Ah..those Spanish Steps!

Took a wild taxi ride this morning to the Galleria Borghese which is definitely a wonderful place to see some of the best art in the world in a small space! We screeched down back roads and one way streets like the proverbial bat in hell. I was damned gladI had a seat belt for that ride. I knew Romans drove like crazy people, but this was truly amazing!

After the gallery and a lazy lunch, we poked along the park behind the gallery, making our way to the top of the Spanish steps through some pretty swanky neighborhoods. While perched at the top of the stairs enjoying a place to sit and the sun in our faces, I noticed a group of unsavory types who were plying the tourists with babies and children in hand. One of the artists at the top of the hill finally came over to them and started yelling that he was sick of them and he was calling the carabinieri and they better get lost! All of this at the top of his lungs in true Italian style. Off they slunk to a lower portion of the steps.

Well, about ten minutes later, Geoff and I began to descend the stairs. The ladies began to follow and realizing I was having none of it and had a purse that was secured underneath my cape they began to buzz all over Geoff in hopes of picking his pocket of his phone which was in hand, or his wallet which was in the front pocket covered by the camera case. Anyone who knows Geoff knows he has a voice that can be heard all across the Atlantic Ocean. Fast as they thought they could distract him and pick the old pocket, Geoff booms out, "Get your hands out of my fu#*$ing pockets you bitches" whereupon the whole square seemed to stop and look as the crazy pickpockets knew they had the wrong mark and skeedadled away. I was ready to clock one of them. Good thing they don't allow those of us with concealed weapons permits to carry in Rome..........

With that little adventure, we proceeded to the Vatican where we toured for a bit before
catching two busses and returning to the hotel. We are getting really good at that now!