Big Mama's Last Trip

 Roadtreks pull into Homosassa Springs Parking area.  Heavy rains, high tides and winds impeded our tour, but we still enjoyed the antics of the various wildlife particularly Lou, the hippo. One of the cranes that flew with the light plane from Wisconsin has now made his home at the park after falling for a local Sandhill girl!

 This sign was once a billboard in the early days of the park.  Now part of the State Park System, it's a piece of old Florida that has been preserved and I recommend a visit there.

A morning boat ride on the Crystal River was followed by a tour of ancient shell mounds dating back thousands of years.  Crystal River State Park is renowned for its archaeological finds. A very interesting place to visit as well.

My last official Roadtrek rally was nostalgic as I visited with those owners I've come to know and enjoy and    met others for the first time knowing it might also be the last.  I was invited to come again even as a non-owner and some of the "solo" women offered to put me up some time.  Yes, Big Mama is now part of the life of a Canadian couple who will mainly use her to travel to Florida to their time shares.  In some ways I feel a sense of relief both from a financial and time standpoint. Big Mama gave me a wonderful transition to single life, an excuse to get out and explore in new ways, connects to the natural world and most of all an opportunity to meet some wonderful people who share my adventuresome spirit.

My next trip will be in my faithful VW Passat, Ruby, who has spent more time in the garage than on the road in the last four years.  So Adieu Big Mama; Safe travels and thanks for the memories.

Ancient Rome

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!

Rome 2

This has been a very full day taking buses, subway rides, and lots of walking. We started by walking across the River Tiber encountering a well dressed man in a very nice car asking to use our map then offering us a designer handbag for 150 euro so he could buy petrol. Judy offered him 10 and told him we were on out way to the bankomat and thanks but no thanks. Then we found an Ecology fair where the minister was going to speak, fashion show of Eco friendly clothes and children creating toys from discards. Ben and Jerrys was one of the exhibitors and 2 nuns were sampling. On we went to the Victor Emanuel Memorial a very impressive structure honoring the king who united Italy in 1861. There was a very nice and reasonable outdoor cafe on top of the building overlooking Rome including the Coliseum. Our next stop was the Vatican museum, Sistine chapel and St. Peters pictured here. Our bus didn't seem to go where we thought it would and we then rode the subway. The museum is magnificent and our guide was a Rick Steves write up which was very helpful. My binoculars proved helpful for studying the wonderful art in the chapel. We were able to get seats along the wall which eased our neck craning. St. Peters is huge with incredible sculptures but we have seen so many elaborate churches that I was not over whelmed. We ended up making the long walk back to the hotel but saw many interesting shops along the way. A short time later it was back on the street to the metro same bus as in the morning but then it became more challenging with major traffic problems apparently caused by some sort of work stoppage as a prelude to a major strike that is scheduled for Monday. We were assisted by a young Romanian woman who led us on a long walk to our evening activity. I'm actually trying to shorten this story but it keeps going. After touring Trevi fountain, Spanish steps, a delicious dinner we headed for the subway to hotel area only to find that station closed and instructions to reroute to a bus. Following the crowd we finally emerged above ground in an unfamiliar area and few clues of which direction. It took some sorting out with helpful locals and eventually a bus back to the area of our hotel. A 13 hour day and sore feet but still having a sense of humor the day is done.

Touring Rome

Our plan for easing into Rome was discarded when our recommended guide Frank Van den Broeke offered an afternoon walking tour accompanied by his dog. After a quick "fast food" pizza this 23 year resident Phd. Belgium born man led 6 of us on am amazing and entertaining tour including many sites on my list. He also made arrangements for other activities the next 2 days including suggestion to assist our visit to the Vatican Thursday. We had sore feet and whirling minds collapsing at a sidewalk cafe on Piazza Navone before finding our bus and amazingly our hotel. The photo was taken inside the incredible Pantheon.

Lecce

Walked our feet off on our one day here. Visited at least 6 of the 88 churches working around their various openings, closings including weddings. Most interesting archeological museums with many artifacts going back to prehistory. Special meaning were those found in ares were we have been touring the last week. Ducked out of rainstorm into a pizzeria for the first pizza here. The photo is the remains of the Roman Amphitheater from 1st century part of a main square near the hotel. Also saw an exhibit on the design of 1960 amphitheater built in Rome for the Olympics in a special tribute to Italian architect Pier Luigi Nervi.

Back roads

Our final day of cycling took us along small back roads such as the one pictured. We worked our way to the eastern most point of Italy with Croatia, Albania and Greece coast lines not far away though not visible with hazy conditions. Our ride also took us along the sea shore but became very challenging as the road rose up many hills which finally became too much for me and I opted for a ride in the support van for the last few miles. Other highlights of the day were a very tasty picnic lunch over looking the sea and a visit to a private home to see a demonstration of hand made pasta as it has been done done for generations.

Otranto

Our 20 mile ride today took us thru villages and courtyard back roads some with hills most of which I was able to make. Lunch stop was Otranto a seaside town pictured above. We joined 5 others from the tour at outdoor tables for a lunch of rustici a hot pocket type sandwich of cheese and tomato sauce. Quite tasty but not too much to have room for Gelato coffee gelato served with expresso a dish called affogatti a meal in itself. Lots of people were cooling in the Adriatic waters which were very shallow near the shoreline. Sailboats could be seen in the distance but didn't seem to have much wind. We remounted our bikes and rode away from the town and the sea to our Masseria our home for the next 2 nights a beautiful peaceful place in the countryside. Tonight we will return to Otranto for more touring and dinner. It will be difficult to match last nights multiple course feast of local medieval specialities.