9 days in Italy

We arrived in Rome in the morning, very exhausted. We took an airport shuttle to our hotel. March is also low travel season in Italy so our trip was fairly affordable considering our accommodations. Our hotel was conveniently located by the Roman train station and a 10 minute walk from the Coliseum. We checked in to our hotel but they told us that our room was not ready so we went out for breakfast at the first restaurant we could find. The food was pretty good- spaghetti with mozzarella cheese, ham and eggs. We finally checked into our hotel and fell asleep. We were too tired and exhausted to do anything. We woke up a few hours later and walked down to the Coliseum. We stopped by for some gelato on our way. We were mesmerized by the magnificence of the Coliseum. 

The next day we walked to the train station to purchase hop-on hop-off tour tickets in Rome. As I mentioned before, I find those tours very practical when traveling with young children. They may not be the most informative but they are definitely convenient. While at the train station, the lady at the hop-on hop-off booth stated that the Roman’s had gone on strike and everything was closed so she suggested that we visit a different city. 

Leaning Tower of Pisa

Based on the lady’s suggestions we purchased train tickets to Florence since it was only a two hour train ride. While on our train ride to Florence, we met a nice Italian guy who suggested that we visit Pisa. But upon hearing how unprepared we were on this trip, he exclaimed “Wow you guys are so adventurous (in other words: disorganized). You guys have no map, no clothes, a baby, and just hopped on this train? Do you have water? No water?” He finally resolved his anxiety about our travels by stating “Well, go to Pisa, and then Florence, and just see what you can. Well you have to just see what you can. You have no other options. Good travels.” Based on his suggestions, we bought a train ticket to Pisa. We visted the Leaning Tower of Pisa. We returned to Florence and the visited The Accademia to see Michelangelo’s David. We walked around Florence. We visited the Cathedral and climbed up to the top of the Dome. We obviously were not thinking before we did that but needless to say, "we were adventurous," as the nice Italian gentleman on the train described us. After the Dome, we went shopping at the leather shops. We eat spaghetti and pizza and took the train back to Rome.

Playing in Palatine Hill

The next day in Rome, we walked to the Coliseum. We did the Coliseum walking tour; visited the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, and Spanish Steps. Our toddler was enjoying all the sight-seeing.  He had fun running around Palatine hill in the grass. 

Birds at St. Mark's Square

We visited Venice the next day. We got lost in Venice and walked from one side of the city to the other. Venice is super romantic and beautiful. We visited St. Mark’s Square and then rode a gondola. Our little guy had fun chasing the pigeons. The Venetians were very friendly. As soon as our toddler fell asleep in Venice we took the train back. The train ride is 4 hours long and we wanted him to sleep during the train ride as much of it as possible.

Vatican City

The next day after our day trip to Venice, we did a city tour in Rome. We visited Vatican City and the major attractions around there. Of course we went inside St. Peter’s Basilica. No strollers are allowed inside St. Peter’s Basilica so our toddler walked. He was pretty excited being inside and wanted to run around. But as my husband says “we kept it moving” as soon as our little guy showed signs of becoming fussy or disrespectful.  We walked to the Vatican Museum and saw the Sistine Chapel. Our toddler slept the whole time so we were able to absorb all the beautiful paintings while he slept. 

Pompeii

We took a train to Naples the next day. At the train station, a gentleman approached us and offered to take us on a tour around Naples to Pompeii and Sorrento. He would be our personal driver. The price sounded reasonable so we agreed. Pompeii was a lot of fun for our toddler. He walked much of it which was nice for him to burn some energy and exercise. We ate pizza in Sorrento which was delicious. Our driver dropped us off at the Naples train station. By this time our toddler was getting tired of all the train rides but did well on the short ride from Naples to Rome (about an hour).

Sleeping on the train

It was not too difficult traveling via train with our toddler. We tried to travel during his naps. It was funny because he would always let us know that we were at the train station. He would say “Mama, choo choo.”  He would even point out the trains while we were riding on the train. I don’t think that he realized that he was riding a train because he would really get a kick out of seeing the trains through our window. We would let him walk around the train to burn some energy. He liked to point out the sheep every time he saw them through the window.

On our last full day in Rome we took the city bus to Vatican City and visited Castel San Angelo. We also went shopping around the Piazza de Popolo. 

