Rome is wonderful!!

Roma is everything it's cracked up to be and more! Our hotel is across from the Pantheon and in the center of everything! A five or ten minute walk gets us to the most amazing places, ie the Trevi Fountain. We just got back from a walk around our Piazza area, had a drink at an outside bar and people watched. Hundreds and thousands of people of every nationality walking by whilst we sat there. Wonderful!

We returned our car to the airport and got a cab into the city. Very much an experience! For what it's worth, the Italians do drive like maniacs.

And just mention a couple of other Italian type things that I didn't quite believe......

Yes, they do close most everything down between noon and 3:30 - 4 pm, even the supermarkets! Watch out on Mondays. Depending on the weekend festivities, they may not open at all!

And yes, the Italians don't eat until 8 or 9 at night! They then bring the whole family, bandies included. Most restaurants don't even open till 7:30!! Guess who are the first ones at the door when they do open? Yes, the crazy Canadians!

We just returned from a lovely dinner where we met two very nice young men from Germany and enjoyed their company very much. Having a wonderful time here in Rome.

John is still having back issues. He may have to see a doctor tomorrow as the OTC meds the first doc recommended just aren't doing the trick! I, the nurse and experienced back pain/spasm patient, think he needs stronger drugs.

Tomorrow we wonder around on our own. Monday we are doing a city bus tour and on Tuesday we are off to the Vatican to visit the pope. A candle will be lit at Saint Peter's Cathedral in memory of my mother. That will go with the one I lit at Westminster Abbey and the one my brother and sister and I lit at Bath Abbey. I guess there is still some RC still in there somewhere.

Wednesday we get a cab to the Marriott Hotel at the airport so we are ready for our early morning flight home.