Wednesday and Thursday in Rome

Well we have Internet for the moment so I am going to try to post before it goes out again.  This is pretty typical of Italy.   Nothing works quite right but no one seems to care.

So yesterday afternoon Dave,  Dee Ann, and I told jerry we just had to stop and eat lunch (it was 2:30 and David was pretty much done with walking.)  We stopped at a local (as in no English ) cafe/bar and had sandwiches.   Jerry and Dee had a club, prosciutto, cheese, sauce and a fried egg.  I had a stuffed ham & cheese, and Dave a toast sandwich.   Coffee (cafe americano) for the Reed's cost $5.00 @ and was  reported by Dave --- AWFUL.  David likes good old Midwestern mild coffee.  He is having difficulty in Italy.  I love the coffee and so does Dee, but it makes Dave cranky.

Feeling somewhat refreshed, we started our trek to find the fountain-----.the TREVI fountain. And it was just around the corner from the coffee bar! One of the most amazing sites in Rome, Because Rome is in a mediterranean climate, water was very important to the citizens.  The fountain is supplied from the main Aqua Virgo that has supplied water to ancient Rome since 19BC.  In 1629 Pope Urban VIII commissioned Bernini to sketch the fountain. It was not built until 1730.  Legend has it that if you throw a coin over your left shoulder with your right hand you will return to Rome again.  An estimated $3000 Euros are thrown into the fountain each day. We contributed to it. Because WE ARE COMING BACK!

After Trevi, Jerry took us to the Pantheon.  This is the oldest church in the world. Actually started out as a one stop worship place for all of the Roman Gods.   Built in 126 AD by the emperor Hadrian, it has been in constant use as a worship site since that time.  In the 300's it was commissioned by the Christians.

The Pantheon is one of the most interesting buildings.  No artificial light except for the oculus at the top (yep its open to the sky) The proportions are perfect, The distance from the top of the dome to the floor is exactly the diameter of the circle. It is the first dome built and until the 16th century no one knew how it was done.  Michelangelo came and studied the Pantheon before he built the dome at St. Peters. Amazing.

We were heading back to the hotel when we decided to stop at the end of our block at the Santa Maria de la Magiorie Cathedral.  Also amazing.  Beautifully finished inside.  It was begun in 532 BC and houses some of the original manger of Jesus ( if you believe what people tell you).

Back to Hotel Verona to rest.  Drank a free bottle of wine on Delta (story to come) and then went next door to La Mela Ora, which is a restaurant that Jerry and I went to on our first night in Rome in 2010. The waiter, Christian, REMEMBERED US!

Dave and I had the daily plate, Dee and Jerry ordered a la carte from the menu.  All was great. After 3 bottles of wine, Grappa and Lemonchello we crawled the 10 feet back to the hotel.  Dave's getting into the swing!

typical coffee sandwich bar.  Drink coffee at the bar-

Trevi Fountain

A must see in Rome The Trevi Fountain

We're bundled up

Pantheon

No artificial light, only the Oculus open at the top

Stopped by the church on the corner

The relics

Santa Maria de la Magiorie Cathedral

Delicious Salad!

Rigatoni Bolognase

This morning we had breakfast at the hotel and got on bus #64 to the Vatican.  Saw St. Peters.  LOTS more security this year (as you can imagine) but it is still just as amazing. 

Security was tight getting into the Vatican

Michelangelo's Pieta

The Martyrdom of St. Sebastian - 1625

This place is so big these letters are 6 feet high

Altar by Bernini

So beautiful!

Pope John Paul XXIII

St Peter-touch his foot as you go by for a blessing

Michelangelo's Dome

Inside St. Peter's-- 2 football fields long

The Papal Altar

Dave climbed to the top

The altar