Tues morning

We decided to get to the post office when it opened at 8:30 to mail boxes back that contained unnecessary items plus some items purchased here.  First thing is the wait and to take a number ,which I have to do in the big PO in Oly.   Second the tape that is provided is not strong enough and were given directions to the market which had none.    All tape here in English is scotch tape so we were told.  Given directions to a little store and he did have scotch tape back to the po.

The clerk was none to happy with the tape but in broken italian and English we explained it was all we could find and one look at Bruce's face any one would know he was pissed.  The clerk was a gem throughout this experience and helped us through the paper work, spelling the whole thing.

There was one classical moment in the po. For those of you who have seen French or italian flicks where the po clerk hits the stamp on the ink pad, then hits the letter , then repeats it at a rapid rate with a beat to it, that was our clerk!

I forgot to tell you about a cute event we saw last night at dinner and everyone at the resturant, Il Dumo, laughed.   This place sits on a small plaza where there are apartments to one side with each having a balcony.   There were several small dogs, on leashes, with the owners either walking them or sitting at a cafe.    As we know when one barks, they all bark.   All of a sudden we all here a really deep bark and look up at the apartments and see a fairly larger Cocker spaniel barking and barking as to take command of the dogs.   This when on for a few minutes when all of a sudden a little boy maybe about six comes out on the balcony next door and begins to talk to the spaniel.  We thought it was cute but the dog began barking at the boy.   All of a sudden, the boy raises his voice, starts with the hand gestures to dog and the dog sits listens to the boy, the boy finishes the dog back to his apartment and the boy turns to his audience, all of us, gives us a big smile and goes back in.  The kid had a look of triumph on his face.  It was so cute and then small ,short, conversations began between tables.  There were, Germans, Dutch, English, Italians and us.  These are the things I like and one reason I am not a picture taken.

Right now I am sitting out on the balcony watching tourists and locals walk by.  I want to move to sunny Italy cause the local women always dress up, even casually , looks dressed up to me.  Plus wouldn't it be nice to wear short sleeves, sleeveless tops the end of Sept.  But then again, no, cause I am longing for our house, OUR DOGS, and family and friends.  A thing I have noticed in Italy.   You know how when we wear sheer tops our bras are flesh tone or we wear camisoles, not here as I just saw a woman go by with a wearing a beautiful sheer white lace top and her bra showed and she wasn't kid and it looked fine.  I don't even wear sleeveless unless I have a shirt over.

Yesterday and today

Yesterday we left early for a trip along the eastern interior of sicily.   We first stopped at a town Noto with Barouqe bldgs.  To be honest, it was a boring tour after looking and staying in Lecce.  Then it was onto a Roman villa which contained mosicas which I find fantastic.   The villa and the mosicas are dated 400 yrs after the death of Christ.   Our group was small, about 20 of us, so no one got lost in the shuffle.  Bruce did get some photos of them.   I will say that we do not take a lot of photos but did take some of the mosicas.  Like the Jewish community in Lecce where you walk over parts of the town it was the same with the villa.   One part that was complete and you looked down on it where two large vats that held the wine and were still stained purple.  Seeing those vats still stained was strange.

Then onto a very , very small fishing village that sat right on the Med.  and , at one time , a very busy tuna fishing village.  It was beautiful in many ways as it really did not have a bay but just opened right into the sea.  Some of the boats were the small wooden ones painted the red, green and white of the Italian flag.   Once again, family Sunday dinners with many families out for the big meal of the day mid afternoon.  This was the bad tasting meal I had eaten.   As a matter of fact it was lousy.   I had capanoto which is eggplant and other veggies, pine nuts and raisins slowed cooked but this had to much vinegar.   Then risotto with seafood that was too oily to enjoy .  Bruce had a salad which was, well, just a salad.

Then back to town.   We left at 8 got back at 6.  A long day with seeing a lot of scenery which was semi arid again similar to what we saw in Northern Mexico.   

Bruce was , and still is, a trooper as his cold turned into sinus headache.   Today was an easy day and just walked around viewed the sea and met a nice couple from Brighton, England who were here for a wedding.   The girl is a professional singer and sang at the wedding and her boyfriend said she was terrific.   Cute couple.

Back to the room and getting ready for bed.

