Days 1 and 2

Italy 2010

Days 1 and 2

One of the two biggest problems in going to Italy (and Croatia and Slovenia) is behind us. 28 hours of travel from Las Vegas went better than expected. We found sleep and combined with our jet lag pills, we were able to enjoy Rome on the first day.

Our travel hours set a new record for us thanks to long lay-overs in Detroit and Amsterdam. Both airports were accommodating; lots of restaurants, shops, and walking areas. Among the diversions, we noted the Dutch are not stingy with their chocolate. The chocolate chunks are the size of large brownies.

But, we digress from Rome. On our first full day, we bought bus tickets and traveled on public transportation to the Vatican. We used all our Italian speaking ‘skills’, asking lots of questions and understanding answers. Italians smiled a lot, either for trying or creative use of their language. Thank you Rosetta Stone.

It has been several years since we were last in Rome, and it was important to pay our respects to the Pope. From the ground level, the place is huge.

Notice the power in those two hands to move the crowd back. Maybe it’s the orange hat. Or, maybe it’s who she is with:

Wouldn’t this make a great postcard?!?! Why is this man smiling??

We did get into the place and climbed over 320 to the top of the Duomo – not many others over 60 years old were to be seen. The views of Rome and the rest of the Vatican City were beautiful. Just as interesting was the view of the inside of the Basilica. This is a very big church.

This is but one part, and yet the people almost are the size of ants. There was no choir, or maybe they were so far away we couldn’t hear them.

One could take days to see all the interesting things in Rome, but it is just a good stop to rest up for the rest of our journey. Day 3 will be spent traveling to cooking school.