Frank toured us through the incredible ruins of ancient Rome. He is a wealth of knowledge and I just hope I can retain a fraction of the information. We began with the giant Coluseum pictured above. Material from this edifice was recycled into St. Peters. The arches utilized with the keystone at the top have withstood 2000 years of elements of nature and man. It is an amazing structure which we climbed up down and around. On to Palatine Hill with it's layers of remnants of kings and emperors including Nero. Our word palace derived from palatine. Again much climbing and walking often over uneven ground. We finished our 4 hours of history at the forum the government building where the senators now marble busts met in their togas forming a form of democracy we follow today. My afternoon was Villa Bourgese set a beautifully appointed home of a former cardinal with a voracious appetite for art in the days of Bernini and Carravaggio. The Bernini sculptures were fir me the highlight of this art collection in a building containing so much from ceilings to floors as well as walls. It is touted to be the most beautiful interior in Europe. My final challenge if this very long and foot sore day was to find Judy who was visiting her niece an AA flight attendant. I had an address and name of the hotel and knew generally the location but half hour of searching I was not successful. People I asked would send me one way then another. Finally my phone rang and it was them and they came to claim me. I'd been steps away. It mattered little as we had a wonderful dinner in a delightful family owned cafe and celebrated our last night in Rome. All to short but most satisfying despite site feet. Judy and I had a lovely walk back to our hotel put on the correct course by her niece we made no wrong terms enjoying the perfect weather. This is being written at Rome airport awaiting my flight Arrividerci Roma!
