It can't be over!!!!
Mood:  sad

Well, the photos are loaded onto the computer, and are slowly being uploaded to yahoo photos.  It's a lot of work since between us we have about 1000 pictures to go through, and quite a few duplicates.  If you want to see them, send me and email and I will send the link, too much of a luddite to have them linked here, and with Rachel in Scotland, and Paul back to work it's just going to have to be that way!

Lake Como was spectacular!  We caught that last gasp of summer there, when the trees are trying to decide if it's time to change, and the air is chilly in the morning and evening, but mild during the day.  The photos don't do full justice, but they ain't too bad either.

It figures that just as we getting ready to leave we figure out the car rental return system.  Still, a lot of credit goes to Milan's city layout.  We found the train station easily, returned the car and then walked the 5 blocks to the hotel.  It was getting a little scary as we walked down the street, like we were on Market St. in SF heading toward 8th st, 9th st.  But we found the street and turned up it to find a lovely street of Regency style houses (think Bath) painted in pretty pastels with lots of pretty decorations on them.  Our hotel was midblock.  We got in, and they gave us a room right off the lobby.  It was the UH OH room (literally on the street), and we asked if they could give us another room.  They did, a lovely room upstairs that overlooked the garden of the hotel and of the other houses in the block.  And that was the secret of Milan! You walk down these grimy but wide streets that look like any major industrial city in the world, but about halfway down you find a driveway, some open, some closed,  and inside is a courtyard with fountains, shops,  parking or a private park.  The courtyards are usually quiet and tranquil kind of like Venetian streets, since there isn't any traffic there.  I really liked the ambiance of these places too, it was like the Milanesi liked getting away from the hustle and bustle of the streets.  We found one off a main crowded drag of Corso Buenos Aires (lots of shopping) where we sat and had a coffee listening to the gossip of shoppers over the fountains music, and watching the smoke of their cigarettes linger in the air.  It didn't seem like much at the time, but it lingers in my mind now.

Did some serious shopping damage in Milan, and Paul was the good and patient mule (husband, I mean husband) as I wandered into little shops along the Via della Spiga, and stared into the shop windows of the jewelry stores.  The big fashionisti stores were kind of interesting, but not really.  The sticker shock put a real damper on my enthusiasm.  The jewelry stores though didn't even bother with pricing their items so you could admire them with the same freedom that you do museum pieces.

I found the temple of all shopping malls, the ultimate Galleria with it's marble inlaid with different colors of marble, the high vaulted ceilings and fabulous stores.  I tell you, the ones back here are nothing compared to it.  So we walk from the temple of the secular to the piazza of the Duomo, a fairy tale of a cathedral.  As we found everywhere, the front was covered up by the scaffolding as restoration was being done, but we went in, and walked the outside perimeter as well. 

So much of my time in Milan was made heavy by the knowledge that our trip was ending.  Paul was ready to come home, but I wasn't.  Well sure, I missed our comfy bed, and I missed Rebecca and the pets, but I loved the freedom of being footloose and responsible only for myself and that day's needs.  It did get old, dragging the heavy suitcases (though Paul did most of the lugging up and down stairs), the worry about where the hotel was, and what to eat that night.  But ...

So many little memories are floating away, and I want to keep them, like the old lady picking herbs out of the wall in Anacapri, the funny bug/hummingbird in Bellagio that we tried to capture on film (hence all the flower pictures!) the smell of the dust in Pompeii and Herculaneum, the blend of different languages surrounding us ( and the magic of hearing spanish sound like home), the adrenaline rush of crossing the street in Naples, the different paving stones of the different cities, the shadowed quiet of the narrow canals of Venice , the golden light of tuscany and the glowing town of San Gusme at night, the sense of belonging in Siena and the satisfied stomach in Asti.  The wine of Langhe, Favorita, that was so good and is now so elusive.

It was the trip of a lifetime, and my only regret is that my parents are not here for me to share it with them.  Of all the people we know, they would have understood  how I feel the most.  Well, on with my life!  Arrividerci.

are we there yet?
Now Playing: 60's & 70? s oldies

Here I sit, eating blackberries and raspberries, as a  cool breeze blows in from the window overlooking the beautiful sunny Lake Como.  Evening approaches, as the fog drifts down the alps toward the lake, like bits of fluff from a pillow.  Are you jealous yet? 