Eleven days until we get home and I am looking forward to it.

Learned, fewer clothes and shoes and always take over the counter meds for poor Bruce who does his very best.

Grace and bruce☺️

Bruce has a cold

Yup, Bruce has a hacking cough or cold and we are in early tonight.  We have been to the pharamacy twice and they have very little compared to what we have in the States.   Over the counter for us is by prescription here so poor Bruce is suffering.

Anyway, today it was off to do laundry and it was a climb.   We have seen those stairways made of stone in Italy but the pictures only show the first level.  We have four levels to climb and it was work.

When we finally got there the place was bright and clean.  How they work it is you pay an attendant for the machine and he then inserts a card into a machine where their are numbers that coordinate with the machines and that's it.   We were there for an hr and got it done until I realized that Bruce had only one shirt there.   He forgot to look in the closet for rest of them.  Too bad as I am not climbing those steps again.

We then got a shuttle to take us down the very steep hills to ck on the car, catch it back 15 minutes later.   Where the shuttle let's people off is at the bottom of a hill which begins the climb onto the Main Street. So there is traffic coming down a hill from the right, going down a different hill, motorbikes coming up behind us going onto a rd to left and right and right in the middle of the hill sits a little area where cars can park.  People , us walk , walk through it, not quite super people but if you don't , you would be celebrating your next birthday waiting for a break in the traffic.

The people here are more reserved , locals, than they were in Leece.  I know from experience that Sicilians are more reserved than Northern Italians, not rude, but a lot harder to get to know.  

We looked at some ruins today and many look the same.  Surprise.

Returned to the same place we have eaten before so we can look over the blue water.  As we were leaving a wedding party was entering a church and had a huge crowd of tourists clapping for the bride and her dad as they walked up the steps.  This is the fourth wedding we have seen since we have been in Italy.

As I said each town as a main plaza and today there were two men , one on a mandolin and other guitar, signing traditional Italian songs along with Volarie which everyone joined in on the choirs.  It made everyone feel good.

Wind has picked up tonight so people are in sweaters and large scarves all wrapped up.

Tomorrow we are off for a day of sight seeing to some small coastal towns and an in land one.

Let's say a get feel prayer for Brucie.

Grace

quiet day

Not much today as Bruce has come down with a bad cough, which I am just getting rid off. I think it is living with a c plus neither of us have our c paps with us.   Did so more exploring and met a very nice and interesting people from England and the wife gave me some reading recommendations on English period history.

Had an early dinner and just got back to the room . Tomorrow is laundry day and deciding what clothes to send home.  Tonight is opera night here and the performance of Carmen is sold out which bummed me out as it is my very favorite.  How things work out as Bruce is feeling funky so it worked out.

So a very slow and laid back day.

Grace and Sleeping Bruce

This is great

Just got back from dinner and , again , a wonderful one.  I had a pasta dish with eggplant and tomatoes and Bruce had veal Marsala that he swooned over.  We walked all day over just part of the day.

We are laughing at the booze , amount we drink.   Had a great breakfast provided by B and B walked next door and signed up for a tour on Sunday.  Did not do the sunset to mt Entna as it gets back at 11 at night and we, I, would be wasted the next day and sleep most of it. We found out there is an open bus that drives along the area and we can ride to the beach or near by small towns so we will do that one day.

So, at noon we stop at this little cafe and have wine and Campari, for me.   Walk around and around . Lunch again wonderful pasta dinners and Bruce is close to licking the plate.  Beer and wine.  Back to the room as businesses close from 1-4 here.  Come back take off shoes and nap.  Walk towards a new location and find the post office as we are mailing clothes home.  Stopped for a Lemoncello .

Walked to find the laundromat, success, back to room for an hr off to dinner with wine and Lemoncello. If we had those many drinks at home we would be inbred after the ones at noon.

We think it is not only the walking but the difference in temps.  

We met a couple from Britian today and struck up a conversation and we all said we were pinching ourselves sitting having a coffee, and dessert, we do that also visiting with each other at the end of Sept in the sun blue sky looking out over the Med.  Sea.  Being waited on by Aldo our server who was so much fun and made everyone smile and glad that we were there.

