And We Are Back

I should have posted that last blog before leaving but I never got around to it.  I want to post a few photos so it is just as well.  Hopefully this will publish.

Carol took us to the airport and we met up with 8 of our traveling companions.  We flew to Amsterdam and it took 1.5 hours to get through Passport Control and to the next gate.  On arrival in Rome we met up with two more of our final group of 16 travelers and our reserved cars were there to pick us up and took us to our hotel in Rome.  The accommodations were very nice and close to the Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain.

Saturday we toured the excavation area under St. Peter's Basilica and it was awesome.  No photos allowed but here is an altar photo inside the current Basilica dedicated to St. Peter erected directly above his bones.  They are actually under the red marble strip several stories down.  

Then we attended Mass. 

Inside the main church area.  Knees and shoulders covered, trousers for men.

 

Our relatives Steve, Keith and Marge (age 85!) with us along with our friends.

Kristin and I filling our water bottles at an ancient fountain outside the Basilica.

On Sunday we took a tour to Tivoli outside Rome.  We visited both Hadrian's Villa and Villa D'Este.  The first was ruins, the second contains many things recycled from the ruins site.

Ruins at Hadrian's Villa.  

Mosaic flooring still intact.

There are 500 fountains at the Vill D'Este, all working off gravity, there are no pumps.  

This structure houses pipes that use water pressure to play music much like air is used in an organ.  It played three different songs for us.  It depends on water flow as to what if anything it will do.  We lucked out!

Views from the villa.

Artwork, frescoes and mosaics inside the villa.

Monday we took a tour again of the Vatican Museum.  Despite buying an early entrance 7:30 am tour, it was 8:15 before we entered.  Instead of visiting the Sistine Chapel first, they took us there last where the 9 am regular admissions had hurried to and it was already very crowded.  Our guide had given us a nice overview of the highlights and we were able to sit for 15 minutes and take it all in.  No photos allowed.  The halls are so crowded you really cannot take in what you are looking at.  I doubt if I am in Rome again I would bother visiting again.  Last time was an even more rushed experience so it is just the norm.  

Dome of St. Peter's Basilica from the Vatican Museum terrace.

Tuesday our cars returned and took us all to Civitavecchia to board our ship, Jewel of the Seas.