Emlets in Europe

Today was another fabulous day, but hot, hot, hot! We were expecting warmer weather but our coolest clothes are getting a workout, as there is bright hot sun here and very little wind. Oh well, it is steaming off the pounds, I am sure. HA!

Yesterday we went to the Vatican Museum, The Sistine Chapel, andSt. Peter's Basilica in the morning. All of these are closed on Sunday (except for mass) so there were lots and lots of tourists. The line for waiting for tickets went around the block! Fortunately, I had booked our tickets ahead, so we went right in. The Vatican museum is huge and difficult to navigate. We notice here in Italy there is much less English on signs etc. where as in Paris almost everything as English underneath the french. Anyway, we enjoyed seeing the largest collection of ancient and mid-evil artifacts in the world. The Sistine Chapel is "as advertised" amazing, but there were so many people it was hard to really study the paintings.

The most amazing part was St. Peter's. It is HUGE!!!! like over 200 meters long, every niche, section, area is gorgeous marble, gilded plaster, carvings etc. The famous Pieta (by Michelagelo) is there and honestly is breathtaking. The dome, designed by Michelangelo is over 300 feet tall, and is the tallest structure in Rome. We were blown away by the beauty. Jerry said if he ever took up religion he would have to be Catholic so he could go to these gorgeous churches. (Really not gonna happen).

Now, remember we are seeing all of this in 90+ heat with 65% humidy so we really were DONE when we finished. We took the Metro back to our hotel (we had taken a cab there to save our feet), walked another 6 blocks then went in and showered, changed, and slept in the air conditioning. About 5PM Jerry decided we were refreshed and we walked down Cavour (big street) 15 blocks to have a wine and check out a restaurant that Phil and Melissa Hess suggested. Wasn't open (or going to be at all that night) so we walked down to the Colosseum and the Roman Ruins of Palantine Hill and the Roman Forum. We couldn't tour it buy you can see it from the top and we took a ton of pictures.

Anyone who knows Jerry knows that when his dinner plans fall through it is hard for him to change his mind, so we WALKED all the way back to the hotel looking for a suitable restaurant. (14 blocks) Didn't find one. Finally we went to one right on the corner. Really good food. We had Roman Bruchetta (to die for) I had shrimp rissoto and Jerry had Fettuccine with mushrooms. Had a great bottle of Chianti with our meal and it was fun watching all of the traffic and people walk by. Then we went back to our hotel bar and had another bottle of wine and visited with 2 women from Vienna. One was an English translator so her English was very good and we enjoyed talking about traveling, etc. The weather was perfect for sitting outside and we didn't come in until midnight. Slept like rocks!

This morning we had breakfast at the hotel and then walked down to the Colosseum. We bought an English tour to get by the lines but were ditched by the tour guide as soon as we got inside. No problem, we really like to look at things by ourselves.

Our last days in Paris are bittersweet. We want to come home to see our family and friends, our new roof, our house, etc. but to leave Europe is really going to be hard. We have become so used to a lifestyle that is built on art, beauty, smelling the "roses", that it will be hard to jump into "regular" life again. But home we must come, and tomorrow at 1:35 PM we will board the cramped quarters of an airbus and travel back, arriving in C.R. at 8:30. That seems short, but add 7 more hours when you figure it out. If only we could afford 1st class.

We spent our last days seeing the Louvre (for the 3rd time), going back to the top of the Eiffel tower and going back to Sainte Chapelle and Notre Dame, all our favorite places here in Paris. We carried in gourmet food for dinners and drank REALLY good wine that we have accumulated during our travels. But most of all, we just walked and sat in cafes and watched the city around us.

Travel to another culture is so broadening to your own psyche. I can say for both of us, it has given us a new understanding of the world and where we all came from. Not everything works in France all the time, but people don't get angry when it doesn't. Traffic is awful, but people don't get upset with it. Bread and croissants are fresh, because that is a BIG thing for the people here and they demand it. And all around, the locals are polite, friendly, and decent. They are nice to their children in a very quiet way. And we can truly say, we have been very well treated even though we don't speak their language, know their customs, or understand their money.