April 1, 2015


NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!  Tell me it’s an April Fool’s joke.  We walked into our little restaurant where we have taken all our meals here in Civitavecchia [chu vit uh vekey uh] and “Say Yes to the Dress” was on the TV!  Translated into Italian!  All the characters have Italian voices.  It is as annoying as it is in English.  Then Quatro Marriages came on.  And it is worse than in English.  Especially the gal spending $45,000 on a wedding with 70 guests!!!! That’s just wrong!

As the Bro says, “Oh well.”

Riding the train is fun.  We buy round trip tickets from a gal who is patient and speaks English.  24 Euros per day (12 each).  We get off at St. Peter’s Square station and walk to the square.  Oh, BTW: Today we were in St. Peter’s Square with Pope Francis.  Il Papa didn’t see us.  His loss!

Getting there is simple.  Just look for this big church building and get out and start walking.  Coming back we stop in a little bar at the station and say which track to Civitavecchia.  Today the woman recognized us and had the answer ready.  Tomorrow will be our last trip into Rome so we will buy a coffee and tip her handsomely (bars in Italy serve coffee – it’s not all hooch).

Yesterday and today we were walking and walking and walking.  Must have done 5 or 6 miles yesterday.  Bonnie says more.  Up hill and down steps.  About half that today.  Cars stop for pedestrians in proper crosswalks.  You just walk out and make them stop.  It’s fun.

Yesterday we saw the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel.  The exhibits are indescribable and the Sistine Chapel is beyond words – it would take at least a month to see everything.  Also the crowds are beyond words.  It was Bonnie and I and about 10,000 of our closest friends.  It took us a 30 minute walk to get to the door and we had passes to get us passed the people in line.  I took a picture of the people standing in line.  I wouldn’t do it.  Once inside you go through the Museum before you get to the Chapel.  It took us about 90 minutes to get to the Sistine Chapel, and then WOW!  You are ushered around the side and told if you want to stand, get in the middle.  We stepped into the middle and looked up and we were directly under Adam and God pointing at each other.  Oh my goodness!!!  Worth the trip!

Supper was at a restaurant we call “Mickey Mouse” because there is a picture of said mouse painted on the window.  Don’t tell Walt, he’ll make them take it down.  Bonnie got spaghetti pomodori – just tomato sauce.  It was so good she got it again tonight.  I had fantastic lasagne last night and the “Complete Pizza” tonight.  It had ham, hot dogs (better than Oscar Meyer) black olives, mushrooms, artichoke and a fried egg in the center.  The dough/crust was even better than what we had in Seville – it was black around the edges and had the flavor of a wood fired oven.  Better than the Burgh, my sons, and better than San Fran, my brother.  Tomorrow Bonnie and I are going to have one with ham and hot dogs.  Ice cold Coke to wash it down (it’s even good).

We have a very nice flat.  We’ll show you the pictures (I don’t know if I’m going to get any posted or not.  It is hard to charge things, so I have to use the phone and the computer to get you pictures).  Three rooms.  Combo kitchen and dining room.  Two bed rooms.  And a bath complete with washing machine and a machine to wash your  private parts.  We don’t know how to use either!

Making coffee this morning was an adventure.  There is an espresso like machine but it puts out water for a regular size cup.  I had one cup of espresso and then one weak regular size cup.  But I’ve got it figured out.  I’ll have a cup with our gellato tonight (we brought home some for dessert).

Breakfast was interesting.  This is a Bed and Breakfast after all.  It is a continental breakfast, but the sweets and toast and jelly are enough to get us to Rome, so it is good. Hot coffee and hot chocolate and we are off.

Hot water was an adventure.  There is a small hot water tank that you have to turn on, then turn the thermostat up to get water.  Well, I thought you turned the thermostat up to heat the radiators, so this morning’s cold showers were an adventure.  I think our host has it set now and we should be okay tomorrow.

We drove/rode passed the Coliseum today.  Traffic was very heavy and we were late getting to it, so we looked from the open top of our bus as we went by.  We will get there early tomorrow morning and go over so we will have plenty of time.

The last two days – Friday and Saturday we will spend here in C’town.  Our host has gotten us a ride to the airport Sunday morning at 70 euros, and then we’ll be on our way.

I’ll report back tomorrow.

TTFN