Lecce was a beautiful old city with a lot of history, from the 13th century to post WWII.   Taromina is a whole different town with an atmosphere we associate with sports cars driving down twisted highways, to down hair blowing in the wind or scarf over hair wearing big sunglasses.  I guess that depends if you see Sophia Loren or Audery Hepburn in your minds eye.   That's what this area is like.  I see a lot more casual dress here with most women but the older ,local Italian women come out for their nightly walks very well dress with their string of pearls on, handbags , hair done walking arm and arm.  People watching is so much fun.

Shelby, if you read this the drinks we have are in very small glasses and do not think it is sophiscated .

We are OLD and you are not.  Love you Sweetie.

That's it for now.

Grace and Bruce

Arrived in Taromina

Of course I will begin with getting out of Reggieo Calabria , we did it. Bruce did it.  Got on the ferry and it was a nice crossing.  Just 20 minutes and what we have found the transportation system we have used is on time.  So far we have traveled by plane, car, bus, train and boat.  

Messina , guess what,is driving hell for us but ,again but Bruce remembered reading autostrad found it, got turned around twice and arrived inTaromina.

This city is an international tourist center and shops galore.   How about:  Gucci, Valentino  red, mui mui, prada and dolce and garbana!  This city is built into a hillside and sits above the blue Med. Sea.

Our hotel is on the main promenade and the verndana sits right over it and we sit and watch the people.  Once those doors are closed the noise is shut out.

The hotel rating n trip advisor was too high as it is very plain and old.

Beginning to rain and some thunder so I am going back I and rest my feet.

Went out to find a light plate of something like fruit, not here compared to Lecce which I found unusual.

Cause as we lost in Messian along the main streets fruit and beautiful veggie trucks were setup.  The peaches and grapes looked beautiful as we drove past at 45 miles per hr and we were going slow.

But we found a place that sits across from plaza that looks over the sea and split a salad with tuna, delicious , olives, you get the picture and it was so good. Bruce is even getting I into the swing of not wanting heavy food at all.  What he loves his veal and the way it is prepared very light.

My eyes are bugging out and the c c are steaming with the outrageously beautiful handbags from Milan but I have mind and love it.

Oh, I have to tell you this.  Where we ate this afternoon the tables are placed on very wide steps and one has to take large steps to reach your table.  Anyway, two Russian women wanted at table and one in her 50-60 had on a dress so short and so tight that even Bruce noticed that she showed more than a bathing suit along with no underware.   Why?   I felt a little sorry for her but on the other hand she walked tall and proud.   This tourist crowd is a whole different from Lecce.

Plus we found out there is an international film festival here each year which draws thousands.

Tomorrow we will look into taking some tours, not sure which ones.

Grace

Driving is terrible

I slept in until 9 this a.m. Bruce up at 7, who knows why .  Anyway we left at 12:30 to find the ferry and got lost in these streets for45 minutes.  Even though the street names where shouted our from theGPS, the st signs are on sides of bldgs and are very faded.  Long and short we found the ferry 20 minutes out of town.  Getting back to the B and B was a little better except we got caught up in traffic where everyone goes home for the five hr break and that took twenty minutes going around the same blocks.  Traffic is a nightmare as there are no stop signs, or stop lights here , we saw two in Lecce, and the streets are a tangle it makes for us high anxiety.

Took a walk later as I wanted to see a local church down the street and we were getting hungry.  Most of the eating places open at8 but found a sm wine bar and it was wonderful.  The owner explained what his establishment wasn't , no pasta, no meat etc. in very good English and I explained in terrible Italian that is not what we wanted.  Long and short he put toghter plates of local cheeses, a caprese salad but in this area of Italy parsley, not basil is used.   Remember Janice and Ernie that Ma always used parsley with tomatoes .  I doubt from here on down to Sicily will we have basil.  We asked him to choose the wine and, Janice, that wine is the closest I have Ever come to tasting grandpas wine.

One the plate was local ricotta cheese with mielie, which is honey.   I have read about this honey but hard to find.  Anyway, it is only from this area and the bees go to this citrus tree that is indegnious to here.   It is beragmount and it is simply Out of this world.  He also gave us some hard candies made with it.  Then it started to rain thunder, lighting and we thought it was nice as it cooled down.  The owner thought we were potso walking back in the rain but it was warm and nice.

Tomorrow off to Sicily  more driving.  Bruce is good as I am close to throwing up at times.

