah-no comment…

 

Postcard perfect…

 

Ravello town square-even Olivia is charmed.

 

Of all the cities, Ravello is my favorite.

 

It is so stereotypically Italian…

 

They are famous for their lemons…

 

…and make all kinds of delicious and wonderful things with it.

 

 

“I’m just here for the Gelato” has been, and continues to be Grace’s daily “raison d’être”. And Italy has been a resounding success in that regard with these ubiquitous ice cream stands on every corner. Grace has managed to eat at least one a day. Brian and I try to save our calories for the alcohol, but every once in a while even our resolve weakens!”I’m just here for the Gelato” has been, and continues to be Grace’s daily “raison d’être”. And Italy has been a resounding success in that regard with these ubiquitous ice cream stands on every corner. Grace has managed to eat at least one a day. Brian and I try to save our calories for the alcohol, but every once in a while even our resolve weakens!

After an exhaustive search, Grom is our favorite Gelato stand.

 

But we don’t discriminate…

 

Coconut with chocolate for me…

 

Strawberry for Olivia because it’s pink….

 

Grace likes anything with chocolate in it.

Gelato is serious business…especially if sprinkles are involved.

 

 

Date Night! In order to see something more of Rome than just Gelato stands, public restrooms, and toy stores, Brian and I splurged on a babysitter and went out on a 3 Hour Walking Tour of Rome without the kids.

Now anyone who knows me knows I really hate any form of entertainment that resembles exercise. However, this was actually…not bad. Rome is very fun and lively at night. It’s also quite compact. In 3 hours, we saw nearly every square, fountain, and important archeological discovery the city had to offer. Of course by the end of the tour, I was sweating like crazy and dying for some carbs. Brian being the prince he is bought me an enormous cone of french fries and an ice cold Coke. And that reader,
is why I married him!

The Pantheon

 

Italian street food

 

Hard to believe how lively it is so late at night!

 

Somewhere famous…

 

The Presidential palace – note how accessible it is.

 

A nightcap in the sitting room to end a “not as bad as I was dreading it to be” night.

 

Even though Rome is a very stroller “unfriendly” city, Olivia LOVES this town. Why? Because the Italians love her back. Actually they seem to love all children, and are very indulgent of them, especially “naughty” ones like mine (thank goodness).

So far Olivia has played Leapfrog, and Hide and Seek at the Colosseum, climbed forbidden ruins, picked flowers in the park, spilled hot chocolate twice, and was even a “special” guest at a Wine Tasting event.

Last night Olivia had a rapt audience of waitstaff watch her perform bad gymnastics, sing gibberish, and clapped when she cleaned her plate.

Notice Brian’s stoic but mortified look at his kids’ antics. He is telepathically messaging me, “TIFFANY, do something about this!” Ha ha but I can’t, I have to take the pictures.

 

Hide and Seek

 

Climbing the ruins

 

Picking flowers

 

Petting strange horses….

 

 

 

As the only man in a household full of females, Brian always gets outnumbered by “Team Estrogen” as he sometimes affectionately calls us. Even so, Brian adores his girls (me included), and spoils us shamelessly.

Today our itinerary included a Salon Day and Shopping Spree Extravaganza! After getting our “hair done,” and doing some Major credit card damage, we happily spent the afternoon exploring Rome.

Until finally…Brian got a chance to indulge in his favorite part of our Italian vacation…The Cocktail Hour!

Grace getting the works-highlights, cut, blow and style.

 

No rest for the wicked…

 

We Love these bus tours!

 

Brian’s Trifecta of Happiness – a comfortable chair, a good drink, and a fresh newspaper.

 

So many choices, so little time…

 

 

A full day of sightseeing! First, a walking tour of the Colosseum, followed by gelato in the park, a carriage ride through the city, and finally, another great meal at one of the many outdoor cafes.

Spring Break Vacation!!! So while Paige goes on a “field trip” with her 9th grade class to South Africa for 2 weeks, Brian and I are taking Grace and Olivia to Italy for a Roman Holiday! First order of business after a grueling flight was a little sightseeing, some much needed spirits, and FOOD! This pizza was so good, we immediately ordered another one after polishing off the first pizza. Unfortunately, some of us still have not acclimated to the time change. Oh well…more for me!

 

Merry Christmas to all our friends and family. Happy New Year! Thank you for all the gifts and goodies-Christmas just keeps going and going for us this year. We love and miss you all!

 

Cathy Glenn Sullivan-WE ❤️ YOU! Thank for the awesome care package! It made our day this evening when we opened your box and received such wonderful surprises! So Blessed to have such a good friend! Xoxo-the Murphys.