Dad's Visit

I got back from Brussels last Sunday night and my dad arrived Monday morning. I was so happy to have him coming in town! I have been so distracted over here that I hadn't realized how much I missed my family and how long it had been since I'd seen them (definitely the longest I've ever gone without seeing my parents). Right before I left Brussels, we were on the subway and Meredith said, "Caroline, I cannot believe your dad is going to be here tomorrow!" I guess I had been so busy that that was really the first time I had processed that he was actually going to be here, but as soon as she said that I completely burst into tears (of joy of course!). It was the strangest thing that rarely happens to me (unless I'm watching a romantic comedy), but I just couldn't wait to see my dad! So, he arrived Monday morning and we spent the day walking around the center (Campo dei Fiori, Piazza Navona, Pantheon, and then the Trevi Fountain), had a nice lunch outside in the square of Campo dei Fiori, and then had a great dinner that night at Roscioli (where Meredith and I ate on my birthday). Little did we know that was going to be one of our very few great dinners! On Tuesday, we went to the Coliseum and the Roman Forum, then walked around Piazza del Popolo and Piazza di Spagna. At dinner that night is when he started to get sick, and unfortunately felt unwell until the end of the week. After just having the same bug, I cannot believe we still did all that we did with him having this virus! Wednesday, we went to Vatican City, San Pietro, and saw the Sistine Chapel (although that was about all he could handle of the Vatican Museum in his state). Thursday was Thanksgiving- we walked around during the day and he rested in the afternoon before our Thanksgiving dinner that Shana and Tommaso invited us to share with them, another family with 3 kids, and another couple. Although Dad couldn't enjoy nearly as much of the food as he would've wished, I will vouch that everything was amazing! Shana went all out- we had turkey, dressing, potatoes, rice, sweet potato souffle, green beans, pumpkin soup, and 3 desserts. We enjoyed everyone's company and of course the food, and it is a Thanksgiving I will surely never forget. On Friday, Dad rested most of the day to try to gain a little strength for traveling. We had decided to spend the weekend in Florence and leave Friday afternoon. We got to Florence around 7:15, and Meredith met us at our hotel. Dad wasn't feeling up for dinner that night, so Meredith and I ate at this great restaurant near her house called 4 Leoni, while Dad walked around for a bit and went to bed early. On Saturday, he was finally feeling better! We walked all around Florence, went to Open Bar (my favorite) for a light lunch, went to the Uffizi, and rested that afternoon before we went back to 4 Leoni for a meal that he could actually enjoy! We had a really great dinner and walked around with Meredith for a while afterwards. Unfortunately, Sunday morning in Florence (as we were watching the Florence Marathon go by our hotel) is when I got sick! So, I spent all of his last day here in bed (in Florence and once we got back to Rome), and have basically been in bed the last 4 days. So, although the week was definitely not ideal, we made the most of it and I was so happy to have him here! It was also nice to be a tourist in Rome (Dad hadn't been here in 35 years!). Here are some pictures from our week in Rome and weekend in Florence.