Roma!

This post is going to be relatively short...I was too tired to post last night, as I usually do, and am just taking a break in today's schedule.  Yesterday, July 4th (Happy Birthday USA!), we got up and left Venice and traveled to Rome.  Traffic and drivers here are nuts, so am glad I wasn't the one behind the wheel of the bus.

After checking into our hotel we had a quick orientation walk around the immediate neighborhood, then hopped on the Metro to go meet our local guide, Franchesca, who gave us a tour of the Colliseum, the Forum (ruins), and the Pantheon.  She really gave a lot of  information that made history come alive for us and lots of insights into the way things were back then.  Rick Steves Tours really found themselves a keeper with Franchesca.

We finished up at the Pantheon and a number of us headed up the hill to a restaurant that Stephanie suggested.  We no sooner got there and the skies opened up giving us a rain shower that really cooled things down--a welcome relief!  By the time we were done eating, the rain had stopped and most of us went on a night walk of the city, featuring Trevi Fountain and a hike to the top of a hill for a great view of St. Peter's Basillica lit up in the night sky.

Take a look at the photos...they say it better than I can.  Ciao!