Rome

Although we had been scheduled to make a coach tour of Rome as soon as we arrived, our Rome tour guide had changed the plan and arranged for us to check into our hotels early and get some rest. What a welcome relief that was! None of us had slept much on the train, we had been unable to use the bathrooms, due to the unbelievable stench that I will forever associate with trains, and we needed some time to relax and acclimate.

Following some down time, we were treated to a motorcoach tour of some of the Rome highlights, with stops at Vatican City, a tour of St. Peter’s Basilica, and a visit to the Colosseum. Vatican City is an interesting city-state, with Swiss Guards stationed near every entrance. They are very carefully chosen for their position as bodyguards for the Pope, and are allowed to serve a maximum of two years. Apparently, the Church feels that two years in Rome is enough temptation for these young men!

At St. Peter’s, I was finally more impressed than I was with Westminster Abbey, although for different reasons. Westminster seemed – to me – a more intensely prayerful place than St. Peter’s. Part of the reason, I think, is because regular worship services are still held there and St. Peter’s is used primarily for special occasions. Our guide, Salvatore, told us that for years any Italian child could be baptized at St. Peter’s, but no longer. Now the family must have some kind of connection or relationship to the Pope. The wedding chapel is the same. Salvatore (who was a wonderful guide, as nearly all of them are) lamented that St. Peter’s is no longer a holy place, but simply a tourist attraction. He seemed sad about it and regretted that he had been unable to have his daughter baptized there.

Our stop at the Colosseum was – well, I really can’t think of a superlative that is superlative enough! To see that magnificent structure, still standing after so many centuries, and after it has been cannibalized to provide marble and other materials for newer structures, well, it was the dream of a lifetime. We could almost visualize the people who attended events there so many years ago, and who could never have dreamed that centuries later people would be marveling at something they had created.

There are so many ruins in Rome and they turn up in unexpected places. We saw a portion of an ancient wall that had been incorporated into a newer apartment structure, and it was common to see remnants of pre-Christian-era walls alongside the modern roadways that we traveled.
We then made our way to Trevi Fountain, where I threw the coin from my right hand over my left shoulder, to ensure that I will someday return to Rome! It’s a magical city.

That evening we had dinner at a local restaurant. Everyone who had unexpectedly downsized accommodations on the train had the dinner comped as partial repayment. The food was the best we’d had so far in Europe, and the strolling singers were an enjoyable bonus. I laughed so hard that my sides hurt and it was truly an evening to be remembered. Well, except the wine has fogged some of the memories…

On Saturday, our last day, we had the exquisite treat of a visit to the Sistine Chapel. There were no photos allowed, but we had lots of time to soak up the glories of Michelangelo’s exquisite works. As before, it was different from what we had imagined – and yet, the same. The ceiling is about 69’ high, so nothing looked as large as we expected, but with no frame of reference, it was difficult to judge. Seeing the work in person gave both of us a new appreciation for the work that was accomplished more than 500 years ago. The colors are still so vibrant, and the depiction so vivid, that it’s hard to believe it has withstood the elements for so many years. As with St. Peter’s, it has largely become a tourist attraction and has very little to do with religious life today. It’s very sad.
We concluded our day of sightseeing – and our touring – with a visit to the Pantheon. As with so many of the ancient sites, the Christian church has co-opted the structures and created places of worship and memorial from what were essentially pagan sites.

The Pantheon is very well preserved, and is touted as the largest unsupported dome in the world. Of course there is support in the form of the arches, but it’s an impressive structure nonetheless!
Following the tour, we had time for lunch and shopping. Jim and I chose to have an al fresco lunch at a restaurant adjacent to the Pantheon, followed by a few purchases. We then joined the tour bus to return to our hotel.

That evening we had a final dinner with our group, and it was a highlight of the tour! We were serenaded by the restaurant owners, Fernando and Reinaldo, and their incredibly powerful tenor and baritone voices. They brought me to tears. So I bought their CD. Hey, how could I refuse?
We returned to our hotel and fell, exhausted, into bed. The next day we would say goodbye to Europe and return home. We’re tired (still recovering), but already talking about our next trip!

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For you intrepid souls who have read this far - and who are still interested! - I have posted photos of the trip at http://www.flickr.com/photos/cjcerezo/collections/72157618019448449

Catching up, briefly

Wow! It's been a long time, hasn't it? I'm going to beg your indulgence and post my travelogue of our trip to Europe in three parts: London, Paris, and Rome. We had a great time - as you will note if you decide to read them all.

But, as always, it's best to be back home.

Yesterday, we hosted a baby shower for my youngest son and daughter-in-law. It was so much fun and I always enjoy seeing my children's friends. All those high-school years I spent worrying about the people he ran around with are just distant memories now. He and his wife have a wonderful group of friends, and we had some family here, too.

We look forward to welcoming our little girl in just a few short weeks, but for now the lovely late Spring days make for a time of lazy anticipation.

I'll get back into the blogging routine soon!

Mad dogs and Englishmen

I've never made a bucket list (I might still do that, since I'm only middle-aged!), but if I had, visiting Europe - especially England - would be near the top of the list.

I am an unashamed Anglophile. Okay, maybe I should be a little ashamed since I used to think Prince Charles and I would have made a nice couple; after all, we're nearly the same age. Actually, I thought he looked a little priggy, but since it would have given me access to the Crown Jewels, several palaces, and centuries of history, I was willing to overlook his looks. But I would have been unwilling to overlook his taste in Camilla. However, I digress.

I've always wanted to visit England. To see the Changing of the Guard, Big Ben, the Tower of London (and the Crown Jewels, of course), Westminster Abbey, Parliament - oh, all the usual stuff. I've yearned to see double-decker buses, London roundabouts (but not to drive in London!), to visit a pub (but not to drink warm beer); I've mentally drawn the line at boiled beef, but think I could handle fish and chips.

So, at last, I'm going! Jim & I arranged our tour this morning and we leave the end of April. We aren't going only to England, since we both want to get a "taste" of Europe. We'll have 3 days in London, travel by ferry to France for three days in Paris (I expect we'll spend at least one of those days in the Louvre), and then by train to Italy for three days in Rome! Now, how exciting is that?

I would be happy to spend longer in England and Italy, stopping in France only long enough for the Louvre, but such are the arrangements of tours. And perhaps we'll go back in the next year or so for an extended visit.

We both love historical sites so much that it's a thrill to even start planning! I mean, what's more historical than Europe? We will have plenty of free time to visit things not on the tour, so we're talking now about what we most want to see. Maybe we'll be able to fit in a trip to Pompeii, but whatever we do, it will be exciting for us.

So if you notice a theme to my posts over the coming weeks, you'll know what's causing it. Or maybe I'll surprise us all and just treat the upcoming trip as a matter of course. But I doubt it.