After our three amazing days in the Tuscan countryside we drove south to Rome. It only took a few hours to reach the Roma area. We had been told never to drive within the Ring Road that surrrounds Rome. We had a little time before we needed to return the rental car so we decided to try to locate the home where Lisa would be aupairing. Her little town is called La Guistiniana. It is just northwest of Rome.
We did drive all around trying to find it. We finally did and the area is very rural and beautiful. After returning the rental car at the Leonardo de Vinci airport we took a taxi into Rome. Our hotel there was the Diplomatic. It was quite nice. Although we were a bit tired from our driving all day we decided to take a night walk around Rome. We went to the Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, the Spanish Steps, and the Trevi fountain. In the night lights all this was so magical.
On the next morning we headed to the Vatican. We saw St. Peter's Basilica. This is the largest church in the world. I was able to attend Mass at the altar right on the spot where St. Peter was crucified. The feeling is indescribable. The artworks in this place were seemingly endless. The Pieta by Michelangelo was so very moving. Also found here are many of Bernini's works. Breathtaking! Beneath St. Peter's are the tombs of all the Popes through the centuries. My favorite was John Paul II's, of course.
In the afternoon we went on the only organized tour of our vacation----The Ancient Rome tour. On this excursion we saw Capitol Hill where Ron found out that an early Etruscan founding family was named Albano. The guide was very excited when Ron showed him his driver's license with the name Albano. He announced Ron to all the other tourists. It was funny. From there we went to the coliseum, the forum, Palantine Hill, the Arch of Constantine and the church of St. Paul Outside the Wall.
In the evening we ate at a family run restaurant right next to our hotel. It was our last meal with Lisa before she went to Hungary the next day.
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