THE DAY OF WALKING AND WIDE OPEN SPACES . . .

On Saturday we rode the bus and metro out to the Appian Way which was part of very early Rome as one of the earliest important roads. We also saw several other early landmarks and churches, and it was more in the country than the other places we had visited. There were sheep grazing in a meadow and we saw some beautiful private villas/farms. It was a lot of walking, but on our bus ride back, we stopped and photographed the pyramid that one of the rulers had made for his burial place, right in the city. What an amazing place Rome is! We had a nice dinner together on the Campo di Fiori and heard the cheers from the crowd whenever they scored! A very big deal!

On Sunday, Debra and I are headed for Florence!

OVER THE TIBER AND TO THE VATICAN . . .

We rode the bus over the Tiber River into Vatican City to visit the Vatican Museum, including the Sistene (and others) Chapel, as well as St. Peter's Basilica. The experience of actually standing in front of Michelangelo's Pieta and under the Sistene Chapel, and hundreds of other Egyptian, Greek, Roman and more modern art objects, is almost overwhelming. The years and years of superb talent, inspiration, technical brilliance are more than anyone can possibly absorb in a day or even five. It was a very pleasant sunny day, and if this is the "off season" in terms of numbers, I don't want to ever be here in the busy season. The important thing for visitors to most Italian attractions is that the secret to minimal waiting is ADVANCE RESERVATIONS, which usually can be made either by phone or online.

Tomorrow, the Appian Way!

LIFE AND DEATH ROMAN STYLE

Due to a very busy schedule for the past few days, there was little time for blogging. Yesterday, Wednesday, we went to the Villa Borghese in the morning. This was an actual villa of a very wealthy Borghese, a cardinal, whose cousin was pope at the time, who collected exquisite art -- by hook or by crook. Acquisition methods and means aside, the collection of Berninis, Greek and Roman work, Ruebens, and others along with the exquisite floors, ceilings and grounds were profoundly opulent.

In the afternoon, we went to the catacombs of Priscilla, where hundreds of Romans were buried beneath the ground in layer upon layer. We went down into the catacombs and saw painting on stone that dates back to the first century C.E., according to the guide. Rome is built on volcanic rock and so is easier to dig into, but it hardens when exposed to air so layers and layers of passageways with sealed in bodies are still there.

In the evening, we did the "Rome at Night" walk starting with the Spanish Steps, which were well-populated with mostly young people and friends. There is another beautiful Bernini sculpture, The Sinking Boat Fountain, below the steps around which crowds sat and chatted. We continued to the Trevi Fountain which was even more beautiful and crowded at night. Then on past the Pantheon, a gelato stop (an absolute must), Piazza Navona and then to Campo di Fiori which is very close to where we are staying and a sort of "home base" for us. It was a very busy day, indeed! A note about obelisks: Rome has 13 obelisks, 6 of them we saw on the walk last night. When Romans conquered Egypt, they took down obelisks, loaded them on barges across the Mediterranean and up the Tiber River to Rome where they were erected in prominent places. They are huge, made from single blocks of granite. The Romans were specialists in GIANT projects of many types over many centuries.

To Naples, Pompeii and back . . .

This was a wild day. Up at 4:30 in the morning to catch a 6:00 bus to Termini station to catch the train to Naples and in turn, to Pompeii. Remember, to get to Pompeii, you must go around Mt. Vesuvius that spewed all over Pompeii. I have some good pictures and will post some.

Love and please have patience,

Janet

Another gelato day, and ATM challenges and more!

Here we are, having a great time! We walked and walked today, and viewed several fountains, including the Trevi, which was crowded as usual, I am told. After a strenous flight, from San Francisco to London and on to Rome. Due to an accident, our trip from the airport was delayed an hour or so on the way. It was great to get to the flat, which is a fun place from which to watch the world go by from our terrace. More later.

From Rose:

Maps are good! Transportation is great! Subways are perfect! Buy the tickets from the tobacci ahead of time. People and they are great but they don't speak English in Tivoli. Learn a few Italian expressions. Tivoli is stunning! 14th century and 15th century villas! Take the train and find out out how other people in the world live and adapt.

From Debra:

Lots of gelato and I managed to avoid the stinky meat ... so I'm not sick ... yet. More later . . .

TODAY'S THE DAY!

Here we are at the long awaited day to board the plane for Rome by way of London. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers!

Greetings to whoever might be interested . . .

We who are left to depart on March 16 are very busy with our down-to-the-wire preparations of making sure lesson plans are in place, substitutes are on line, reservations match expectations, etc. The once "off in the future" considerations are now! How do we deal with our phones, where do we go on our extra days, getting cash to exchange when possible, getting to SFO at the right time, and many other details we are working with right now.

All of this will yield a great time! There are no obstacles that we cannot overcome with some diligence. We are going to have a great time and come back feeling more like family than ever before!

Janet