Keeping Nana out of Jail

 

So Doug, what’s up with the police cars? I hear you say.  Well, let me tell you a story……

So it’s late Saturday afternoon and we are engaged in a very satisfying power nap (NEVER underestimate the power of a nap after traipsing around Rome during the hottest part of the day during a historic heat wave).  Every few minutes I hear this large helicopter fly overhead.  From the sound of it this is a big Coast Guard sized chopper like we have back in the states.  This goes on all afternoon.

Power nap accomplished we head out for the evening to see Rome.  Our original plan was to get a cab to Piazza Navona and then walk to the Pantheon and Trevi Fountain.  The front desk calls a cab and says they will be there in 6 minutes.  We stand out in our little street/alley.  10 minutes, 15 minutes, 20 minutes…….  No cab.  Front desk calls them back and a very animated discussion in Italian takes place.   It turns out that there are pro-refugee protesters doing demonstrations and the police have blocked off our street/alley to vehicle traffic.  At this point we decide to take a walk and head for the Trevi……….  We walk to the end of the block and look to the left:

It’s the freaking Collosseum!  Good grief.  Where else would you see a 1,900 year building as you are out for a stroll.  as we cross the street and turn right we run into the corner church:

There are churches EVERYWHERE in Rome.

Here’s another one.  Just walk another block and look right.

At this point the choppers are getting louder and we can see ahead where they seem to be circling…..

Nana:  “let’s go see”.

We strike out towards the sounds of civil disobedience.   We round another corner and:

 

It’s freaking Trajan’s Column!  Just standing there.  Another piece of history nearly 2 millennia old.

Now the choppers are really getting loud.  We continue towards the source of civil disobedience…….

Next to the massive Victor Emanuel monument the protesters are speaking from a bullhorn.  The police are surrounding them with barricades and horse mounted police.

Nana:  Can we get closer?

At this point the following conversation is going through my mind:

Arbor:  Why was Nana arresterd in Italy?

Me:  Well, Nana tends to be curious and the Italian equestrian troops don’t have much of a sense of humor being called out on a Saturday …….

At this point discrection was the better point of valor.  I took some more pictures of Trajan’s column (and the church next to it) and we beat a hasty retreat.

Now it’s off to the Trevi……