I am at an internet cafe in Bellagio, the point of land between the two lakes of Lake Como.  The drive here was amazingly scenic and terrifying, not because of Paul, but the bus drivers were the worst.  We hope to take a ferry back down to Como on Monday. 

Paul didn't get better until we left for Milan, even then it was touch and go.  I had a great dinner by myself on the last night, but comforted myself with the fact that i can get Paul to bring me back to Venice when we go to Croatia.

We arrived in Milan train station, found the car place, and were out of there in short of an hour.  Paul managed the driving, by the time we were out of the city, he felt well enough to keep going onto Asti, since it was easy freeway.

We found a hotel in Asti that had a garage, and booked ourselves in for 2 nights.  Paul was still a little uncertain about his stomach, so we went out in seaarch of a light dinner.  the girl at the desk suggested a place called l'angolo del beato (corner of the saint), so we went in early, we were there about 7, and were the only ones there.  Still, he was too tired to go much further.  We explained that his stomach was fragile, and the waiter/maitre d' was very understanding.  He made suggestions for Paul, and being that it was truffle season, Paul ordered the tagliarini with white truffles for me.  He had an artichoke salad that was fabulous, and the tagliarini were home made and perfect for the truffle that he shaved over the noodles.  Well, I wonàt bore you with the rest here, do it in person, but hereàs the good news and the bad news, we have found the best restaurant in the world, the bad news being that it is in Asti, kind of 'off the beaten track'.  We loved Asti, itàs way up there on the tour de Italy, and the trip to Barolo and Barbaresco was also incredible countryside, kind of like Oregon, except that the vineyards are all on hillsides that are twice as steep as the ones back home.  We have lots of pix, needless to say, The piedmont impressed us much more than anyother place, certainly than tuscany, much more dramatic.

so we stay here at the Albergo Europa for two days, then into Milan to the Charly on Monday and we leave for home on Wednesday.  Itàs going to be hard to leave, not so much to leave Milan, but to leave all the beauty and mystery we have found here.

My final quote on this blog about where we are right now, Well, I guess we better go see that hotel in Vegas if they based this place on it.

Tuesday in Venice
Mood:  sad

How is it possible to be sad in such a beautiful city?  Paul got sick yesterday morning, and so after my entry we went back to the hotel and he went to bed, and is still there, today at 4:30 pm.  So I have been wandering the streets, calles, and sostraportegos of Venice on my own.  It is such a beautiful city in so many ways, my favorite part is how you wander down this dark and somewhat forbidding alley, and end up in a piazza filled with light from the sky and reflected from the marble and plaster of the buildings and from the water of the little canals that wind their way everywhere. It's not the being on my own in the city, it makes shopping easier and less guilty, but that Paul has to miss so much of my adventures.

Yesterday I wandered around trying to find the Piazza San Marco, and it turns out that I ended up several blocks above it, but that is all right, since I saw parts of the city that obviously don't get many tourists.  I took the traghetto back since my feet hurt after wandering for several hours.  I found a little cafe for lunch across from a spot where there is a coffer dam in place to allow them to work on the foundations of one of the buildings.   I have been doing a lot more people watching since I am on my own, and I was impressed with how 'healthy' all the men who are working in this city must be.  It seems that there is some form of construction going on everywhere, and they have to use hand carts to bring and carry out the construction materials and refuse to the boats that carry it in and and out. And frequently they have to push their carts up over the many little bridges between the construction site and the canal large enough to handle the barge.  The ferrovia is very close to the hotel, so i got back and told Paul all of my adventures.  I have to say though that if i lived here i'd have buns of steel.  they were killing me last night.  Wish we had access to a hot tub.

today, i sent a box of books and stuff home, cost a fortune but it lightens the load it is worth it.  I took the ferry to Piazza San Marco today and took lots of pix, but avoided the crowds and didnàt go into anything.  I wandered away, finding the rialto bridge, how lovely it is from a distance and how crowded and cheesy, like fishermanàs wharf, up close.  I wandered a bit more and had a light lunch of melon with prociutto and penne amatriciana with a glass of biretti beer.  then i followed the signs, sort of loosely, and ended up where I started, at the big bridge from the train station. 

so, paul is starting to feel a little better, but not well enough to do anything, and we leave tomorrow for Milan and then onto the Piedmont on Friday.  Depending on how he feels, we may stay close to Milan, but since we will have a car, it will doubtless be outside the city limits.  Tomorrow starts our last week.  That too makes me sad.