Grace and Bruce

Second half

We just got back from 7 hr drive and tour of the countryside to visit olive groves, vineyard and on to visit the towns of Ortuni , a beautiful white hillside town, the onthe rd toa town called Alber---------as I can't remember the name but it is the town with all the Truillas , beehive shaped huts, and it was an Italian Seaside, Or town as all the Truillas are tourist shops.  There was a young British couple with us then the guide, Slyvia, and the driver Leonardo.  Each excellent and overall nice people.

Slyvia dropped Leo of at her parents home and we continued on.   Hrs later picked him up, met his parents who invited us in to eat or get something to drink.   The other couple had to catch a train and Bruce and I are old and wanted to get back to the room, take off our shoes and turn on the ac.

When we got back to the room Micheangelo 's wife had a veal parmigiana casserole and homemade bread waiting for us!   Isn't that one of the sweetest things?

So, now I am going to have a little something to eat as the veal is one of my all time favorite foods.

Bruce did an outstanding job driving six hrs to reach Reggieo Calbira , sizeofTacoma maybe, while I was holding Genevive, the gps, who was talking to Bruce .   Most of the highway was like driving from Aberdeen to Oly, state highway, but once we entered this city it was a totally different driving and riding exp.

The streets are extremely narrow and curvy then the cars are parked on the sidewalk and the street.

Believe it or not, it is controlled chaos and it works for them .  

This room is so cool!  We left a room in Lecce that was built on the old city, had limestone in the ceiling, the little like shrine that held the coffee maker and frig and walk into this Ulta modern white

Room.  

Ok, hard to find the front door and when we do are confronted by stairs.  Oh shit , but did find the elevator once we looked.   Onto the first floor and met the cutie owner Francesco who took the stairs as we did the lift and walked into this sm grouping of white doors each with a different name, like harmony.  The rooms surrounded this common room that holds three white tables with blue glass tops and each has a bench on each side.   White glass embossed sliding glass doors hide the kitchen net.

Oh, I had the nicest event this a.m.   Our room in Lecce was in an alley and there were apartments along the alley.   Each morning when we went to put the money in meter for the car we passed one apartment at the end where each morning I would stop and chat with this elderly lady, this morning I looked in the open door but didn't see her.  I was disappointed as we just seemed to click.  At the end of the alley this a.m Bruce and Claudia, works for Micheangelo , were waiting for me.  All of a sudden Claudia told me to turn around as someone was talking to me and it was my friend .  She was at the window hanging her wash on one of those standing wash racks that many of us remember.   Went over and hugged and said our caios.   Claudia translated for both of us.  I wish I had prescense of mind to have Bruce take a photo as she was special.  Those are my special memories of people I met in Lecce, some Italian and other British.

When we arrived here I asked Francesco where the places to eat were and said down the street but don't open until 8 p.m.!   Hell, at home we are in our pjs getting ready for bed at 8.

Reggieo IS very much like Tac  as neither can be called clean in their up keep.

Oh, another nice item with this room is we have a sm veranda were we can look out onto the street.

Just a little table with two chairs and private.  It was so cute when we were sitting there and Francesco came up to clean off the table as there was ash from Mt Entna .  We can see Sicily from the veranda.

I guess we are entering phrase two of this trip.  Quickly I will write driving down the highway much of the landscape is like Mexico.   Arid, dry, you get the idea.  Parts are very green ,sm hills and no olive treesbutthe beginning of fruit trees.

Good night.

Grace and Bruce

Sunday night

Decided to do dessert first and went back to Alvinos where Bruce had that beautiful dessert.  I had a scoop of the most flavorful dark chocolate geletto I have ever had and I am not kidding.  Also, I had scoop of pistachio that melted in my mouth.  Bruce copied me with that.  Walked around a bit and back to the room.  Before I forget, every dessert comes with a fan of white chocolate and cookies along with decoration like shinning paper.

Another thing are the shoes the women wear.  They are a sight to behold as what I saw tonight were the high wedges in sneakers and dress shoes and they are beautiful.  Plus, it is not unusual to seeing a man carry his wife's handbag.   

This was a very hot and humid day it even got to me and hit Bruce pretty hard so we are glad that this room is so cool.

