Day 6

This morning I was only intending on going to the supermarket to get some snacks and something ready for lunch time. Instead, I did buy some chocolate wafers and blackberries (which were nothing compared to what I would be picking had I been at home) but I decided to stay out and see what else is around the apartment block. As it turns out, part of the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica (Palazzo Barberini) is a really short walk away! I wasn't sure whether to go in or not because I didn't want to spend a fortune on going into somewhere I had no clue about - as it turned out it was only 3.50 € for me because I'm an EU citizen aged 18-25 (it's free for under 18s and over 25 and 7 € for non-EU) so that wasn't so bad! The building was absolutely beautiful, and the ceiling paintings too. I have to say, I was not overly impressed with the art in there though ... most of it was portraits or images of saints and Jesus' crucifixion, mixed in with dead people and naked women. I did find one that I liked though; Narciso by Caravaggio - I was somewhat drawn to it..that could have had something to do with my repulsion from seeing Judith Beheading Holofernes (I get that it's super famous, but noone really wants to turn a corner and be faced with that!) But yes, Narciso I liked a lot! One of the rooms trumped that though. It was absolutely huge. And I mean probably the size of a house huge! And the ceiling, the ceiling ... oh I was in awe. Triumph of Divine Providence by Pietro da Cortona. There are no words to describe it! 

The front of Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica

Narcissus

Triumph of Divine Providence

The back of Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica

By the time I was finished looking around I really needed to grab some food and get back ready for M and nonna, and so I finally got around to getting gelato! Well, I got a scoop of lemon sorbet too, but it counts! I got watermelon ice cream, which is almost certainly my new favorite ice cream flavor of all time. It probably shouldn't work, but it definitely does! I also was fancying fast food (I know, I'm in Rome, I should be eating the local cuisine, but sometimes all you need is a cheeseburger!) I tried McDonald's, but there was no way I was spending over 6 € just to get a Big Mac! So instead I went to Burger King and got a far more reasonably priced burger - 1.20 €. 

M didn't really sleep much this afternoon, so we blew bubbles and painted and did puzzles. This continued when F and B got home, with myself and B doing a 3D jigsaw Colosseum with the help (and impediment) of the kids!
Definitely going to sleep well tonight!
Ciao!