Ciao amiche e amici!

Venice and it's great to get away from Florence
Mood:  bright
Now Playing: OCTOBER 2, AND IT? S SUNNY

OKAY, I KNOW THAT ITàS BEEN A WHILE SINCE THE LAST ENTRY, SO WHAT CAN I SAY EXCEPT THAT IT IS NOT ALWAYS EASY TO FIND THE INTERNET CAFES, AT LEAST WHEN WE ARE IN THE MOOD TO STOP AND MAKE ENTRIES.

 

TUSCANY WAS WONDERFUL, JUST LIKE HOME IN TERMS OF COUNTRYSIDE AND WEATHER, BUT AT LEAST HERE THE CASTLES AND PALAZZI ON THE HILLSIDES ARE CENTURIES OLD, AND REALLY LOOK LIKE THEY BELONG.  SAN GUSME WAS A TINY TOWN  AND KIND OF LIKE BRIGADOON, KNOWN BASICLY TO THE LOCALS.  WE ATE VERY WELL.

ON WEDNESDAY WE DROVE TO SIENA, AND JUST LOVED IT THERE!  IT IS A TOURIST TOWN, BUT THE PEOPLE ON THE STREETS WERE AN INTERESTING MIX TO WATCH, SOME TOURISTS, SOME BUSINESS FOLK, STUDENTS, FAMILIES, ETC.  WE ATE A LITTLE OSTERIA ON A HILLY STREET AND HAD A NICE CONVERSATION WITH A GENTLEMAN FROM PUGLIA WHO HAD CHILDREN LIVING IN FLORENCE.  THE CHURCH LOOKED LIKE A WEDDING CAKE, AND THE PALIO WAS EASY TO IMAGINE WITH ALL THE FLAGS FOR THE DIFFERENT GUILDS HANGING ON THE WALLS OF THE NARROW STREETS.  THE PARKING WAS EASY, AND THE ACCESS TO THE OLD CITY WAS A SERIES OF ESCALATORS (HOORAY SAYS MY KNEES AND FEET).  tHE WEATHER WAS PERFECT, WARM ENOUGH TO GO WITHOUT A SWEATER, AND YET NOT SWELTERING HOT. 

RELUCTANTLY WE LEFT SIENA AND DROVE TO SAN GIMIGNANO, AGAIN TO GOOD PARKING AND EASY WALKING. PERHAPS IT WAS THE TIME OF DAY, BUT IT WAS NOT A PLACE OF GREAT CHARM FOR US, TOO MANY TOURS, AND IT SEEMED KIND OF LIKE DISNEYLAND ITALIA.  WE WANDERED AWAY FROM THE TOWN CENTER, AND IT WAS BETTER, AND FOUND A PASSAGIO DEL MURA THAT TURNED INTO A DIRT PATH DOWN A HILL AND UP A STEEP PAVED SIDEWALK, PAST A UNDERUSED PORTALGATE.  THAT WAS PROBABLY THE BEST PART OF SAN G FOR US, THE VIEWS FROM THE PATH WERE FABULOUS OVERLOOKING THE VAL D'ELSA HILLSIDES VINEYARDS AND CYPRESS TREES (CIPRESSI).  WE GOT BACK LATE AND SLEPT WELL IN THE VERY COMFY BED.

