| Terni, from the train window. |
| The Italian countryside, brought to you courtesy of Trenitalia. |
| Vanessa enjoys the ride. |
| At the Colosseum, named for the Colossus that once stood in the front yard. |
| Antiquity and me. |
| The changing of the Swiss Guard. |
| St. Peter's Piazza |
| Art of the Vatican Museum. Some of the most striking artwork was in the mosaic tile on the floor. No one looks at it much. |
| From the first dead Pope to the last...the tombs of St. Peter and John Paul II. |
| Spiralling out of the Vatican Museum. |
We headed back to our hotel, ate one last great Italian dinner, and went to bed. The
morning brought the unwelcomed reality of reality. We packed and headed for the
Termini, this time by subway. In so doing we realized that our trip had included seven
distinct modes of transport: foot, bike, car, bus, subway, train and plane. If we could have
ridden a horse onto a boat I think we'd have had the record.
We flew to Milan, and then Newark, and then...nothing. Our plane had left without us, so
Continental put us up in a hotel and gave us meal vouchers. Sadly, our luggage made its
connection, and so the next morning we were the smelliest people in first class on our
way home. We landed in San Antonio, picked up the dogs, and headed back to Kerrville.
morning brought the unwelcomed reality of reality. We packed and headed for the
Termini, this time by subway. In so doing we realized that our trip had included seven
distinct modes of transport: foot, bike, car, bus, subway, train and plane. If we could have
ridden a horse onto a boat I think we'd have had the record.
We flew to Milan, and then Newark, and then...nothing. Our plane had left without us, so
Continental put us up in a hotel and gave us meal vouchers. Sadly, our luggage made its
connection, and so the next morning we were the smelliest people in first class on our
way home. We landed in San Antonio, picked up the dogs, and headed back to Kerrville.
| Goodbye Arena House B&B! Goodbye Rome! |
| A garden near the Colosseum. |
| All packed up and looking like pregnant turtles. |
| Vanessa packing. |
| At the airport in Rome. We took a bus from the terminal to the plane on the runway. We look ready to come home. |
| Off to the Termin! |
| The New York skyline, from our hotel in Newark. Home, but not yet home. |
The next morning we headed out early and made our way by bus to the Vatican. We saw St.
Peter's and the tombs of the Popes, including the late John Paul II, and then stood in a
sizeable line for the Vatican Museum. An astounding collection that would probably take days
to see well, the Vatican Museum provided room after room of amazing art and artifacts. These
led us, in turns, to the Sistine Chapel, where tourists took pictures while the guards walked
around demanding that no one take pictures. A tableau with inherent Brownian movement, no
one seems to move other than to look up and around. You don't seem to move. But then
suddenly you are out the far end, and continuing on. How it happens is a Vatican Mystery.
Peter's and the tombs of the Popes, including the late John Paul II, and then stood in a
sizeable line for the Vatican Museum. An astounding collection that would probably take days
to see well, the Vatican Museum provided room after room of amazing art and artifacts. These
led us, in turns, to the Sistine Chapel, where tourists took pictures while the guards walked
around demanding that no one take pictures. A tableau with inherent Brownian movement, no
one seems to move other than to look up and around. You don't seem to move. But then
suddenly you are out the far end, and continuing on. How it happens is a Vatican Mystery.
Day 15, 16 & 17 - Rome and Home
 | |  |
Our train this morning took us from Assisi trough Terni and back south to Rome. We
made our way to our B&B, not five minutes walk from the Coleseum. We snacked and
then headed over to the Colesseum to do the tour. Afterwards we enjoyed pizza and wine
at the same restaurant we had eaten at on Day One. Still just as tasty! And the waiter
commented on our improved Italian!
made our way to our B&B, not five minutes walk from the Coleseum. We snacked and
then headed over to the Colesseum to do the tour. Afterwards we enjoyed pizza and wine
at the same restaurant we had eaten at on Day One. Still just as tasty! And the waiter
commented on our improved Italian!
| On the platform in Assisi, with nuns, hippies, tourists and pilgrims. |
| A water bottle gets a window seat. |
| Paying attention to the tour guide...trying to learn us some history. |
| The return of the Roman soldier! Was he carrying his friend in his luggage last time? We'll never know. |