The family at Hadrian's Villa, Tivoli.

Roma!

After lulling ourselves into a heady coma with the fresh air of idyllic Lake Como, we headed to Rome for a little more hot, a little more grit, and a little more noise. Give us spicy! Are we not Indians, for goodness sake.

We had spent weeks excitedly planning our meeting with Alex’s mom and stepdad in Rome. What we hadn’t known was that Roland and his wife Holly were to surprise us when we arrived! We saw Roland first, and the scene was like the Fonz rolling in on his motorcycle as the crowd applauds. Needless to say, it was a spectacular reunion. We spent time in Rome catching up with each other, while being happily overwhelmed by the barrage of art and history awaiting us at every turn.

"What shall we do today?"

This Bernini elephant greeted us each morning.

The kids explore the Roman forum.

“Give it up for Wes-ches-tuh”

Pretending to sketch, but probably recording bad thoughts.

Alert! Alert! Fake Burberry! Korean tour group at the Forum!

It had been a long time; I looked on longingly and tried to blend in.

Holly, Roland, and Alex on Via dei Fori Imperiali.

Pleased with a lovely dessert.

“I’m a little old lady. Gimme your dessert!”

In a church, on better behavior.

Exploring Michelangelo’s Piazza del Campidoglio.

Alex and mom admiring the ruins of Hadrian’s Villa in Tivoli.

Among the ruins of Hadrian’s Villa.

Two old friends explore together, Hadrian's Villa.

Roland dwarfed by the ruins.

A lunch under wisteria in Tivoli.

Spiral staircase at the Vatican Museum.

Hapless tourist falling down the spiral staircase. Vatican Museum, Vatican City.

Hapless tourist falling down an internal stair. Colosseum, Rome.

Only you, hapless tourist, can manage to get yourself wedged between two ionic columns!!

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

Tripping over an ancient ruin. Hapless tourist does it again!!

Roland, your head may be stuck in this ancient ruin, but you'll never be as hapless as the hapless tourist!

Two gladiators in a bloody battle at the Colosseum.

Happier times.

Valentino retrospective at Ara Pacis Museum.

What a treat! Dozens of dresses were on display.

Work it!

Ron hacks into the Ara Pacis exhibit computer for a quick round of solitaire.

Strolling in the Borghese Gardens after a visit to the Galleria Borghese's amazing collection of painting and sculpture.

Holly and mom walk through Piazza della Rotonda.

Moonwalking, San Pietro in Vincoli Church.

Discussing the sights of the day at dinner.

Who’s this Italian beauty?

Roland and Holly taking a break in a garden café.

Our last dinner together in Rome.

A stroll at the end of a beautiful week.

Arrivederci!

Our terrace overlooking Lake Lugano at the Italy-Switzerland border

The Luxe Life

We're well aware that when you read this blog we may often be pathetic objects of your concern or pity, but let's turn the table just this time as you for once turn green with glorious envy at our tales of livin' large in Italia!

We just returned from a trip to Lake Como and Rome, aka the world capital of feeling no shame about eating two cones of gelato every day. In Lake Como, we met up with our friends from San Francisco -- Susie, a college roommate, and her husband Gabe, also a classmate from Yale, but more importantly a brother from the 'hood (Wes-ches-tuh). We rented a beautifully restored old house in the mountains near Lake Como. We had a good feeling about our Italian escape when the perfectly tanned owner, working orange pants and blonde leather shoes without socks, peeled out of the driveway in his purple Lotus followed by his bronzed pin-up worthy daughter (shouting orders at a white poodle) in a shiny BMW. The weather was nothing less than spectacular every day, and we spent the evenings drinking wine and eating an endless variety of pasta and cheese on the terrace overlooking Lake Lugano. As we expected, Gabe and Susie shared our philosophy for our time in the mountains, such as speaking only in Borat, and contemplating the limits of a human's daily carbohydrate intake.

The pre-Alps surrounding Lake Como.



View towards Bellagio.

"This will do."

"The garden needs some work and the terrace could be more generous, but this will do."

Varenna, a picturesque town on the shores of Lake Como.

We encountered the disarming-- and alarming-- Vinnie Tortellini and his back-up dancers in Varenna.

Strolling through another lakeside town

Enjoying a hike in the hills.

Loafing, and working on a crossword puzzle together in a meadow.

One day, after a circuitous walk up the wrong mountain, we had a picnic lunch ...


... and enjoyed a spectacular view over Bellagio and Lake Como.

This fellow joined us for the view. The shirt is so last season, by the way.

Did you know Gabe is a model for G.A.Y. sunglasses?

On the mean streets of Bellagio, Alex displays the "W", gang sign for "Wes-ches-tuh." Although raised in rival Lancaster County, PA -- he's cool, he's cool.

Lake Como sucks, don't you agree?

Do not attempt this stunt in India.

Enjoying the sun in Argegno, the lake town near our house rental.

"I wonder how much of this I can fit into our suitcase..."

Concrete miniature golf in Menaggio, with a view (not shown) of Villa Balbianello from Casino Royale.

Alex, leering to distract the fierce competition. Unfortunately,
Gabe kept missing the hole and lost. His punishment: closing all 48 of our
house's shutters before going to bed.

Susie and I, we is like peas and carrots...

It was great for us to watch Gabe and Alex grow closer...

They just seemed to really understand each other.

The house we rented was situated in the mountains between Lake Como and Lake Lugano. It is only a few kilometers from the Swiss border, which is evident in following pictures of the surrounding mountains.

Our temporary home, surrounded by apple and pear trees.

Sketching on the terrace.

Reading GI on the terrace.

Our evening ritual.

A hike in cow-strewn hills above the town where we stayed.

"Do you think if we milk him, gelato will come out of the udders?"


Cows = milk = gelato.
"Greetings Cioccolatto, Nocciola, Stracciatella, Menta, Melone, Vaniglia, Fragole ..."
If not for you, how would I be able to try a new gelato flavor every day?

The Sound of Tortellini. Vinnie and his back-up dancers taking it to the hills.

"What, you no like my pasta?" "Va bene!" "Pizza Pizza!"

Gabe and Susie try to share a quiet moment, when...

"Did somebody say gelato?"

Another tender embrace cut short by...

"Can anyone lend me some money for more gelato?"

"Do you think we should get up to catch the ferry?"

"Wait just a sec."

"I'm almost done. Hang on."

"Okay, I'll just walk around with these ... where's Susie?"

Stay tuned for the next episode ... Roma!