THE NEXT DAY WE WENT TO FLORENCE FOR A PREARRANGED TOUR OF THE UFFIZI GALLERIES.  AFTER A NIGHTMARE OF TRYING TO FIND PARKING (FROM NOW ON, THAT IS GOING TO BE THE FIRST THINGH WE TRY TO FIND ON TRIPS TO BIG CITIES) WE STARTED WALKING ALONG THE STREET TO FIND THE PIAZZA DEI SIGNORIA.  IT WAS ODD, I REALLY DIDNòT WANT TO BE IN FLORENCE, AND THE BITCH KNEW IT!  SO I AM STROLLING ALONG, LOOKING AT THE MAP TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WE ARE, AND ONE OF THE ROGUE  COBBLES STONES (ABOUT 12"X 10" PAVING STONES MORE LIKELY) ROSE UP AND BIT ME.  i FELL LIKE A TREE, POUNDING MY KNEE, RIPPING MY SHOULDER AND BANGING MY CHIN ON THE STREET AND CUTTING MY LIP.  UNLIKE IN pOMPEII WHERE I BOUNCED UP, I WAS REALLY SHOCKED, NOT SO SERIOUSLY HURT, BUT HURT NONE THE LESS.  WE MANAGED TO GET TO A CAFE, WHERE A LITTLE WATER HELPED, THEN ON TO A FARMACIA WHERE THE NICE LADY GOT ME A LARGE BANDAGE THAT WAS COLD FOR MY SHOULDER AND MY KNEE.  IT WAS MY SHOULDER AND ARM THAT HURT THE MOST, I COULD BARELY MOVE IT, BUT WE HAD THE TOUR, SO WE CONTINUED ON.  WE FOUND THE PIAZZA FAIRLY EASILY, AND MET UP WITH THE GUIDE AND ANOTHER COUPLE FROM MANHATTAN.  IT WAS FUNNY, PAUL AND THE GUY REALLY HIT IT OFF, AGREEING ABOUT HOW DISNEYLANDISH SAN G WAS, AND THAT THE GUIDE BOOKS DON'T PREPARE YOU FOR THE HORRENDOUS CROWDS THIS LATE IN THE YEAR.

THE UFFIZI WAS  WONDERFUL, BUT VERY CROWDED AND SO AFTERWARDS, WE JUST LEFT AND WENT BACK TO TUSCANY, LIKE THE COUNTRY MICE, SO I COULD LICK MY WOUNDS WITHOUT ALL THE CROWDS.

FRIDAY WAS A NICE QUIET DAY, DRIVING AROUND, A LITTLE SHOPPING ETC.  MY SHOULDER FELT SO MUCH BETTER, BETWEEN THE REST AND THE VICODIN IT WAS GOOD.  THE NEXT DAY WE LEFT SAN GUSME, READY TO FACE FLORENCE.  WELL, NOT REALLY!

WE FOUND THE HOTEL FAIRLY EASILY, BUT THERE WAS NOWHERE TO PARK (DUH), SO WE UNLOADED THE CAR, AND PAUL WAS GOING TO WAIT WHILE i TOOK THE LUGGAGE IN AND THEN COME BACK TO RETURN THE CAR.  WELL, THAT DIDNàT WORK!  iT TOOK ME FORTY MINUTES TO GET ALL OUR LUGGAGE IN SINCE THE HOTEL HAD A TINY ELEVATOR, AND WAS ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF A LARGE BUILDING.  BY THE TIME I GOT BACK TOTHE STREET, PAUL WAS GONE.  SO I WAITED ON THE CORNER, AND I WAITED AND I WAITED.  TWO HOURS LATER, I AM NEARLY IN A PANIC, I HAD GONE IN AND ASKED THE HOTEL IF HE HAD CALLED, AND THEN ASSKED THEM TO CALL THE CAR RENTAL PLACE IF HE HAD RETURNED THE CAR AND THEY SAID NO.  SO BACK OUT TO THE STREET, WITH MY BIG DARK SUNGLASSES TO HIDE MY TEARS, AND WITHIN 20 MINUTES, WHO DO I SEE, BUT THIS WONDERFUL VISION OF A TALL MAN WITH WHITE HAIR AND A BLUE SHIRT TOWERING OVER ALL THE SHRIMPY ITALIANS.  I NEARLY KNOCKED HIM OVER i WAS SO HAPPY TO SEE HIM.  

