Roman Holiday

by Marinka on November 19, 2010

The other day I’m minding my own business for once and suddenly I get an email from Husbandrinka.

I know it’s far away, he writes, but what do you think about our vacation next summer?

This is how he traps me.

Because for some strange reason I’m not thinking about our summer vacation the week before Thanksgiving. Except now that I’ve received his email, I’m thinking about our summer vacation the week before Thanksgiving. Which is precisely how people go insane and lose their minds.

So I’m thinking that usually we go to Block Island for summer vacation and how much I love that, except last year we all (especially me) almost died coming over on the ferry and how I swore that never again, lest we forget and all that accompanying stuff.

But I’m also worried that I haven’t heard any news stories about Block Island being so panicked about my potential boycott that it has been trying its best to get landlocked. So, I don’t know.

And then while I’m thinking all this, his email goes on. And it’s about how if we book our flight now, we can go to Rome on miles for like $300 for the five of us, which is, of course, pretty cheap. Except we’ll have a stopover in Lisbon. I think it’s just to change planes, but if I find out that stopover in Lisbon is code for delivery via bodily cavity of contraband, I’ll be sure to send out a tweet.

The problem with me (okay, one of the problems with me) is that I have no wanderlust. I’m a homebody. I traveled a lot with my parents when I was a kid and that pretty much cured me of ever wanting to leave home again.

My daughter is the opposite. She wants to go to every country there is, several times. It kills her that she’s only been abroad 4 times, and that includes Canada, for god’s sake.

So I do feel like I want to give her this, so that she doesn’t do one of those god-awful backpacking through Europe things when she graduates from college with honors.

What do you think?

Rome in August. Won’t it be sweltering? But I could take a dip in the Trevi Fountain.

And then do the Rocky run up the Spanish Steps.

I’m exhausted already.

One year ago ...

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{ 30 comments… read them below or add one }

Renee November 19, 2010 at 11:13 am

I did Rome in June. Sweltering, yes, but absolutely gorgeous. I was single then, and don’t think I didn’t notice the hot guys. (Of course, I would still notice them now but would be less obvious about it in front of my husband and kids…) Your daughter will love going overseas, you son can pretend to be a gladiator and you and your husband can even have some romantic time (while you surreptitiously check out “Antonio’s” biceps). GO! It’s a win-win…And let me know if you need any siteseeing tips.

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Awesome dude November 19, 2010 at 11:30 am

The country is in deep……depression.

this is a typical “let them have pastries” approach.

Italy is always great, but all the Romans will trade it for the Catskills on any day in August.

This summer was very hot, hopefully you will be lucky this time.

And yes, your daughter has a bad case of wanderlust.

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Loukia November 19, 2010 at 11:57 am

Whoa, hold up. Rome in August – you mean AFTER San Diego, right? RIGHT? Please be at BlogHer Marinka!
Go in July! And stopover in Greece, to see me. Stay with my big Greek family! We’ll feed you all well and I’ll take you shopping. Or to the beach. Whatever you want. 🙂
And if Rome is anything like Greece in August… it’s so hot it is unbearable, but at least in Greece you can just run into the ocean at any given moment…

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joeinvegas November 19, 2010 at 12:18 pm

Go. And buy her that plane ticket for the European backpack, it’s something she will remember forever. Our daughter did it – a whole year after college sleeping in railroad waiting rooms and wherever, but now that she’s tied down and dull she can remember. (didn’t do her mom any good worrying for that whole year though)

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christy November 19, 2010 at 12:23 pm

Go! I’ve been in the early summer and though it’s hot it’s ROME!!! Cool off by eating gelato non-stop – it worked for me. And you won’t even gain weight because you’ll be walking around so much!

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kimberly November 21, 2010 at 8:02 am

The walking around part killed it for me.

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Peajaye
Twitter:
November 19, 2010 at 12:36 pm

Well, clearly, Husbandrinka’s attempt to murder you last summer didn’t work so well, so now he’s trying a new approach. Don’t fall for it. OF COURSE, “stopover in Lisbon” is code for “that’s where I’ll dump your body.” Then he’ll meet his Mistrissinka in Rome. And your kids will be so excited with their European adventure, they won’t notice a thing. It won’t be ’til they get back to NY and realize there’s no one to clean Nicki’s litterbox or do the cooking that they’ll even realize you’re gone. I say, stay in California for an extended vacation after BlogHer. We’ve got everything Italy’s got – a collapsing economy, wine vineyards to make you forget, overcrowded beaches, crazy drivers, gangs who really run things, and old collapsing buildings (sure, ours are foreclosed homes, and in Italy they are important ruins, but let’s not start nitpicking.) We also have Disneyland, Universal Theme Park, Legoland, and the O.C., home to the first, best, Real Housewives.

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Kristine
Twitter:
November 19, 2010 at 1:56 pm

Oh, yes. The Spanish Steps are worth it for the photo bombing opportunities alone! Imagine all those group shots amongst the flowers!

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Alexandria
Twitter:
November 19, 2010 at 2:01 pm

i think that sounds really awesome and you should in fact go!

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CSY November 19, 2010 at 2:36 pm

Well, if you really don’t wanna go to Rome…I’d be HAPPY to fill in for you! I’ll make sure the children have fun while experiencing the history. Stay here and go to San Diego, I lived close to there for most of my life and the views (read Navy and MARINE men) are WONDERFUL!!!

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Tonya
Twitter:
November 19, 2010 at 3:07 pm

It seems suspicious to me that he is bringing up such a fab holiday idea so early in the planning stages…but then I might be projecting. I know if my spouse did this and I agreed he would then drop the bomb: “oh yea, I forgot to tell you but I have to work while we are there, and my folks are coming too…oh, and so is my ex-girlfriend from high school, you know, the one who is now a super model.” Not Good. Not Good At All. Be Very Scared.

