Last day!

Thought you might want to see the night view from the Rooftop Garden where Jacky and I had a drink last night. We also got to listen to American songs. Whenever we get in a taxi, they often put American music on...

Well,you know you have to cram everything you haven't seen yet in the last day. That's the way this day seemed. Not too early a start. The others had gone out last night when we had stayed at the hotel and they didn't get back until after midnight, so they slept in a little. Then a taxi cab ride to the area the colosseum is in. I don't know why but that's not where he dropped us off, so walking, walking, asking directions, walking...

This is where the taxi driver dropped us off. Looks like a colosseum, doesn't it? I guess there's more than one, but only THE one was what we wanted. Still, saw more interesting ruins which happen to be all over Roma.

We did go up some 'hill'. Very nice to be around plants again. There was this flower that was blooming everywhere in this park. It gave a fairy tale feel to the place. Aren't Allen and Carolyn cute?

At the top were some really pretty views...

It was about at this point that I found out my memory card in my camera was full. Aghhhhh! My new card was in my suitcase back at the hotel....stupid me! Jacky lent me his camera. What a nice guy! So on to more pictures.

We went on top of this and got marvelous pictures. You had to pay to take an elevator to get to the top. Breathtaking view!

 

 

 

 

Finally found what we wanted. It was where all the tourists were of course! And where you had to pay money, of course! So we enjoyed our stroll through the ruins where it got really hot, really fast.

On to the coliseum !

 

I was having some problems with both cameras. Our cameras (and iPads) had not charged overnight -we think it's because we took our room key out, which is what turns the lights on. Soooo not only was I out of memory, but both cameras kept running out of battery. I used my phone for some pictures but it was a mess and I kept switching my electronic devices trying to find something that would work. I think it worked pretty good but now it's hard to find certain pictures!

After the coliseum, the others went to the hotel and Jacky and I took a taxi and went shopping. First time the whole trip,literally, that we had a chance. Lee doesn't like to and there was always somewhere else we had to go to.

Got back to the hotel for a short hour before we headed out again, to another hill they had gone the night before. Again, beautiful views, lovely trees and birds singing. We really miss that!

Dressed up like twins, ready for dinner !

This is that building we were on top of taking pictures.

A water clock!

 

Dinner below the hill. Fettuccine Alfredo...and birthday cake for Jacky whose birthday is tomorrow. What a nice surprise!

Well it's 'Good Bye Roma! It's been fun!'

 

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Vatican in Rome

Bus was supposed to pick us up at 8. At 7:45 John rang us to say they're waiting. So I skip the last bathroom stop and hurry downstairs. Eventually the guide comes and gets the 6 of us and we take off. After 15 minutes, we end up back by the hotel to pick up more people! Ok, they must not have got his message. So we go again....and drive around, and end up at the hotel for the third time!!! Really not sure about these tour people and how organized they are... I really needed that bathroom stop by the time we got to the Vatican!

The streets here are so narrow. Often they are one way only, except that cars and motorcycles are parked on both sides, and people walk there too. It's surprising there aren't more accidents. The drivers fly through when there's a clear spot.

This is the view out the bus window. So it's a regular size bus going down this street!

You can even find McDonalds if you look hard enough. This is the extent of the signs though.

We stopped across from this fountain while picking up people for the tour. Nice place to take a picture!

 

 

I didn't know Vatican City is totally separate from Rome, from Italy, from everything. It stands alone with a wall separating it from Rome. We didn't have to have passports, but we had security check just like at the airport. They have their own license plates, stores, hospital, post office...you name it!

We started off with a tour of Vatican City, Basilica S. Pietro ( St. Peter's ), the Sistine Chapel. Lots and lots of walking with no breaks (potty or otherwise) in between. It lasted about 3 hours. There were so many people there that our group of 24 lost 6 people in the Sistine chapel ( it's not that big and yet we never found one girl!). By the time we got out of St Peter's cathedral we were down to 12 because many went off on their own.

There's so much beautiful art here. This is before we go in the Sistine Chapel in the Museum. We're not allowed to take photos in the chapel.

They are cleaning some of the maps on the right hand side.

This is detail on one of the maps.

Look at this tapestry-

 

This shows you how detailed it is up close-

Here is some detail from the Sistine Chapel from a board outside. It was painted by Michaelangelo.

This shows the detail, and the difference when they are able to clean these paintings.

 

 

Now to St Peter's which is so beautiful!

Notice all those people in there with us...

 

The last pope who died. He became a mummy on his own and so they took him out for viewing. There's at least 2 others you can see.

 

 

 

This, believe it or not, is made out of mosaic tile only...as is this found below it.

 

And here are the Swiss guards who guard the Pope.

I've had a picture of the river in each other city so here is this one. It's the Fiume Tevere. They were fishing down there.

 

Marvelous lunch. I asked for Risotto ( rice) and seafood. This is what they brought to me!

 

For those of you not familiar with sea food, there's mussels -2 kinds, and something like a shrimp but larger with a large claw on front, and a really nice surprise...

Guess this meat...octopus! Yum! I was hoping I'd get some here.

The bus dropped us off at the Spanish Steps. John said they built it as a way to get to the top of the hill. I don't know about that but it is so beautiful. Maybe minus all the people...

Took taxi's back to the hotel to rest. We are all just beat. I had to sit up front in ours. I decided to never sit in the front seat of an Italian taxi again. You get a front and center view of the road in front. And never mind what I said about stopping for pedestrians in the crosswalks....

Jacky and I decided to call it a day tonight. The others are going to try out the metro but it's already 8 pm and we have to sit in the downstairs lounge for Internet. Maybe a cocktail on the rooftop tonight, Hmmmmm?

 

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