Ahh Roma

After being grossed out by the last blog, and since I have a little unexpected time, I thought I would give you a glimpse of our time in Italy where we were Mar.12-21 seeing our daughter, Mary Beth who is studying abroad there in Florence. Our plane landed in Roma (that's Rome for all you Yankees) at 7:00 AM after an all night flight. We were tired but were able to check into our hotel and after a short 1 hour nap, we headed out from our hotel over the Tevere (Tiber) river and into the old city. It is amazing just to stroll through the area with all of the narrow streets which go in all directions changing names every block, old buildings, sidewalk cafes and piazzas with fountains and statues everywhere. We were able to catch the Pantheon (which to me is one of the most remarkable buildings in old Roma), the Trevi Fountain and then the Coloseum. We took a tour there and spent a lot of time taking in the magesty of the building and what it must have been like in its days of glory. From there we passed the Arc de Triumph of Constantine and over to the ruins of the old Forum and the Imperial Forum. It was awesome to wander around the ruins of the rulers of most of the known world. It is also sobering to realize that that is what becomes of all of our worldly possessions and power. Then we made our way to the Spanish Steps and lastly to the Piazza del Popolo and across the Tiber, a quick meal and early bed.

The next day we had booked a tour of the Vatican Museum and St. Peter's. It was a good tour and way too much to really take in but really breathtaking works of art. Then there was the Cistene Chapel. There are not words to describe the scene. The only thing I can say was AWE. It was as if the true creator's hand there working through the hands of Michelangelo. Then if that doesn't do you in, you walk into the Basilica of St. Peter and your mouth drops once again. Where do you start to describe it all? There is the enormity of the structure, the paintings, the sculptures, the columns and much more. We did not have time to go up to the top (which in retrospect with my heart disease was probably a blessing). Then after a leasurely lunch at a sidewalk cafe, we decided the afternoon would be relaxing as we strolled through the neighborhoods of the Trastevere. Two things were of note. One was a little church, Santa Maria de Trastevere, where we went inside and it was beautiful - so much so that as we sat down to pray and meditate, Luana was reduced to tears. The other was a park that we walked through and were actually able to get a overview look at the old city - spectacular view.

Our time in Roma was at an end but we felt blessed to have seen so much and still been leisurely. The weather was perfect and we were in good spirits for the next day we would get to see Mary Beth.