Rome

Hi again. We are waiting to go to the airport. I forgot to tell another funny..Monday I wanted to change money? We kept seeing banks..finally went in. there was a tube like a revolving door without the inner thing. I got in...there was a message in Italian...someone else in the Libby said I had to get out and put my camera ,etc in a locker? We'll, I couldn't get it!to work??thankfully there was a nice nun there? she showed me I needed a euro to put in...once I did this, it worked. after all of that, I went in and they didn't change money!!! I did get my euro back when I undid the lock.later I found a cam bio and made a major mistake???I didn't ask what rate he charged...15%!!!!AWCKKKK I should have changed more the day before in sorrento after seeing Pompeii. In sorrentomi sawmthembiggest lemons I have ever seen???they were even bigger then grapefruit???the bellhop is here so better go. Barb. Once I get home I will post photos.

Getting around on 1.5 Euro!

this morning we wanted to go to the Pantheon. I stopped to ask the man at the desk on how to get there. he told me to go to the newsstand  and buy the ticket.then proceed to the bus stand near the Hard Rock Cafe. This we did...it was a very small bus...we didn't know exactly where to get,off..we had some walking to do. I wonder how the ancient Romans hauled those huge stones up to creat these buildings! Next we had to fine the museum with the Davinci machines. this was so neat. they had life size copies of Davincis designs ...he was absolutely incredible..a bicycle, the idea of a helicopter, etc.I don't know how much longer it will be on exhibit.
while we were leaving the area of  the Pantheon we walked down a street that had many shops selling the robes ,etc. Needed by Catholic priests....beautiful things...beautiful robes...also the silver and gold chalices, etc. Needed for the service.
eventually we found a bus stop...it wasn't the bus we had arrived on but we recognized different buses went to the metro stops we had used yesterday. when we finally got to the metro stop we finally used our ticket. We're watched people getting on the buses and didn't see them swiping them so we had gotten all around the city on one ticket!!!
We found a place on our way home to eat..Small, open face sandwiches and blessed water!!!
we had to buy another suitcase yesterday..so after taking a nap, we have packed. Wee get picked up at 8ish tomorrow morning..our flight leaves about noon...we get back to Tucson at 9:30 or so....been a long trip but incredible!!!

Country bumpkins in Rome

Hi all. we left the ship about 7:30 min. Am and we're in a car with driver heading to ROME by 8!
our hotel is near the American embassy....nice area? we left out luggage with the bellhop and got a map and headed out. We found a hop on,Hop off tour bus...stayed on for the first cycle..next time around we got off at the colleseum...wanted to see the lower part but would have to wait three hours formate guided tour so just walked around the second level. The weather was,perfect..not hot, with a little breeze. by the time we finished that and got back to our area it was after 3.
Now our bumpkin-ness showed itself!  We got the key to our room and headed up. We could not see a slot for it and had to wait for the bellhop with our luggage...turns out you just lay the key on the thing and it reads the code and opens the door! Duh!  So now we want to shower to get ready to go to dinner..we have this incredible shower...there were three jets coming straight at Joe???he got those disabled and was able to get!water coming out of the hand-held thing but never out of the over-head faucet!!! (The Clampetts hit the big city!). At least the water was nice and warm. We found out that our friends from church, Dee and john Sundby, were close by so just walked to meet them for dinner. we compared cruises, etc. they are leaving tomorrow for Florence and Venice.
yesterday we also went to St. Peter's  to get the lay of the land .
today we found the subway and went to ST. peters square...am so happy we had the Skip the Line Vatican tickets? the line was three long blocks long, four wide.UGH. We were early so went and had some coffee. We spent several hours in the Vatican museum ANG finally the Sistine chapel. a man on the ship had given a lecture about the Sistine chapel???was really glad I had gone? Nothing to say but incredible. when we got out we got to see the changing of the guard by the Vatican guards...neat. We then got in line to see St. Peter's basilica???and the Pieta...also incredible. by this time I was unending out of steam...on the street bought a "knockoff" Prada bag..?Making sure it was spelled right first!!!
We also had to buy another suitcase as I had shopped more then I expected,on the cruise.
Camemback and took a nap...knee was hurting. Went to dinner and met a really nice British couple...spent a lot of time talking to them. they were heading to Sicily. We told them our friends had been there two days ago and got snowed on!!!
best close. Barb