Karen, found out today that your last name means soap in a Italian and took a photo of a st with your name on it to show you when we next lunch.

Good night.

Grace and Bruce

Sunday afternoon

After breakfast we had a mini tour of the Jewish underground settlement by Joseph.  The short of it 14th-15th century the Jewish community was destroyed and all the bldgs along with scared texts by the Church.   Many artifacts were "repurposed" for the bldg of the new Lecce and important ones disappeared .  A few British ladies stopped us and asked about our tour as they were familiar with the Jewish history of Lecce and were disappointed that no tours ever address it.  So we felt fortunate to have exp.  a small part of it.

The we walked up to the plaza and Bruce had the most outrageous ice cream sundaes we have seen or tasted!  We also had a local espresso drink that has either a small amount of almond make or has dry ice then sugar to keep it cold.  It as so damn good.

Then onto a really long walk on the other side of Lecce plaza and discovered a second part with more eating establishments, art galleries, clothing shops, lucky for our c c not in my size and beautiful Barouqe churches.   I got hungry and we looked for an interesting place and we found one.  This was the best meal we had in Lecce.  We were the only English speaking couple there so had to find a server and menu in English.  As we looked around it was a very typical Sunday afternoon, after Mass, Italian meal and what I mean is four to five courses.  Pasta, salad, meat or fish, side veggie , dessert (fresh fruit) and then coffee.  I had the most wonderful spag with clams and mussels , bruce had and outrageous veal dish with fungi and a sauce that I kept sponging up with my bread.  We had the server choose a glass of local wine for us.  Bruce liked it and I know that Ina would enjoy it also.  It was ok for me.  What we did notice that French fries are so really popular and I mean popular.  Almost every table near us ordered them with their eat course except the elderly couple near us had a potatoe side dish.

we ended with a small plate of fresh fruit and the price was reasonable.

Back to the room to rest and repack.  May email later.  Say a prayer for us for our first foray with the car.

Second half

We just got back from 7 hr drive and tour of the countryside to visit olive groves, vineyard and on to visit the towns of Ortuni , a beautiful white hillside town, the onthe rd toa town called Alber---------as I can't remember the name but it is the town with all the Truillas , beehive shaped huts, and it was an Italian Seaside, Or town as all the Truillas are tourist shops.  There was a young British couple with us then the guide, Slyvia, and the driver Leonardo.  Each excellent and overall nice people.

Slyvia dropped Leo of at her parents home and we continued on.   Hrs later picked him up, met his parents who invited us in to eat or get something to drink.   The other couple had to catch a train and Bruce and I are old and wanted to get back to the room, take off our shoes and turn on the ac.

When we got back to the room Micheangelo 's wife had a veal parmigiana casserole and homemade bread waiting for us!   Isn't that one of the sweetest things?

So, now I am going to have a little something to eat as the veal is one of my all time favorite foods.

We are off on a small tour to some nearby towns and I AM HOMESICK!   I miss my dogs , you people, Pilates and ?   Though everyday here is hot and sunny which I LOVE.

More later.

Whatever day it is

Slept in today but had to get to the little eating place that provides breakfast to this B and B.  Then walked to the parking lot to put money in for the car.   We thought about just driving out and about but I cannot stress enough that Italian drivers wait for no one and I mean no living being on earth. So we chickened out and walked outside the walls of old town.  We sat for a few minutes watching air conditioned tourist bus after bus stop and let out groups to walk the old town and see them an hr or so later looking worn out and not very excited about what they saw.

Walked back and stopped at a little out door cafe for a glass of vine and olives and tried to tell the server, in Italian, we would see them tonight for dinner.  He no more understood me than I could understand him.  Finally a man from Beligum translated to him what I said.  I still content the further East and South you get in Italy one should have a good working speaking and understanding of Italian.

We are taking a walking tour tomorrow of the underground city of Lecce .  A lot of the blgs now have either limestone walls, ceilings rooms that were carved out of the blgds left standing .  This was once, during the Spanish Inquistion , a huge Jewish settlement but during the Inquistion, the Jews were put to death for not converting.

Then on Sat. Micheangelo has arranged a driver and tour guide to drive us to two towns about two hrs away as they have blgds called Truillos or beehives and that will take all day.

