Hotel San Valentino Rome

... just for the fun of it, where the Bernini statue 'The Four Rivers” is placed and Borromini’s masterpiece church Sante Agnes in Agone is situated, and world famous restaurant Tre Scalini hosted Gregory Peck, Audrey Hepburn, and Eddie Albert, is now filled with circus stalls that look like they belong on a vacant lot in Philomath, hawking the most inane of throwaway souvenirs. It’s pathetic, appalling and inspirational.

... restaurant. It is so crowded and buzzing with energy and rushing around it is crazy- loud Italians in the only Chinese restaurant I have seen while in Italy. Through charades I asked the couple sitting next to me (or in my lap which is more how you are seated in Italy) if this was a very popular restaurant and she said yes and it is "clear"- I didn't understand and she said something about politics. I'll have to check this one out in the dictionary.

... think the cab ride was expensive I am not even going to mention how much it cost to send the package!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! After getting the package taken care of we walked over to the deli to find out more about the "fennel flower spice" he told us about yesterday. After a brief discussion we found out his sister had harvested the fennel flowers from her garden...................so "search over"!

upon realizing that our hotel provided a free breakfast on the rooftop of our hotel, the obvious decision was to skip paying for espresso and filling up on rolls, salami, cheese, and all the espresso you can drink...after all, with another day of walking through rome ...

... to the Trevi fountain to throw some coins in for good luck. While people watching we received free roses from a vendor and I got two really annoying magnets from another. These vendors are always trying to sell things that nobody wants so I think they finally gave up and just gave them to us. Of course nothing in life is free and they wanted something in return. Money, kisses, or phone numbers would do for any of them. This wasn't on ...

... Saw the original statue of David sculted by Michelangelo....girls he is amazing, a fine figure of a man!! I literally could not take my eyes off him....Malcolm had to drag me away!!! The fine detail in the sculpting is just incredible...you can see veins and muscles, not to mention.....oh, ok wont go there!!! Just use your imagination!! Couldnt take photos but bought postcards and bookmarks!!! We had free time in Florence and wandered ...

Hey, Alright this is an exciting day. We have all day long to do anything we want in Venice!! I am ready to explore. I got my comfortable shoes on. I have a backpack with everything I need. I am all ready. Whoo hooo. Bring on Venice! We headed to the museums. I got to see everything. I saw a bunch of paintings and awesome artworks. I was with another friend Diana this time. Everyone switches the little groups ...

... of St. Peter. We are now standing directly below Michelangelo's dome, albeit 33 feet below the ground level. The tour lasts about an hour and a half, and ends in the small gilded Clementine Chapel, which was a part of the original basilica. After admiring the chapel for a while, we walk out into the crypts below, where there's a huge rush of people who are in the grotto area, come to get a view of Pope John Paul II's tomb ...

... which they claim that Felini frequented and declaired was of a standard to be found in the major cities of Europe. We didn't know that at the time. We were just entranced by this refurbished Art Nouveau interior, and climpses of a verandah that appeared to have a view. The verandah on the two front rooms is only wide enough for maybe six tables and 12 people. The staff weren't particularly forthcoming, but one eventually indicated that there was a set of step out on the verandah (to ...