Sometimes a Royal Flush is the best hand

Almost all days start off the same. From coffee to shower clogs and all the in between. They just don't all fall into place so well.

I grab my Santa bag and head off to see a couple of friends in the Campo before I meet Francesca and Graziano. As the piazza S Maria in Trastevere appears there are no Gypsies... no paper cups in my face and no urchins begging. A photo or two and I turn the corner to discover my error. They just lurking and waiting for me. I put on my "Swiss face" stern, unbending (just like Philipp) and scurry past. Oops its a tag team...no they are simply all out there waiting. Otherwise Rome is desolate. 

My friends aren't in the Campo, no one is. So I walk until I finally find an open bar, at last, coffee. The only other people are a young Japanese couple hunched over a map. Good luck to them, if they aren't Catholics they are in for a long day. Rome is closed for the day, or  posso two.

I finish my coffee and start back towards the Campo to find one place open with a couple of my friends setting up. Grab a couple of packages for them and off to really start the day.

Another reach into the bag for Francesca and it's off with the dogs to load the car and leave Mammera where Graziano's Mother, Livia, lives. The sunny day has left us in Rome. Ahead are clouds promising a rough trip. But that never occurs. And we arrive as the last dish enters the oven. The fifth member of the Royal Flush is Graziano's nephew Philippo. Only five and I still speak no Italian. Food is international and the cooking great. Hours of pleasure, eating and laughter, what could be better than that?

After a vain attempt to help clean up our mess we load up for the return. We stop at a beach that Graziano went to as a boy. Surrounded by dark clouds and high winds the dogs are in their element. Bricco (The Big One) cannot be unleashed, oh he'll return...but when? Amalia (The small one) is off and running. The sand is a lot softer on her paws and she loves it. After emptying my shoes of sand we reload and head south again.

Last stop, Tarquinia, a medieval hill town with fortified walls and watch towers. I continue to be astounded and happily surprised at every turn. Tomorrow? More? Today ? The Best!