Arrivo dei miei amici

Today, Davin and Christal arrived, so we are headed to the Borghese Museum and gardens, which is another house of the Medici and another example of a popular tourist spot that requires reservations and planning to visit.

On the way to the museum we passed the pantheon and the Spanish Steps.

The walk up the hill to the museum\garden provided some stunning views of the city.

 
The walkway up to the garden.

The garden is the largest park in the city by far.  You can rent bikes, segways, golf cars, two seat bikes that look like go-carts, and 4 seat bikes that look like golf cars.

The villa is filled with art.  The most well known pieces by Bernini are here.  Each room was floor to ceiling art.  The artists lived on the property as they worked on each room.  It was nice to see the art IN the space that it was designed for.

There was also a train that took us around the massive park that use to be the Medici's backyard.

After a horrible cafeteria lunch, we headed back toward the hotel for more Giolitti gelato.

On a piece of advice from the guy below or Davin and Christal's cabbie, we decided to head down to the river front to a local hangout.

We passed by the area by the Vatican on our way down to the river front.

They were still working on it, but there was shop after shop being built right on the water.  Mexican Cantinas, Indian Food, Hookah bars, foos ball tables.  Even artificial beaches with palm trees.

This was a Mexican restaurant with license plates from the United States as decorations.

The house white wine was excellent and so was the food.

Go to 6/21/13