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Gretchen November 19, 2010 at 3:51 pm

Oh my. Well. It will be hot, yes. But, come on, it’s ROME. That’s so exciting! The only vacation I ever get is to my mother-in-law’s den in East Islip, NY. Go for it! Plus, Marinka Does the Eternal City sounds like fun!

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Issa
Twitter:
November 19, 2010 at 3:54 pm

Wait, you mean the end of August right? Or mid-August right? I must know this, before I can give you a real answer.

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MommyTime
Twitter:
November 19, 2010 at 3:56 pm

Rome is fantastic. It will also be fantastically hot in August, but you can always zip on over to the coast for a little sea bathing, take a train to the hills in Tuscany, eat gelato, wander in cool, marble museums, and basically be in travel bliss to get over the heat. Or? You could go to boring old, seasick-inducing, been-there-done-that Block Island. Your choice.

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Dutch lurker November 19, 2010 at 5:18 pm

Have to come out of lurking to give my two cents here: GO! Fly to Rome but rent a house with a pool in the hills a short train ride away and do day trips. You may even be able to do a house swap, although I could never. The houses aren’t as expensive as one would think. You’d have to go for at least 2 weeks though. The point is: GO!

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Keyona
Twitter:
November 19, 2010 at 6:34 pm

While you ponder that tell Husbandrinka to ask ME if I want to go to Rome. My bags are ready….

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the mama bird diaries
Twitter:
November 19, 2010 at 7:16 pm

I absolutely love Rome and every city in Italy. Go. Please go. Go for all of us.

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dusty earth mother November 19, 2010 at 10:44 pm

The thought of Marinka blogging from Rome is too good to miss. You may just have to sacrifice for your adoring fans.

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Glamamom
Twitter:
November 19, 2010 at 10:46 pm

If you’re not up for it, I’ll go with them. We can go on that show Wife Swap that week…

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Noelle November 20, 2010 at 12:25 am

I love Italy with all my heart, even lived there. My first thought was, must go Roma! That said, Rome in August? I don’t really know how to spell that sound you make when you suck air in through your teeth, but that’s my second thought. It’s hot and muggy and buggy and crowded and things are closed because it’s the time of year all Europeans travel. Then again, there’s all that art and architecture and gelato and amazing food and shopping. I’m not helping, am I?

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Jenifer November 20, 2010 at 1:08 am

So Rome in August: HOT, HOT, HOT. Seriously, make sure you get one of those super modern hotels with a pool on the roof. And make sure you eat A LOT of gelato (as long as you walk long enough during the day to work off that gelato, thus making the pool necessary). Also, make sure to eat a lot of pastry and hot coffee for breakfast, none of that continental “American” breakfast bullshit. There should also be some shopping, making Husbandrinka sorry he ever suggested this trip. And whining about how hot and humid it is. And once you return home, there should be a lot of waxing nostalgic about how beautiful Rome was and how you can’t believe you ever left, etc., etc., etc.

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deborah l quinn
Twitter:
November 20, 2010 at 9:22 am

It will be hot but you and all the German tourists who are there will surely love the heat – think of it as an excuse to eat gelato. I love how husbands think so far in the future instead of dealing with the more immediate (and perhaps not so fun) present, like: it’s 730AM, I’m making breakfasts and lunches and NO I don’t want to think about whether I’d like to go to the theater on some night in January. But I digress…Rome or BI in August? Does it make me an ethnocentric loser to say I’d go for an island rather than the Fountain of Trevi? Couldn’t husband wave his magic miles pass so you could go in…May?

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Gdot November 20, 2010 at 11:23 am

CANADA….it’s not just for deserters anymore!

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Brenda November 20, 2010 at 11:50 am

Whatever you do, DO NOT go to Rome in August. Ditto for any large Southern European city in AUGUST! The natives leave, and you will only find other tourists, and the few surly natives who couldn’t get sick and so are stuck at work for the tourists. Go in March-June, or after August. You’ll thank me later

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Yuliya
Twitter:
November 20, 2010 at 1:59 pm

I cannot advise you in this matter because my husband doesn’t take me anywhere. Visiting his parents for mom’s special brisket does not a holiday make.
~Bitter

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The Flying Chalupa
Twitter:
November 20, 2010 at 5:58 pm

GO! For the love of all that is sweaty and touristy! THINK OF THE FOOD that needs to be eaten, THE WINE that needs to be drunk, the pockets that need to be picked! Okay, forget the last one. But I’m stuck at home with a two year old, dreaming about the day when I can go to some place other than the Cheesecake Factory. So go!

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Pauline
Twitter:
November 20, 2010 at 11:09 pm

It’s a no brainer, Marinka. Stay home and show her youtube videos of Rome.

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GrandeMocha
Twitter:
November 21, 2010 at 7:39 am

I flew Sat on AirTran. They have free WiFi. I saw the link to this on FB and I tried to read it. Your site was blocked as Porn. It made me want to read it more!

Maybe you could send hubby & kids & you could vacation at home. I love it when I get the house to myself!

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Ann's Rants
Twitter:
November 21, 2010 at 7:16 pm

I am with you and Awesome Dude. I have wanderfrigid. I thought I was alone, but now you’ve provided me solace.

Have fun in Lisbon!

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Meg D November 22, 2010 at 3:01 pm

I went to Rome for the first time at 14 and fell in love with the place. I learned Italian and went back a dozen times over the years. My little bro was fascinated with the ruins in the middle of the City and my parents loved that they could let us drink a little wine at lunch and drag us around the rest of the afternoons in woozy agreeability. It was a trip we all remember so fondly (despite that wine!) and talk about a zillion years later. There’s something about Rome…Just do it!

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