Health wise we are doing ok.  Bruce's knee is swollen and feels warm and I try not worry to much and ice is something they have here.  I did ckeck with the travel agent about the possibility of leaving early just in chase it is expensive but ..

Not much else.

Grace and Bruce

Car day

Picked up the rental car today and, of course, got all turned around as the Gps uses English spelling of streets but the B and B owner came to our rescue .  The parking lot is half an hr walk each way to

Put two euros in each day .  Not convenient at all but small stuff.   Today when we got back to the room we had a fresh fruit tart, how nice is that.  Walked around this old town again which is pretty big and will do some exploring outside these walls tomorrow.

The town closes from 1:30-5:30 each day se we come back in for an hr , take another shower and back out. Bruce just nodded off in the chair as though it seems we are in the room a lot but we leave as soon as we cool off.

Tonight as walked the plaza , as the locals do, as we have the passed few nights we got followed by a real scum bag on a bike for a few blocks but he finally stopped.   I know this happens in any world wide city but it is so unnerving when your not to make eye contact and just tell them to fuck off.

So we left before dark tonight.

Micheangelo 'wife made the fruit tart for us today.  We have met so many nice people. Right now we watching an Italian tv ad which is so funny as most have some funny, not offensive, sexual undertones.

Now, we have learn about ordering antapasta in Italy, they are not SMALL.   It is plate after plate after plate.  Today I thought it was just cold cuts and bread, along with small bowls of fruit, veggies and peanuts.    It was wonderful and just the last of it for dinner along a piece of fruit tart.

We have taken some photos but the iPad is not the way .  Bruce is really tired of looking at Barouge churches , Lecce, but I just love the paintings inside.  They may not have been by the great masters but they are heavenly.

Yesterday, Micheangelo took us to met four generations of artisans , living masters, who do restorations on religious statues but done with paper mâché , wire, certain type of paste they make up.

I wish it would have been permitted to take photos but in the back room where they paint the skin parts sat great grandma, grandma, well dressed and sitting there .

Speaking of which, the women, not girls, are dressed to the nines walking around the plaza.  Small heels, hair and nails done, makeup on.  Just visiting with each other and looking those who walk by with a real critical eye.  Fun to watch.

That's it for tonight.

Train trip

Too long and not scenic at all.  We did sit with a nice American couple from Wisconsin half way , then we had to catch different trains.  We sat on the train for nine hrs and the Italian first is not what Americans think but the seats were fine.  Bruce found out we could have been here in five not nine hrs

which you can guess did bot sit well with us.

Lecce is a beautiful Barouqe city and walked around a little.  Think we will take a guided tour for some things.  Pick the car up tomorrow and just might park it and take it when we leave.

Am shocking myself as I am not doing well as a world traveler to parts unknown.  Last night upon arriving here no B and B owner to pick us up and after half got a wonderful cab driver who called the owner for us and waited with us until he came.   As Bruce said that is the attitude we have hoped for.

To be honest as I stand now I feel like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz as there is no place like home.

Thing when we do an international trip again will do it with others.  Am eating my words as I always said that is not how we travel but learning we can see and do more in that context.

Ok, very hot and beautifully sunny.

Love,  Grace

Ok the tour.

ROk, so we purchased passes to get into the Vicitian Museum, that includes Sistene Chapel and st Peters.  No tour.   When we arrived the area is Massive, thousands of people on Friday too.  Hawkers all over selling tours with guides plus ear buds etc.  I fell for one.  Half an hr walk to sign up plus 20 Euros more per person.  As ours did include not some areas.  People on the tour from all over the world plus honeymooners out ofNew York.  Roberto was our guide and his name should have been rooster as he was the cockiest man and more interested in the two girls from Russia then anything.

A three tour became five and half and it was lousy in the respect that what I did want to see the Raphel

Works we did not see at all.  Interesting pt to remember.  There are about 521 steps, no shit, and we did them all.  If we had broken away from the tour we had to back the way we came whereas with the guide can go out the back exit and , more stairs, to St Peters which I did want to spend time in.  The crowds inside were so big was difficult to stop and read that is one reason we do not like tours but am learning talking to other travels it depends on the tour company.

Taxi ride back to the hotel.  ZOOM____________!  The drivers drive at a crazy speed to us and not once did he slam on the breaks.  Sort of fun and can see why Italians love sports cars as they think everything is one.

