B&B Residenza Matilde Rome

... continues as to who won.

Rome is an amusing background for pop culture, a role it has played for 25 centuries. Spectacles in the Colloseum included wild animals and exotic, though unwilling, people from all parts of Europe and Africa. Mussolini made culture a key part of his political agenda, striking deals to save treasures even as he fled for his life at the end of the war. Berlusconi has managed to balance the most stable ...

... our way to the station, from which it was only a short drive to our hotel. Or would have been. After two full hours of circling the station trying to find a way through the street festival that surrounded it, we gave up and returned it to the rental car company. The taxi we took had no better luck getting to our hotel, and it was only after struggling down two flights of stone stairs that we stumbled onto ...

... the hotel Trevi, Trinton Fountains and the Spanish Steps and of course window shopping for Italian leather boots and jewelry then back to the hotel for an early bedtime to be enable an early start on Saturday morning. Never leave a wife in charge of the alarm (we slept in) so much for the early start. Not Jet Lagged Anymore!! We bought 3 day Roma/Metro/Public transit passes which allowed us unlimited travel and entrance to 2 major attractions not including Vatican City. After our first Roman ...

... while the girls found seats in the main area of the train. It took no time at all for the train to start moving and for all of us to pass out. We had no breakfast, no coffee, and little sleep to go on, so it was necessary. Evan took a sweet picture of me sleeping with my mouth open. That one's for all the ladies out there. We got to Rome and the first thing I saw out of the train window was graffiti that said "Yankee Go Home." Off with a bang ...

I've been in Rome for about three days now and there is a lot going on. I first arrived in the morning on Tuesday and a bunch of people from my study abroad program were also on my flight. We took vans to the residence and were slowly given our keys and rooms. The residence is an apartment building very close to the Vatican. I live with two other girls and we have a small bedroom, a ...

... to Florence some day. If you do it twice, you will be married within the year; if you do it three times, you will get divorced. Afterwards we are given free time, and as Tiago seems preoccupied with other matters, I decide to go off on my own. This is what I really like anyway: exploring an unknown city on foot armed with nothing more than a map and some curiosity. The fountains seems to be a central point from which ...

... Jeff and I have visited several beautiful basilicas on this voyage, and we have to opinion that St. Peter's Basilica is so far the most outstanding. Its size alone is mind blowing. The gold detailing in the basilica, bronze work, sculptures, relief, marble, tile, relics is sensory overload. Jeff and I must also say that we were moved by our encounter with the tomb of Pope John Paul II. Regardless of religion or creed, one can't avoid ...

... in togas and toey sandals, doing as Romans do. The vibrant Rome sun bore down on our backs with a perfect heat, and all of a sudden, there it was. The bloody Colosseum. THAT building - stark, bold, grand and old. Greying, crumbled, time ravaged and yet still so impressive after 2000 years, though admittedly, the sucker does look a whole lot better in photos. We continued to breathe in the vibe of the old ancient city, checking out the trademark Trevi ...

... to the public. After seeing the Pope, we wandered around St. Peter's to observe all the people. Some were crying, some were praying, and some just stood in awe. After we exited, I walked up to a shrine that ran along side the piazza that donned banners, flags, and hand written notes to the Pope about how he had touched their lives. That's when it all hit me and (yes Sara, I got a little "teary-eyed") I had some small realization about how many ...

... other than the times (4 months) the schools were run in Italy (Umbria, Puglia and Amalfi Coast). Kirsti managed the operation and in the winter months would travel to Italy with Suzanna every 6 weekks or so to check out tour operators and properties. thatīs a job and a half..... As we got to the villa, I was astounded '~it sits atop a hill overlooking the nearby village of Balsena and Lake Balsena. The views were amazing and my room looked out the front over this vista. The ...