Rome 4 There is no 3; I got off a day

WWe are all crippling around in pain this morning after spending a glorious if hot day, at the ruins of Ostia Antica south of Rome.  This old seaport was Rome's principal harbor until it was sited in by the river.  Mostly abandoned, tourist can walk through for 10 euro (kids free) and wander through the ancient houses and shops which bustled with life 2000 years ago.  We "performed" at the amphitheater (if I only Laura would let me post the video of her high-kicking chorus line with the girls, performed to a rousing rendition of Ray Charles' pirate song chorus!) We explored the baths, with mosaic floors in situ, and Meredith and Scott "wrestled" in the colonnaded square set aside for working out. We stood on the steps of the Capitolinium and made election  speeches, seeking the office of consul by  out-promising each other bread and circuses. We turd the bread factory--the largest of its time and imagined what it would be like to turn the still in place millstones, by inserting our imaginary poles and trudging in circles.  And we ate at a hopping restaurant with a bar, underground cold room, stoves, dishwashing station, fountain, mosaic floor and seating area still standing.  (Unfortunately for proprietress Cecilia the restaurant had to close early, when her flagrant nonpayment of Iimperial taxes was discovered, leading to her arrest and execution.  Hands on learning--the best!  At the end of the day, we dragged ourselves home laughing at the dirt and dust caked on so thoroughly that we all had "dirt lines" at the tops of our socks.  Showers were never so appreciated!  (I wonder what is in the minds of American tourists who walk around the city in flip flops, earning them the derisive  name "black feet" from locals. Locals complaining about tourists may want to reconsider their own offensive habits, however.  The train to and from Ostia was crowded with beachgoers escaping the sun.  Apparently, the beach is a romantic destination because the standing room only train was a practical porn palace of older and teenagexd couples making out in a graphic way that wouldnt have been out of place in soft porn.  There is education in that, too! Back in Rome we once again encountered a nearly undecipherable bus schedule, making our way to the stop that goes to our house but doesnt actually list our stop; you just have know it's there.  It didnt matter. As we waited, the reader board updated and announced the early termination of service.  We bought beer and soft drinks and strolled along the tibwr watching the sunset behind St. Peters.  I guess it qasnt all bad. We didn't eat dinner until 10, where we capped the day by reviewing our learning and listening to Raspighi's Pines of Rome, via the internet. Just before bed, Cecily lost a tooth, resulting in much deciding how to approach the tooth fairy, via note, regarding currency conversion.  Cecily made out just fine. Today is Cecily's birthday.  There has been much preparation, from planning of breakfast and dinner, to purchase of cake-making to purchase of a  birthday outfit to the Imperial decree that we are spending the day at the zoo. Despite earlier protestations, birthday in Rome is turning out to be just fine.