July 15 – July 16, 2013

We made it through our 5 days in Roma even though our room was a tad bit small.  It really didn’t matter as we were out and about most of the days.  We decided to look into a private tour guide for the Vatican after we saw that the line to get in was about 2 miles long.  No kidding.  And you have to wait in the heat and sun.  Best decision ever.  We didn’t have to wait in line, walked right in, as the Guide had a special badge. We still shared the place with all the other tourists, but we were given a wealth of knowledge from this great guide, Sylvia.  We have her name and number if anyone is traveling to Rome in the future.  It was again, SOOOO AMAZING!! (And I know I’m now sounding like “The Bachelorette”) but it really was great.  The plethora of knowledge that Sylvia gave us was incredible.  She took her time in explaining things to us and if we wanted less information that was fine too, she went at our pace, which was really, really nice.  Once we finished with the museum, we went inside the Sistine Chapel, which was gorgeous and finished our tour with St. Peter’s Basilica.  After seeing St. Peter’s we decided to attend Mass on Sunday there and of course it was a beautiful service.   

Back to the room

,

good thing it was too small to have a scale in the bathroom, b/c neither of us wants to EVER step on one again.  The Italian pasta, the wine, the fresh fish, homemade gelato, and everything in between are just to hard for us to pass up.  We’re going to have to ship our clothes home and buy new about half way through this trip, which is very soon!!  I believe that part of enjoying all these different places is also experiencing their food and wine.

One last thing we did in Rome was I need to get my hair cut and color that darn gray sticking out around my temples.  We found a nice place to do this very close by and I explained to the guy what I wanted, “About an inch off the back to trim it up”.  I had the color concoction written down, (thanks to my hairdresser back in Carmel).  Well this is what I ended up with…

Oh well, guess it will grow back by the time I get home.

On Monday, we got up early and headed off to Positano, Italy.  It was an easy drive after the mountainous roads we were on.  These were just as curvy, but there were not as many.  The only thing different is that the Italian drivers have no idea what a “lane” is and do not stop at yield signs at all.  It’s like the first one here gets to go!!  We didn’t have many choices for hotels, as the “season” is getting started and much of what we wanted was already booked.  We chose the hotel b/c it was available.  Well, it did not disappoint.  We enjoyed a relaxing drink and snack on the patio of the hotel upon arrival and just sat and chillaxed!!  BTW… Norm is getting better at sitting and relaxing or is it that maybe he just needs a drink after my driving… either way we have been enjoying this place.  It is a beautiful bay built into a cliff with a small beach at the bottom.

Tomorrow we head off to the French Riviera.  Not sure where we will end up but we are looking forward to spending at least a week in one place to sit back and relax.  It will be a coastline very similar to Positano, but with French food.  YUM!

Miss everyone!

Rita and Norm

Here is a view of Positano. We stopped along the curvy mountain road, jumped out, took the pic and got back in, just in time.

A view from our Patio in Positano.

Another view of our Patio in Positano

Here we are, ready to head off again.

St. Peter’s Basilica as the sun goes down.

When we saw this, we both said ” Wonder if Martha waited on Angela like this woman?” LOL

Castel St. Angelo

Concrete door that the Pope broke through with a hammer for the Jubilee.

Yet another Gelateria… This is our second favorite Gelato place

St. Peter’s Basilica – Chair of Saint Peter. It’s hard to capture the Dove in the middle above the chair, but its wings are 6 feet wide each.

Roman Forum

Pantheon

Inside the Pantheon

Visiting the Vatican

St. Peters Center Isle

This is where the Pope walks as he is leaving St. Peter’s

Piazza Novona

St. Peter’s Basilica at night