HIS ADVENTURE STARTED WITH THE COPS HASSLING HIM ABOUT WAITING, SO HE THOUGHT HE àD JUST DRIVE AROUND THE BLOCK.  HAH HAH HAH SAID THE BITCH, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS FLORENCE. eVENTUALLY, AFTER AN HOUR OF TRYING TO GET BACK HE GAVE UP TRYING TO FIND THE HOTEL, AND DECIDED TO TAKE THE CAR BACK.  THAT TOOK HALF AN HOUR!  THEN, HE COULDN'T REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE STREET OR THE HOTEL, SO HE JUST STARTED WALKING BACK IN THE DIRECTION HE THOUGHT IT WAS IN.   IT TOOK HIM 40 MINUTES JUST WALKING BACK AND FORTH UP DIFFERENT STREETS UNTIL HE SAY THE GROCERY STORE SIGN, AND THOUGH AHA!  THEN SUDDENLY THIS WOMAN APPEARS OUT OF NO WHERE AND TRIES TO RUN HIM DOWN!  LUCKY HIM!

SO AFTERWARDS, WE ATE, IT WAS ABOUT 3 BY THEN, THEN BACK FOR A REST.  FLORENCE ISNàT SO BAD ON FOOT, AND THE HOTEL WAS VERY CLOSE TO THE DUOMO SO WE WANDERED A LITTL THAT EVENING, DID A LITTLE SHOPPING, AND THEN GOT UP EARLY THE NEXT DAY AND WANDERED SOME, UNTIL TIME TO GO TO THE TRAIN FOR VENICE.

SO MAYBE FLORENCE ISN'T SO BAD ON FOOT, BUT DO NOT DRIVE THERE EXCEPT TO GET OUT OF TOWN!!!!!

tHE TRAIN WAS GOOD, A LITTLE LATE, AND VERY FULL.  AFTER BOLOGNA, A FRIENDLY YOUNG MAN TALKED US ALL TH WAY TO FLORENCE.  HE WAS VERY NICE, A VENETIAN, WHO OBVIOUSLY WANTED TO PRACTICE HIS ENGLISH, WHICH WAS VERY GOOD. 

WHEN WE ARRIVED HE HELPED US FIND THE HOTEL, WHICH IS LOVELY AND VERY CLOSE TO THE TRAIN STATION.  NO BRIDGES TO CROSS DRAGGING HEAVY LUGGAGE!

aFTER FLORENCE I WASNàT SURE I WANTED TO GO TO ANOTHER CITY, ESPECIALLY SINCE YOU HEAR SUCH WONDERFUL THINGS ABOUT HER,  BUT WE ARE GLAD TO LEAVE THE BITCH BEHIND, AND WE FIND VENICE JUST WONDERFUL.  SO 10 EUROS LATER I HAVE FINISHED  MY POST.

WE WANDERED LAST NIGHT, HAD A GOOD DINNER, AND WANDERED BACK, GETTING A LITTLE LOST, BUT MY RADAR IS UP AND RUNNING AND WE FOUND OUR WAY BACK LONG BEFORE WE DCOULD PANIC.

SO, OFF WE GO TO MORE ADVENTURES, CIAO!! 

WINE NOTES FROM PAUL

WE HAD SOME 99 CHIANTI RISERVA LAST NIGHT , THE BEST WE HAVE HAD SO FAR, BUT THE MOST MEMORABLE IS THE PRIMOTIVO IN CAPRI.

BILL, THE CHEESE IN TUSCANY IS DELICIOUS, PECORINO FRESH, 2 YEARS AND 3 YEARS .  THINKING OF YOU.

Villa Arceno
Mood:  happy

OK, SORRY AGAIN, BUT CAP LOCK IS BEST ON THESE FOREIGN KEYBOARDS.  THE THREE DAYS IN NAPLES WERE BEST WHEN WE WERE NOT THERE, AT HERCULANEUM AND POMPEII.  DUE TO SOME CONFUSION ON MY PART, WE TOOK THE BUS TO HERCULANEUM, A 2 HOUR TRIP THROUGH PARTS OF NAPLES NOT MANY TOURISTS SEE!!  MADE IT SAFELY THERE, AND THEN TOOK THE TRAIN BACK. NEXT DAY GOT AN EARLIER START FOR POMPEII, AND TOOK THE TRAIN.  IT WAS INCREDIBLE.  TONS OF PICTURES FOR BILL!  THE WEATHER WAS HOT, BUT GOOD AND DRY. 

