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.