Ate dinner at the roof top resturant , again, love the food and service is wonderful.  We find the servers wonderful and the We find the Romans arragronant , get my misspelling, they do not seem to want to extend themselves one bit to help out.  What I see and hear are other tourists helping others with directions.

 

Guess what we did the next day, very little, just walked around the neighborhoods , ate lunch at a very nice place we happened upon.  Beautiful marble everywhere and the toilet fixtures are modern works of art.  We had antapasta for lunch and Bruce is even drinking sparkling water and only soda so far.

I have had a few bantering sessions with some and it was fun.

Today Sunday , Bruce went to breakfast without me, brought back some yogurt and then walked to the train station to get our bearings when we leave tomorrow.  We are glad to be going but we did find today the train station , like the streets, are full of hustlers and thieves.   Wears people out being on the look out but I do think the more one travels in Rome the more comfortable one becomes and there is so much to exp.  I would come back.

Love From The Weary Travelers

Continued

So, we found the most delightful resturant walking around with the most attentive wait staff.  I had fish soup which was out of this world.  Grilled smoked tuna with a few sm clams, I shrimp anyway with a broth that knocked my shoes off.  I ordered cake , chocolate with whipped cream that was so leggereo that it floated off the plate.

A young waiter,Alex, helped me with my Italian and I explained some English speech idioms to them.

What happened two young men, who had eight courses, two bottles of wine, yup I counted, responsed when asked by Alex if they enjoyed the meal and one guy said what do you think and One could tell Alex was offended.  I later explained that when he was shown the empty plate and was told that the customer loved it.   So we had language lessons.  As we were having dessert one server brought us each a glass of Lemeoncelo which tastes so different than we get at home.

I will cont later about the day yesterday which we took not quite the tour of hell through the St Peters and the museum.   No luck on going to the Borghese gallery as I did not book from home, no one at the desk was helpful.  I did not find the hotel PC and printer until this am

Will tomorrow about the tour and today.

Love, Grace and Brucie

Day one really.

Well,today was really our first day with feet on the ground.  Had to get up at 7 after a pretty restless night.  Comfortable bed, now I know my sleep comfort number is high, but had to drag myself around.

Went to the roof top resturant for breakfast and it was great and I mean it had close to everything, except biscuits and gravy.

Then down to the lobby to meet our driver whose name is Valdamar and he was prefect.  There were six of us.  Patty and Nancy from Fla who are dragon boat competitors and were here for that race which was in Ravenna,Italy.  Then we picked up Mel and Perry from Ark and she is a hoot.  Thank God for her Southern charm.  Short, blonde, perky and full of life and she and her husband adopted a baby three yrs ago, Blakely and she had photos and he is a beauty.  

We had a wonderful three hrs with these people including Valdamar who is Ukcrain , you know, who speaks seven language fluently .  It rained but not too hard and just got back to the room and it is pouring down.  Reminds me of rain in summers growing up as the windows are open and it is cooling it down.

Now for a list of places and some photos I took with the iPad but Bruce took a lot with the camera.

Oh before I forget.  Paula, Bruce whipped out the camera and showed photos of Miss Etta and Lewis and before we knew it Nancy, from Fla quiet one, and whipped out her photos of her Doxies and one is 6 months.

 

Part Duo, the tour.

Ok first stop.  San Pietro in Vincoli.  This church was built to house the house the chains which bound St Peter were he was hung up side down while in Jerusalem.  I know it sounds gruesome , and it is, but think St. Peter the very first Pope.  Secondly we saw the statue became the home of Michelangelos statue of Moses.  Of course I cried to actually see the church but to look at the creation of Micheangelo.  Again, I am talking thousands of yrs!   St. Peter's chains.

Second,  The Arch of Contstantine built in, wait A.D. 315.  Don't need any drugs to blow your mind when you realize slave labor that built it, the designer, the cravings and the historical significance.

On to the Colosseum.  What kind I write about it.  To stand before it is outstanding but my rush is when we drove up to it and that vista breathtaking.  Remember, I am the broad who did not want to see any ruins.  Eat my words.

Then to the Peoples Pizzaza where the church was built by contributions by people not rich patrons of the era.