ARE IN VILLA ARCENO WINERY OFFICE NOW, WRITING WILL BE BRIEF SINCE I FEEL KIND OF SELF CONSCIOUS.  WINEMAKER WAITING TO TAKE US ON THE TOUR OF THE FACILITY.  TODAY WE DROVE AROUND THE AREA HAD A GREAT LUNCH (THE BEST BRUSCHETTA YET) AT A LITTLE CAFE IN VILLA A SESTA WHICH I DOUBT YOU COULD FIND ON A MAP.

STAYING IN AN APARTMENT IN THE WALLED TOWN OF SAN GUSME, VERY NICE TO FINALLY HAVE A TUB, INFACT THERE ARE THREE BATHROOMS!  THE CEILINGS HAVE ANCIENT WOODEN BEAMS, AND THE BED IS VERY COMFORTABLE AND WE EVEN HAVE A KITCHEN.  TAKING LOTS OF PIX FOR WENDY.

LOOKING OUT OVER VINEYARDS AND ROWS OF CYPRESS TREES, LIFE IN NAPA SEEMS TO BE UNREAL. 

IT IS GREY AND RAINY, STARTYED YESTERDAY ON TRAIN FROM NAPLES TO FLORENCE.  WE FOUND THE CAR RENTAL PLACE IN fLOERENCE, BUT LEAVING TOWN WAS A NIGHTMARE, WE GOT OUT OKAY, BUT LETàS JUST SAY THINGS GOT A LITTLE INTENSE.  SO, ENOUGH, FOR NOW, WILL TRY TO WIRTE LATER INT HEWEEK, MAYBE FROM FLORENCE.  CIAO BELLE E BELLI.

La Vita Dolce ( an homage to Mom / Dad
Mood:  suave

Okay, now that we have you attention... we are in Anacapri, a town in the hicks of Capri.  We wish that we had scheduled more time here, so bella, and warm, and beautiful beaches, and beautiful people, inside and out, the feel is sort of like Catalina, but somehow more authentic.  The cliffs, the hills, the trees are nothing compared to the water, a blue unlike any on the Pacific.  More like the caribean or hawaii.  The road to Anacapri is very twisty and narrow, kind of like devils slide, but with Lombard St. style turns.the street is about one lane wide, and the taxis are all convertibles with cloth roofs.  The many houses, and buildings are white, and many little shrines built into the buildings are lovely.  there are lots of flowers bougainvillia, and herbs growing out of the stone walls.  Mary wants to know about the people we have met, most of them are American, and not very interesting <kind of like us<, but the hotel in Rome had a very nice staff, and the proprietor spoke only Italian.  I have liked pretty much everyone we speak to, but here on Capri, the people seem to be friendlier in the shops, etc. though in Rome when I was trying to replace a few things while the luggage was lost, everyone I spoke to was very helpful and friendly.  There were pretty agressive beggars at the port in Naples, but it was like in Mexico, you have to be firm.  A note to Rachel, we are very careful with our things, the lady on the train from Rome, who is from Seattle, had her wallet stolen in Rome.  She was sort of superior like, since she had been to Italy before, so maybe her cockiness is what made her a target. 

Dinner last night was very good, had some >Primotivo that was tasty, and the food was very good.  It made us laugh, the menu was eclectic, lots of Italian food, but also middle eastern, japanese, and mexican, including burritos and tacos.  Now that may not seem so weird, except that it was a very chi chi kind of place, with aperitifs served on the house, and a very good wine list.  Paul had Barolo Chinato, for dessert, like an herb infused sweet Barolo.  Very intersting to taste.

I hope all is well with everything, I am glad Rachel is in Scotland safely, and hope the dogs are surviving as well as I am sure Rebecca is, wild parties not withstanding!!!! 

