We arrived in Rome as the storm broke—lightning flashing, fat drops plopping, water rising in the street. We hopped on the bus to the city center and the storm passed by the time we arrived. We decided to walk the 16 minutes to our hotel, which was a mistake. It was 9 p.m. when we got there and the kids had crashed from their sugar load at the airport. We had to force them back out into the jasmine-heavy streets for pizza, which we found easily and brought back to the rooftop terrace of our excellent hotel. The kids are such troopers. They were so tired. But we spent their first night of summer vacation having pizza and wine in Rome surrounded by night-blooming blossoms on the breezy fourth floor terrace, the sounds of the city below rising up whenever the soccer game got exciting.
Eloise helping with our suitcase 
The kids and I have a suitcase. Chris needed his own suitcase. 
So tired 
“Everything is so yellow. Orange, tan, yellow, brown, golden,” said Isaac while we waited for our pizzas.
“Yeah, it’s old time colors,” Eloise said.
“There’s so many pizzerias,” Isaac added. “Everyone I see is eating pasta or pizza.”
Earlier today at the airport Isaac looked out at all the airport activity and said, “Ok, I want all this in legos!”
So today was pretty much Isaac heaven.
Cruising the Boardwalk in Ostend
Skiing Under Duress
Market Flowers
Our Loire Valley Itinerary