Pompeii: Day 8

More driving.  More crazy nuts.  It is all with it...

At last, this is our last day...but that is ok...we are ready to be home.  

Pisa: Day 7

On our way back to Rome, we decided to go see the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

It is amazing, depending on your point of view, it is either really leaning, or just slightly leaning.  We didn't have time to go into any of the structures or the tower.  But Wezul got his first taste of gelato on this trip here.  Afterwards, we decided to drive down the coast.

It was very pretty, though, finding a restroom is difficult...thank goodness for Mc Donald's.  You still need to be prepared to carry your own "supplies"...TP...is kinda lacking in some spots...but luckily...I am always prepared.  Haha!!

Rome: Day 5

Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica in Palazzo Barberini was close to our hotel.  Unfortunately, we were unable to take photos of the artwork, but it was quite beautiful.  We then decided to go to the planetarium...oh boy...we will avoid that discussion...for it was well discussed in our Facebook post...haha!!!!!!

Florence: Day 6

A new day...a new adventure and frayed nerves.  After spending all our time in Rome, it was time to get our rental car!  The process makes you appreciate the process in America.  You pay...get keys...get car...and off you go.  In Italy, you go on a treasure hunt for the rental desk.  Wait in line for 20 minutes or more...get your keys.  Then you have to walk several blocks to find the parking garage.  Then you have to figure out which cars are for your rental company and try and locate your vehicle in the tightly packed garage.  Oh yeah...using the key fob to blink the lights or honk the horn...does not work.  Then when you find your car, it takes patience, prayers, and a few cuss words to get out of the parking deck.  Then you say constant prayers until you get on the autostrade (highway)...because when they save the drivers are daredevils...that is putting it nicely.

However, once you get to the highway, it is somewhat less stressful.  All the frustration was worth it.  We got to see David...and the view from the hotel...

Rome: Day 4

I am sooooo creative with these blog titles!  Either way, y'all have to love me.  Today, we spent the day walking, walking, walking, and you guessed it, more walking.  Thank goodness for cabs!

This morning we went to Fontana di Trevi so we could toss our coins in to guarantee our return trip to Rome.  It is a must since we need to take a class at That's Amore!  You take Fabio's class, and he will then allow you to access all of his recipes.  

Sidenote:  the owner, Fabio is having a commercial or documentary made of his place last night.  We were there while filming.  Let's just say the cameraman hit my chair as he passed thru a couple of times.  

After ensuring our return to Rome, we went to the Pantheon.

It is a little big....

Afterwards, we just wondered around like crazy people and saw some cool random items.

Lunch consisted of us hopping in a cab back to our hotel.  I wanted to try a place we saw while on one of our many jaunts...Carlo's Pizza.  It was great food, but the staff were even better.  They know how to cut up with the patrons and have a great time!

With time to kill, we decided to go to the National Museum of Rome.  It was huge and it had a lot of OLD stuff.

We also got to see the Baths of Diocletians.

It was well worth the 14 Euros!  Finally, it was time to find dinner.  Instead of going on the recommendation of our American lunch mates, we found a hole in the wall...boy did we make the right choice......

Need I say more....

Rome: Day 3

We finally made Wezul feel young...

We went to the Colosseum.  Since it opened around 70 AD, it is safe to say Wezul wasn't the oldest thing around.  Haha!  I sooooo funny!!!!  Our adventures continued with a walk around town that lead us to some more ruins...

And again, gramps was feeling like a spring chicken.  I think he had a little added pep in his step.  

The biggest miss out of the trip, Italy and Argentina played a friendly tonight.  I was unable to convince Wezul we needed to take a 15 minute cab ride to the stadium to see if we could get tickets.  Maybe the soccer fairies will allow us to cross paths with Roberto Baggio on our Italian adventure...one of my favorite soccer players of all time!

Rome: Days 1 & 2

After arriving on Monday, we napped.  After we woke up, we ventured out to the Spanish Steps.

On Tuesday, we went to Vatican City.

At the bottom of the steps, you can see the Swiss Guard protecting one of the entrances to the Pope's residence .  

St. Peter's Square from the steps of St. Peter's Basilica.  

Look below into the catacombs from with St. Peter's Basilica.

Simply beautiful!  No matter where you look in St. Peter's Basilica, it is simply gorgeous.  If we hadn't been on a guided tour, I would have loved to just take the time to stay in here for hours.  One really needs time to take it all in.  Not just the beauty of the architecture, but also to take in the significance of the church.

When in Rome....

We sleep!  We were lucky to watch the sunrise while we were in the air.  As we flew, we passed over the Swiss Alps.  Very pretty.  Some of the peaks still were snow covered.  Very sleep deprived!!!  Right now, I can't sleep to save my life.  Grrrrr.  We saw the Spanish Steps today.   Tomorrow we visit the Vatican City...hopefully, we will picture up the blog!!!