So today we check into the San Pietro in Naples, then tomorrow to Herculaneum and the day after to Pompeii.  I will check in later,  Thanks fo rthe comments, it helps us to keep in touch.   Arrivederci,

BY THE WAY WE ATE PIZZA THAT WAS PRETTY GOOD LAST NIGHT.  THE RESTARUANT HAD PIX OF FAMOUS GUEST AT THE RESTRAURANT, INCLUNDING HARRISON FORD!!!!! JUST A LIATTLE HOLE IN THE WALL, BUT QUITE GOOD.  RECOMMENDED BY TEH GIRL AT THE HOTEL

Tuesday

Well, we have been thinking about Rachel setting off for scotland, hope she got off ok.   SORRY CAPS ARE EASIER, THIS IS NOT AN INSULT.  OK, FIGURING THAT IF SHE HAD TROUBLE WE WOULD HAVE HEARD. 

wE WENT BACK TO THE VATICAN TODAY, AND TRIED TO SEE AS MUCH AS POSSIBKLE SINCE THE TOUR WAS LIMIETED.  IT WAS A GOOD TOUR BUT YOU CANàT SEE EVERYTING IN ONE AFTERNOOON.  SORRY FOR TYPOS, I AM VERY TIRED, DESPITE TAKING A CAB BACK TO OUR PART OF TOWN.  WE ARE SO OVERWHELMED BY IT ALL, ESPECIALLY BY THE LITTLE THINGS THAT SEEM TO MISS EVERYONE ELSES ATTENTION, LIKE THE ETRUSCAN BRONZES WITH FUNNY FACES, OR THE PERFUME STAND WITH PEOPLE AT THE BASE, THEN A CAT CLIMING UP, AND THEN SEEING THE BIRDS AT THE TOP.  THE ROMAN SENSE F HUMOR MUST HAVE COME FROM THE ETRUSCANS.  tOMORROW WE GO TO THE COLOSEUM IF I HAVE ANY FEET LEFT, MY BLISTERS HAVE DOUBLE BLISTERS, AND I EVEN WORE MY TENNIS WITH SOCKS AND MY ANKLE SUPPORT SOCK.  IT HAS BEEN A BEAUTIFUL DAY.  VERY WARM AND HUMID.  HOPE ALL IS WELL, BECAUSE WE SURE ARE.  WE ARE IN A DIFFERENT ROOM, WITH A AMUCH BIGGER BED, SO LAST NIGHT WE HAD A GOOD NIGHT SLEEP!

Catching up
Mood:  chillin'

So , it is monday morning, after strolling along the Tiber and heading up to the Piazza Navonna, we are stopping to fill everyone in.  The luggage arrived Friday afternoon, and man was I a happy girl!!!!  The girl who brought it up, laughed so hard when she saw how happy I was.  Finally some clothes that fit and were clean. 

Saturday we wandered through the forum, through a down pouring rain, and then over to the Campidoglio which is the piazza designed by Michelangelo for the city government.  It now is the site for the Capitoline Museum.  The museum has lots of ancient artifacts and statuary, like the famous 'boy with a thorn', the wolf with Romulus and Remus, and the bronze of Marcus Aurelius.  There were lots of beautiful paintings, and long gorgeous galleries with wall paintings, etc. Unfortunately for us, we had 'overindulged' the night before on dinner, so we headed back to the hotel for a little rest.  We have been walking constantly, half afraid of the transit system but we will risk it later.

We had a light supper on Saturday night and wandered around the neighborhood of our hotel.  Man is it a busy place on a Saturday night!  I wished that I was more of a partier(read younger), and I thought of how much Becca and Rachel would enjoy the neighborhood.  Lots of younger people hanging out and having fun in the bars, etc.

We went to mass on Sunday morning at the church of St. Mary di Trastevere, which is the center of the piazza near our hotel.  Beautiful Romanesque church with lots of mosaics.  Mass at 8:30 was very quiet, about 30 people tops, and no music, which is very strange.  One of the lectors sang the Alleluia, and all I could think of was how beautiful the acoustics were and how great Becca would sound singing there.  Of course the mass was in Italian, but we could tell which readings they were, and follow along.  Paul says that it reminded him of his childhood masses since so much sounded like latin.

We wandered a bit over to the Campo di Fiori, through narrow streets and alleys, taking pictures and soaking up atmosphere.  We found a little grocery store, bought some cheese, meat and bread for a picnic back in the hotel.  I took a little nap, and while Paul slept I went for a little stroll in the rain!  An hour later, my pant legs were soaked to the knees, and I felt like a drowned rat (again). 

Today we are heading for the Vatican for a tour of the Museums.  It is beautiful weather today, hope it holds...  see you all laterm, running out of time.