Rome, The Sequel

With Tuscany now well in our rear-view mirror, we've settled again in Rome, home of the ancients and where every sinkhole could turn into an archeological bonanza. Living up to its seedy hype, our taxi driver from the airport (after we returned the rental car) tried to change our agreed upon rate while en route! He didn't speak English so handed me his cell phone to talk with "his boss". Silly Romans!

Our apartment this time around is just steps from Campo di Fiori, an open plaza filled with farmer's markets during the day and youthful night life at night. As Calvin pointed out while guiding us on the map, "We're close to everything here"! Since we arrived late in the afternoon, for our first night we just had time to get to the hotel (apartment), unpack, shower, and then head out to dinner.

Dinner was just a short walk across the Tiber River into Trestevere to the same restaurant where we had our cooking class several weeks ago. Unfortunately our Chef, Andrea, was taking most of the week off, so Alex didn't get to meet him, which was a shame, but the food was still delicious. Andrea's mother took good care of us, just as he said she would. His older brother was our chef so we had dinner with Andrea's family; close enough! Did we mention ever how a sign on the door reading "air conditioning" must be taken in very loose terms?!? Mama mia!

Yesterday was what I'll call "power site seeing". Having been here before, we could take Alex directly to the city's highlights, allowing us to cram a lot more into a single day. So to start, we bee-lined to Vatican City and the Vatican Museum, which includes the Sistine Chapel.

You don't get to go directly into the Chapel, instead having to snake your way through the entire museum and millenniums of art. Being old pros, we spent much less time in the Map Room and Hall of Tapestries. Michaelangelo's ceiling didn't let us down -- again. The first picture is in the Hall of Maps before arriving at the Chapel (Drew cuts himself out, I didn't do that).

Once our necks sufficiently stiff from looking straight up, we headed out of the Chapel and over to St Peter's Basilica, just next door. What an amazing building and, like the Vatican Museum, loaded with priceless art including Michaelangelo's Pieta. We had intended to climb to the top of St Peter's dome, but after a quick poll had unanimous support for passing on the bazillion steps and heading on to the next site.

We departed Vatican City (see pic of my two beauties in St Peter's Square), expertly hopped onto a bus and within minutes were dropped two blocks from the Pantheon. If the Pantheon isn't

one of the Seven Wonders of the World, it should be. To think that it's nearly 2,000 years old and supports one of the largest domes in the world -- a technology lost for 1,500 years -- is just mind-blowing. Alex listened to a Rick Steve's audio tour while the rest of us just gawked. OK, the boys screwed around, but Ellen and I gawked!

The picture is taken directly below the

oculus looking straight up into it.

From the Pantheon we headed to Piazza Navona to meet up with one of Ellen's American friends, Regina. Piazza Navona is huge so we weren't sure how this whole rendezvous was going to work, but within about 30 seconds upon entering, heard Regina calling out "Ellen" from a shaded table. We had drinks and appetizers (antipasta) with Regina and her family, then spent the rest of the night enjoying the festivities of the Piazza, including street performers, art vendors (Alex bought an original) and beggars. The picture is of Regina and Ellen in front of one of the three fountains in Piazza Navona.

Today Ellen rose early to take in an Italian mass at Santa Agata in Trastevere. As part of a celebration, a statue of the Madonna is carried via processional from church to church. She is residing now at Santa Agata. While she was gone, I wrote this blog. In a few minutes we'll head out for Villa Borghese so Alex can see some of the incredible sculptures there and so Calvin can do his flips. Afterwards we'll ride segways in the park, which Drew has been dreaming about since our first round.

This is our last fully day in Italy. It's hard to believe a month has come and gone, but in such a beautiful place, I guess time will fly. So far, I think Rome is everyone's favorite, with so many different things to do. We may be able to get in one more entry tomorrow if the airport provides free wireless (probably only a remote chance). We'll be back in the States soon!

Ciao.