We Interrupt.....

We interrupt these posts about the Italy trip to let everybody who reads this and not fb, that Meredith is expecting child number two next May 14th... If you are her or my or Andrea's, or countless others' friends on fb, this is not new news. But now everybody will know. I'm sure Meredith and Dan will post pictures of the ultrasound in due time. 9:20 is due time for me since Meredith sent them... So will it be a 4 girl hockey team or odd man out??? We'll find out soon enough. Congratulations, Meredith, Dan, and Claire (soon to be Big Sister)!

For a better description of what is in the pictures, see what Meredith says...


Do you believe this picture above?!? I think this one is the most amazing.

Italy - Day 3

Peggy wanted the see the Borghese Museum, so we waited to purchase tickets until we knew exactly when we'd be able to go. Wednesday morning was the day. The afternoon, evening, and dinner was planned with Toni, a good high school friend, and her husband, Giancarlo. We asked for directions to the museum and started on our way for about an hour walk in the early morning. Unfortunately, after about a half hour, we knew we were lost..... Hey, Taxiiiiiiii.... Hahahaha....

Here's the museum. It's filled with art and sculptures, so we were lucky we paid for the guided tour. Our guide was very knowledgeable and made for an interesting and fun-filled 2 hours. You have to surrender just about everything when you enter, so there are no pictures to be had. Go back to the link above if you want to know more about the museum.

From the museum, it was time for a light lunch, then back to the hotel. Toni and Giancarlo were picking us up at 2 PM, then we were going to go to Tivoli and Villa d'Este, then to dinner. This would be a good time since we would be out of the hustle and bustle of Rome.

This is the Water Organ at the Villa d'Este. At the bottom of every other hour, until 6:30 PM, the doors open and the organ plays. Unfortunately, we were just below where the organ plays, so we didn't get to see the organ.

From above, you get a feel for the fountains and the gardens. More of that later...

The Fontana dell'Ovato ("Oval Fountain") cascades from its egg-shaped basin into a pool set against a rustic nymphaeum.

Giancarlo, Toni, and I pose near the fountains. Toni's holding a pamphlet about the Villa...

Toni's ready to move along, but how about a picture by the Oval Fountain?

Toni and Peggy pose for a shot. Now don't get wet, girls....

Peggy and I are captured in a corner by the fountains just below the organ. Giancarlo loves to take pictures of others. He even threatened to charge a nominal amount per picture.

So we made sure we took a picture of Toni and Giancarlo in the opposite corner on the same level, above the fountains.

Here's a shot of the Water Organ. It isn't quite 4:30 yet....

Check out the Alley of one hundred fountains. If the walkway looks like the fountains get it wet, that's not the case. It poured while we visited. It was a heavy downpour and was the only rain we had the whole time we were in Italy.

Somebody decided to take a picture of me taking a picture near the Fountain of Rometta (Fontana della Rometta). The rain wasn't coming down nearly as hard as it eventually would.

I wonder what they might be plotting... Peggy and Toni find there way to shelter as the rain starts to come down a bit heavier. At least it was warm...

Here's a shot of the Fountain of Rometta and the villa overlooking the lake. And yes, it's raining...

Peggy, Toni, and Giancarlo duck inside to dry off and then watch the rain.

I suppose Peggy and I weren't that smart... Thanks, Giancarlo for getting the umbrellas and letting us use one. But would we let a little rain spoil anything?

Nope.... Back at the the Fountain of Rometta.... The rain had let up some and most of the people who were walking around were either inside or decided to leave. Great for us!

You don't even have to enlarge this one to see the beauty of the raindrops on the flower and leaves. OK, go ahead and enlarge it for an even more spectacular view. Peggy should enter her picture in a contest!

Well, the rain stopped, most people had left, so we had the ability to take pictures like the pros do. Here's a shot of the Organ Fountain (1550-1572), with the fountains reflecting in the pool. Maybe this one is contest worthy too???

Hey, what happened to the reflection???? Looks like we replaced it. And that would be Giancarlo behind the camera again...

Peggy decided to take this shot because of the trees and how the trunks are so unique. I suuppose they should look unique since these are 700 year old cedar trees.

OK, we've been here for just over 2 hours and the Water Organ is playing again. This time, I'm going to get a picture or two....

Turning around from where the organ was playing, the view is of the fountains, garden, and lake. And that's the sun shining on the right. So after the organ played, we decided to head to the restaurant....

As we walked towards the restaurant, the view was incredible. Enlarge this one and see the cross mounted on the top of the "little" mountain.

OK, some of the view wasn't so incredible. And I'm talking about the wall next to Toni and Peggy as they walk toward Giancarlo and me. We had a marvelous dinner and a great time with Toni and Giancarlo. Thanks a lot, guys for picking us up and showing us a part of Italy we wouldn't have normally seen. It was beautiful. Now it's your turn to come and see South Carolina.

Oh wait.... if you went this far on this post, do you want to hear the Water Organ??? I told you I came back to get a picture or two. Well, the "two" was actually a video. Here it is:

Found Them - More Day Two

So in the last post, I said there were pictures of us at the top of the Cupola. Well, it's before 1 AM and I found them. Some are OK and some are not. But here they are from Day Two...


We asked someone to take our picture and they did. I don't think they did a great job, but Rome behind us is awesome, no?

That would be me on the right and Rome on the left...

And that would be Peggy on the left, Rome on the right, and some unknown miscellaneous person behind Peggy. Do you think it was a bit windy up there???

Enlarge this.... It's awesome....

Looking down from the Cupola... Nice.......