Fifth stop. Castle St Angelo where popes went to hide out when there was political troubles.

Sixth stop.  The Spanish Steps which are pastel color, faded, but noticeable.  We entered at the top where it is not as powerful as seeing it from the bottom looking up.  The best item I saw there were two women on their bacloney having their breakfast under an awning.  That had all of us envious and Val told us that rents for those apartments are reasonable.

Ok, later I will conclude with us self guided tour.

 

Well, the visit day in Rome was overwhelming as we drove passed the Colosseum, in person, and there are few words to descripe the breath of this stadium!  Plus the ancient wall of Rome.  Seeing these monuments in person was , to me, like visiting the Lincoln Memorial as it took my breath after and brought tears to my eyes.

Drove by too quickly for photos will try again tomorrow.  Marco , our driver, was a whiz driver and did whizz on by but explained and pt out some historical sites , like the seven hills of Rome and he could name them also.

Went to eat at a torttoria right next door like a side walk cafe.  Had soup and caprese salad, vine for me, geletto for Bruce.  Sat there for awhile until I saw Bruce was falling asleep at the table, walked a bit and back to the room just as a thunder and lighting stop hit but not much rain as it lessens as it comes closer to the ground.

It has been in the 80s here for the passed week and today was humid.

Ok, 

Good night folks.

Bruce and Grace

Just arrived and we might be in trouble.

First, the plane ride was very long and very uneventful.  We watched movies , Bruce has not slept since we left Seattle yesterday morning.  I dozed a lot.

When we got off the plane, buggae was there and found the driver sent to pick us up,  The problem is we may have entered Italy illegally.  Marco the driver took our bags and I told him we had to go to customs and ,at first, he pretented not to understand but he did.  I asked him again as we were following him out the airport and I was ignored.  Long and short looks as if we entered illegally as we did not clear customs and our passports were not stamped.  When we arrived at the hotel I asked and the implication was shhhh, don't know, don't ask.

Do have an email into the travel agent to help!

Looks as we might have to repack and taxi back to the airport.

Room small, just Ok.

Had lunch/dinner at the cafe next door, good food.

Bruce is asleep now and I will join him for a nap.

No pictures as we spent the meal working with the cell phone company for charges these past two days.

Got skimmed , just a little , by a street peddler.  We were too tired too protest.that's it for now.

Tomorrow we will see if we can stay in Italy.  We hope it is easily resolved.

Ciao,

Until tomorrow.

Two very weary travelers.   Always follow your gut when situations arise like Marco

Just arrived and we might be in trouble.

First, the plane ride was very long and very uneventful.  We watched movies , Bruce has not slept since we left Seattle yesterday morning.  I dozed a lot.

When we got off the plane, buggae was there and found the driver sent to pick us up,  The problem is we may have entered Italy illegally.  Marco the driver took our bags and I told him we had to go to customs and ,at first, he pretented not to understand but he did.  I asked him again as we were following him out the airport and I was ignored.  Long and short looks as if we entered illegally as we did not clear customs and our passports were not stamped.  When we arrived at the hotel I asked and the implication was shhhh, don't know, don't ask.

Do have an email into the travel agent to help!

Looks as we might have to repack and taxi back to the airport.

Room small, just Ok.

Had lunch/dinner at the cafe next door, good food.

Bruce is asleep now and I will join him for a nap.

No pictures as we spent the meal working with the cell phone company for charges these past two days.

Got skimmed , just a little , by a street peddler.  We were too tired too protest.that's it for now.

Tomorrow we will see if we can stay in Italy.  We hope it is easily resolved.

Ciao,

Until tomorrow.

Two very weary travelers.   Always follow your gut when situations arise like Marco

Little bit of anxiety.

It is 11:00 a.m. and waiting to board the plane for the first leg of our trip from Seattle to Amerstdam.

Bruce has handled his anxiety fairly well about the trip.  Annie he is like you he hates to fly.  Maybe I will give him an extra pain pill and he will feel like he is floating among the stars.  But not too much as he does handle the luggage.

Yup I packed way too much, enough said.

For myself, I have dreamt about going to Europe since I was 16.  Now I am I am really in a state of excitement and shock.

Tomorrow is the day I will try to add photos to the blog.

Love to all.

Grace and Bruce , the aka Boo boo of the blog