Rome May 22 to May 25, 2006

We parted company with Sam and Charlotte at the Port... They would be going on to England for a few weeks. We were headed for Rome.

The first order of business was to set up our Escape from Rome... Our Flight Home would be leaving 6:15 AM on Thursday May 25.
We planned to spend our Last Night at the Airport Hilton so we could make the flight.

Upon arrival at Civitavecchia, the port serving Rome, we took advantage of the ground transfer from the port to Leonardo Di Vinci Airport.
There we went directly to the Hilton and deposited one of our heavy bags for safekeeping until our return. Then we took the Complimentary Hilton shuttle service into Rome and caught a Taxi to the Ariston Hotel where we would spend our first two nights in downtown Rome. The Ariston is very convenient to the the Train Station. We would catch a late afternoon train to the Airport Hilton when we left.

By Noon we were checked in at the hotel and headed off to the Termini where we could get a Hop-on-Hop-off Tour bus.

The Collosseum was on the Hop On Hop Off Route The tour is a good way to get a quick overview of the city.	This is the Restaraunt across from the Ariston Hotel . We had a late lunch there before Our Evening Strool
	Imigrant Aliens are in the News In Rome as well as the USA Our walking tour took us along Via Delle Quatro Fontane. That's the street with Four Fountains one on each corner.
At the top of the Spanish steps you are above the roof tops of the six story buildings that dominate the city of Rome.	Midway down the steps you can become a part of the (In)action Can you detect any motion is this Photo?
Can you find Two Texans in this Picture? It was a pretty hot day so I filled my water bottle from the fountain The Romans are proud of their clean and abundant water. The fountains are used by all.
I call this the Hail Mary Obelisk. It has Statues of Four Prophets around the base. Each made reference in some way to Mary. It was on the way to our next Stop. The Tevi Fountain.... Right >>>> The largest and most famous in Rome...	There was a large crowd at the fountain
Toss in a coin and Make a wish Bigger Wish... Bigger Coin	We were there when the Lights came on

From the Tevi Fountan we walked back to the Hotel... Total stroll 3 miles. check

Check Two fountains in One day

Day Two: Vatican, Tiber and Piazza Navona

We slept in and did the Breakfast Buffet at the hotel. It was excellent. A short walk took us to the Metro station where we picked up the subway to the Vatican.

Can you see the yellow Line.?. Its 0.4 miles long leading up the picture to the Museum Entrance. We joined it and almost immediately a Tour Recruiter came along. "Would you like to avoid this line and take a Guided tour, It's $25 each. " he said... Marion was noding Yes I was not carrying much cash so I asked," Do you accept Visa?" He Laughed and pointing across the street said, "No, but that ATM machine does... I can wait."	I got the cash and we followed him on a vigorous walk past 4823 people ahead of us in the line. Sure enough when we got there we met Kathy Mullins. She was going to be our Tour Guide. She took our Names and our Cash and gave us Sticker ID's "We are almost ready to go." she said. I took the timeout to go buy some Bottled water.. It was a Very Hot day In Rome.
David
Panorama shot along Via Crescenzio from Vatican Museum.

Museum and Sistine Chapel... Note Photos Not permitted in Sistine Chapel.... Just as well It must be seen to be appreciated..

San Pietro

Saint Peters Basilica

Pieta by Michaelangelo Behind Glass
Pope Gregory Calendar fame	Main Altar Centered over the tomb of St Peter

Massive Columns	Dome of St Peters
John XXIII Vatican II Reforms	John Paul II Previous Pope

Alexanders Ugly Door	St Vincent de Paul
Swiss Guard	Lunch around 4 PM

St Peters Basilica... The most impressive structure I have ever seen...

Tiber tour

Castel San Angelo AKA Hadrian's Mauseleum	Ed before Justice
Vittorio Emanuel II Bridge	Navona Piazza Fountain
Piazza Navona at Dusk	Priestly Mime with Cat "He howls when Awakened by a Coin in his cup"

We Walked on back to the Hotel arrived too tired to eat... Had some wine and watched a little TV.

Last Day In Rome - Maria Maggiore and the Forum

We started with a Great Breakfast at the Hotel , Sattled up our bill andhad them hold our bags for a Late departure...

Dome of Maria Maggiore Oldest Church in Rome	Chapel in Maria Maggiore
Arch of Septimius Severus	Temple of Castor and Pollux
Basilica Maxenius Four Tenors performed here	Forum Of Caesar 46 BC
Arch of Titus	Temples of Saturn and Concord
Arch of Constantine	Colloseum Floor

Roman Forum Done

Around 4 PM we returned to the hotel, walked over to the train station and got the next available train to the Airport Hilton... We went to their fitness center and Swam in the pool.
Dinner was a Hamburger with fries... ***$$$$+ We had a 4 AM wakeup call, and got a free ride to the Airport.

When we got home I discovered that we had lost the CD containing all of the trip Photos from Galveston to Palma... Fortunately, they could be recovered by the cruise lines computer services company.. it took until July to get them... that is why this report is so late.. The only other loss was my Suduku book... it contained several unsolved puzzels, but also lots of my notes about people we met...

It was a wonderful and relaxing vacation....

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