Largo di Torre Argentina

Returned our car and explored Rome over the next 5 days. Enjoyed all that it has to offer at a leisurely pace, utilizing the wonderful metro system until we started the Rick Steves Group group tour. It's impossible to describe it all so here is a short summary of the highlights.

Churches, Statues, Archeticture, Pasta (love seeing 150 year old resturants making pasta in the windows), wine!!.....what's not to love.
The best part is people watching here. People talking, waving their hands about with emotion, laughing, lingering over good food and wine. Italians have such a passion for life, and it's infectious.

Wondered into a workshop where they were restoring marble. Met Andrea, a young architect apprentice that was learning the old world craft of restoration from the older gentleman that has been working w marble and plaster for 40+ years. What a treat to talk with them to see a craft that might soon be lost.

Went to the Capitoline Museum and The Victor Emmanuel II National Monument, built between 1885 and 1935 to honor Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of a unified Italy, 

Went to Piazza del Popola, where Police were celebrating their anniversary and utilizing it for recruiting. Showing off motorcycles. police cars, helicopters, and a Lamborghini Police car!!! (Don't think that would fly in the U.S.).
Took in the Leonardo DiVinci Museum. Toured the underground of the Colossuem (fascinating), and attended a Musical Concert w the 3 Tenors in a Church for Susan's Birthday.

Toured the Villa Medici House and Gardens. In Naploean's time, France took over the house, and now, every year, 16 Art Students are selected by France to study here and master the art of marble carving.

One night, we even met up w Nora and Phillip that now live in Rome and Nadia. (What are the odds that she would be visiting her daughter while we are here). Fun night at dinner catching up.Baca lagi