One thing we've learned on this trip is that, every once in a while, you need a day to do nothing. Today is that day for George, Molly and me. It's also rainy, so we don't feel like we're missing anything special outside.
To begin the day, we enjoyed a leisurely morning in our spacious and comfortable 3 bedroom apartment. George and I had baths, and the kids are watching their favourite TV shows on Netflix on their iPads. After a quick visit to the grocery store, the 3 of us decided to visit the local McDonald's for lunch. We theorized that Italian tourists in Canada probably have a slice of pizza now and then, so what's the difference?
As for me, I've also been doing lots of little chores online, such as checking future accommodation to make sure everything is in order, and re-checking car rentals (which, unlike accommodation, almost never require a deposit) to see if there are better deals now. As it turns out, the answer is that about half the time car rental prices go down near the date. The rest of the time there may not be any cars available, or there aren't any good deals to be had.
For example, the killer deal I got last spring for Belgium (a nice car for $28 a day) was unbeatable at the last minute. On the other hand, I just rebooked our car for the first week in South Africa. For less than the price of the small van I booked months ago, I got a full-size SUV (higher seating = better viewing of animals in Kruger Park) for a lot less money.
While the rest of us are enjoying our sloth today, Ursula decided to be productive by visiting the Vatican Museums. We were there 15 years ago sans enfants, but there is more than you could possibly see in a week. I think she was also looking forward to flying solo for a few hours, after being with George and Molly (and others) 24/7 for more than two months.
Anyway, that's it for now. We agreed to meet Ursula in front of St Peters at 4:30 to tour the church before heading downtown for a stroll and dinner, and we need to leave a few minutes early, as Molly negotiated a quick Italian ice cream before we meet mom...
To begin the day, we enjoyed a leisurely morning in our spacious and comfortable 3 bedroom apartment. George and I had baths, and the kids are watching their favourite TV shows on Netflix on their iPads. After a quick visit to the grocery store, the 3 of us decided to visit the local McDonald's for lunch. We theorized that Italian tourists in Canada probably have a slice of pizza now and then, so what's the difference?
As for me, I've also been doing lots of little chores online, such as checking future accommodation to make sure everything is in order, and re-checking car rentals (which, unlike accommodation, almost never require a deposit) to see if there are better deals now. As it turns out, the answer is that about half the time car rental prices go down near the date. The rest of the time there may not be any cars available, or there aren't any good deals to be had.
For example, the killer deal I got last spring for Belgium (a nice car for $28 a day) was unbeatable at the last minute. On the other hand, I just rebooked our car for the first week in South Africa. For less than the price of the small van I booked months ago, I got a full-size SUV (higher seating = better viewing of animals in Kruger Park) for a lot less money.
While the rest of us are enjoying our sloth today, Ursula decided to be productive by visiting the Vatican Museums. We were there 15 years ago sans enfants, but there is more than you could possibly see in a week. I think she was also looking forward to flying solo for a few hours, after being with George and Molly (and others) 24/7 for more than two months.
Anyway, that's it for now. We agreed to meet Ursula in front of St Peters at 4:30 to tour the church before heading downtown for a stroll and dinner, and we need to leave a few minutes early, as Molly negotiated a quick Italian ice cream before we meet mom...
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