And this is a good shot of looking down onto the Piazza at St. Peter's Basilica. So, did you have any clue that this was built in the 1600's? Think about that for a minute. That's about 400 YEARS ago!!! I don't believe we, in America, have a good appreciation for that kind of history or time.

Looking over Rome from above....

The Vatican Museums from above and in the Cupola...

Peggy wanted a picture of these two do-boys... Why? Who knows??? Make a guess, right?

Happy Anniversary again.... Whoever took this one did a much better job than the one in the last post. So are you sick of seeing all these pictures of Rome? If so, too bad... HA!!! And you thought all you'd see was grandchildren...

Italy - Day 2

After an eventful and enjoyable first day in Rome, Day Two was special: September 7th was our 37th anniversary. Arrangements were already made to take a tour of the Vatican, the Vatican Museums, and the Sistine Chapel. The afternoon was open and then dinner that night at The Virginae for some excellent Italian food.

I think I forgot to mention that we went to the Basilica of San Clemente on the first day. The Basilica is close to the Colosseum and is only open certain hours. There is no picture taking, so click on the link to find out more about San Clemente Basilica. It was an impressive place!



Above and below, it was using the good old Italian bus system to find our way to The Vatican. Purchase a ticket on board the bus, then validate it (put it into the machine so it is time stamped - you have 90 minutes from the time stamp to go anywhere on any bus).

Above and below St. Peter's Square. I think it's obvious we were there at an early hour. The idea was that we would see the Square and Basilica first, before our 10:30 tour of the Vatican Museums.

Peggy's still having trouble believing we were in Italy, let alone Rome and some of the places we visited. But here's proof we were there... And on our anniversary too.

Maderno's fountain with the sculptured arms of Paul V.

The Nave of the Basilica. Can you believe the vastness of the place. People fill this area later in the day so we were here at the right time.

Another gracious person took our picture in front of Bernini's Baldacchino.

The punishment of Saphira in the left transept....

This is the monument once you enter the sacristy near the list of the popes buried in the Basilica.

Above and below, there was a service that started while we were walking around taking in the sights. Surprisingly, we were not restricted to taking pictures..

Once we finished up inside the Basilica, it was time for our 10:30 tour of the Vatican Museums. The tour led outside into the Courtyards. This is the Pigna Courtyard, named for a colossal bronze pine cone which originally came from an area near the Pantheon.

And this is the sphere in the middle of the courtyard, sculpted by Arnaldo Pomodoro in 1990.

Octagonal Courtyard, Perseus, supposedly holding the head of Medusa.

Octagonal Courtyard, but I don't know which statue this is...

Octagonal Courtyard, Laocoon group with Hercules fighting the serpents.

Here's Peggy in the Hall of the Museums. Does she look like she's having a good time?

That would be our guide on the left with her hand in the air. Peggy stopped taking pictures long enough to pose for a shot as we head to the Tapestry Gallery.

Check out the ceiling in the Gallery of Maps. There are 40 maps showing the land belonging to the Catholic Church, but I was more impressed with the ceiling here.

This is the Signature (or "Segnatura") Room, which was the first room painted by Raphael. This is a shot of the School of Athens, one of Raphael's most famous works. In the center, standing is Plato on the left with his hand raised and Aristotle on the right with his palms down.

The tour at the Vatican Museum ended in the Sistine Chapel. I was amazed at the fact that they didn't limit the number of people allowed in the chapel. They said no photos, but there were more people clicking away than there were who obeyed. The peer pressure overcame me... This is facing the altar.

Here's the back of the chapel and the famous ceiling painted by Michelangelo.

Here's a view of the side of the chapel. At the top in the center is Daniel. Wonder why I zoomed in on that??? That was the end of the tour of the Vatican Museums. There are a lot more pictures and art information, but I remember some of it from the one art history class I took in college.... Actually, some means very little....

After the museums, we decided to go back to the Basilica and climb the 300+ steps to the Cupola. Here is a shot looking up to the top of the Cupola at St. Peter's Basilica.

As you climb the stairs to the top of the Cupola, the first area where you stop is a walkway around the center. We got some nice person to take our picture. And you can look down into the Basilica from above here. No picture since there is fencing all around.

Here's Peggy, but not at the top. I don't know where those pictures are... But this is part way up the climb.... Here we were on our way down.

Back on the hop on/hop off bus, Peggy saw orange trees on the side of the road. She was so surprised, she had to take a picture.

And from the bus, Rome advertises that it's celebrating 50 years since the Olympics

Palatine Hill near the Colosseum, we decided to take our own picture. Not bad for reaching out and clicking.

Here's a shot of Palatine Hill just across from the Colosseum. There are plenty of ruins to see and many pictures were taken. Peggy was in her glory with all the ruins!

From Palatine Hill, you could see St. Peter's Basilica. A bit hazy, but still in one's sights.

Another reach and shoot picture of us with the Colosseum in the background. I love this shot!

A good view of the Colosseum from Palatine Hill. This was early evening, so we'd had a full day of it and another view of the Colosseum.

As we left Palatine Hill, we thought this was an interesting view of the road, ruins on the left and the Colosseum.

After getting cleaned up at the hotel, it was a short walk to dinner at The Virginae. As we passed the statues at Piazza Navonna, we decided it was an opportunity for more pictures.

Above and below, Peggy and I enjoy a glass of wine. The Italian wine is soooo smooth, it goes down very easily. And I am not really a wine person.

So dinner was outside and was delicious. It was along day at the Vatican, but what a good time we had! Happy Anniversary to us!