Making a wish at Trevi Fountain

We returned home the next day. It was exhausting and to make it worse the employees at the Philadelphia International Airport were very unfriendly. Our son became fussy and none of the employees bothered to accommodate us. Most airports have a family lane or will let families with toddlers and infants cut the line, especially if the child is fussy. It is better for everyone involved including the passengers. Most people do not want to hear a baby or toddler crying and allowing that one family to cut is not going to slow anything down. Moreover, if they are going to allow toddlers and babies to fly, companies need to accommodate the developmental needs of those passengers. We paid full price for our toddler’s ticket and expected better treatment. This was not the case in Philadelphia. Our toddler was very thirsty and was crying for water. We waited over an hour in various lines (customs, customs again, check-in). Their treatment to families was disappointing but needless to say, we arrived in Phoenix, safe and sound.

Italia

Our family spent spring break in Italy. It's a magical country to visit- so much history, culture, art, natural beauty...

However, what I learned most from the Italians is how fortunate I am to have a toddler in my life. After returning from this trip, I developed this strong appreciation for my son. I found that Italians as a whole value their children immensely. They will involve them and they will demonstrate affection to them. They truly showed appreciation for my little guy. The hotel front desk worker would always give my son a piece of candy, a hug, and a kiss on our way out for sightseeing. On our departure day, the hotel staff came out, gave my son a hug and gave us "a million thanks" for our stay. The front desk worker even let out a few tears when we left as he was giving my son his last hug. The respect and appreciation they showed for my toddler was consistent throughout the trip. On our train, various riders would take turns trying to comfort our toddler and would be amused with his energy. At one point, one gentleman even wanted to carry him in his arms and rock him to sleep during the ride. Of course, as a protective mother, I didn't allow it but I appreciated his offer to help us out. In Venice, while we were on the gondola ride, our toddler began to get fussy and our guide held him and let him row the gondola with him. As we were sailing through the canals in Venice, two older ladies stopped and serenaded my toddler as he was rowing the gondola. Other individuals would comment how cute my toddler was rowing the gondola. At the restaurants, they would always acknowledge our toddler and play with him while we were waiting on our meal to be served. They would bring a candy for him. In Naples, a cab driver approached us and told us that he would give us a discount for a tour around Naples, Pompeii, and Sorrento because we had a “bambini.”

It did not seem odd to any of the Italians that we were traveling with our little guy. The only individuals that would approach us about how odd it was to travel with our toddler were the American tourists. One young American female told us that she always thought that once you have a child, that’s all, you are "stuck" at home taking care of him. What a contrast to the older Italian male that was recommending that we visit India next year. He told us that he has traveled extensively with his son and that traveling with toddlers is actually easier because toddlers are just so happy to be involved. He said that once children turn five, they begin to complain about where they want to go. He added, “If you want to go to India, go now before your son can complain about wanting to go to Disneyland instead.” It was interesting that the gentleman never said, "Wait to go to India when your son is grown." He also never said, "Leave your son at home when you go to India." He was all about involving our son in our vacationing and comprising with his developmental needs.

This gentleman was very representative of the Italians that we encountered. Perhaps this is why the children in Italy seemed so happy to me. They seemed so curious and interested in life. While on school field trips to the Colosseum, the children were excited and thrilled to be there. Most importantly, the teachers and adults around them encouraged that excitement for life. I saw the children run and jump and everyone responded with warmth. I recall one little girl jumped and shouted "Coloseo" and the older gentleman around her just smiled. I saw another girl run to her teacher and shout "Maestra... maestra" and her teacher warmly hugged her and said "Bambini." I have worked with many different children in many different settings here in the United States: schools, after school centers, homes, etc. I have never observed so much appreciation for children. I told my husband while we were in Italy that I do not think that children seem as happy or excited for life in the United States. I’m not alone in my observations.

There is a famous Turkish saying, "You are not an adult until you have had a child," referring to the notion that in many cultures the mark of being a mature human being is setting aside all your own needs and ambitions for your child's well being and happiness. Michael Gurian, a family therapist who has studied thirty two cultures states that “children are the loneliest in America.” He adds, "American parents are most lonely too. Parents in America are most likely to adsorb their children into their busy lives and the least likely to say they would give up their busy lives for their child." After spending, a week and half in Italy, his findings really resonate with me. As a nation, we need to strengthen our respect for children. We would truly benefit from absorbing a little bit of the Italian culture and appreciating children.