Christmas 2008

We are back in Greensboro and adjusting to Eastern Standard time! I will post photos shortly. It may be overwhelming because we had 4 snap happy tourists with digital cameras. The flights home were a lot less eventful. We are glad to be back and hope to see all of you soon.

Since I do not know what J.J. has just added forgive me if the text overlaps. All of us are continuing to have a good time and enjoying everything we are exposed to. Our guide today for the ancient sites was a wealth of knowledge about both history and religion. He had been to college both in Italy and in France in the same. It is fascinating to think in terms of history that dates back all the way to 500 BC and to realise how much influence this part of the world has had on us.

Three more nights and then we are on our way home. We will have loads of pictures to add at that point.

Too busy to post recently! Florence was cool, relatively small with all the destinations compressed into a small geographic space. I,m encouraging all my children to marry Medici,s! Now in Rome, we,re staying at the Majestic Hotel on Via Veneto, right in central Roma (Amor spelled backwards!). We went to the Collosemo today, definitely my favorite so far. Over 1,000,000 dead gladiators plus fighting beasts, etc. The Forum was just beside it with more interesting tales and columns, pillars, etc than I can describe or articulate. The Coliseum was spectacular, especially the basement where the animals were kept and the area across the street where the gladiators were kept and bred. Frabeglio, our guide, was very educated and interesting. The ruins outside the Coliseum where the pagan temples were are compelling. The fountains (still running on the aquaducts) are beautiful, especially Trevi, and the sculptures are endless. To complete the day we went to the Capucine monks crypt where their bones are kept and arranged in artwork, some skeletons in robes and even the light fixtures are made of old human bones. Strangest thing I think I,ve ever seen! Tomorrow is Vatican tour followed by Bourghese museum and park tomorrow. Food is unbelievable as I,ve gained 25 pounds so far.

J barfed in Florence 3 times in the Ufizzi gallery! Once on Boticelli,s "Birth of Venus", twice simply in the trash can. It,s the fastest I,ve seen an Italian move when the custodians came to clean it up. Told them I,d buy the Birth of Venus if it was damaged = would look good in our living room!

XXX

We got to Venice last night and took a water taxi right to the door of our hotel. We passed under the Rialto bridge and wandered the Piazza San Marco. The Basilica was gorgeous and Doges palace was right there. We found dinner at a restaraunt off of the piazza. Lee got quite the culture shock when the waiter offered her a glass of wine. This morning it was very foggy so we could not see much as we left venice on the train. However going through the Appenines it cleared and we were able to see the mountains very well and then part of Tuscany. Our tour of Florence was great we saw the Duomo, the golden doors of the Baptistry, and toured the Accademia to see Michelangelos David (J was all in favor of putting the fig leaf back). Tommorow we will tour the Uffizi gallery hopefully climb to the top of the dome of the cathedral! Then it is off to Rome to celebrate Dads birthday! We are not sure how much internet access we will have in Rome so our ability to post may be limited.

We are leaving the great US of A!!! After we practiced waiting at the hotel and then again at the airport we are well prepared to wait in the lines at the vatican! So now we are off(for real this time I tricked you the past few times didn't I) and will wait to give you more news once we begin our tour of the Amsterdam airport.