Rome on our own

We’ve been to Rome several times and have seen all the highlights. So today, while still recuperating, we decided to wake up late for breakfast.

It was a fairly extensive buffet with fruit, eggs, and pastries.

I’d like to say we started our walk about, but instead we went back to bed until noon. Blackout curtains really do the trick if you want to sleep.

Once we woke again we headed to the church on the corner.

St. Paul’s Within the Walls Anglican Episcopal Church was built in 1873 and was the first non-Roman Catholic church within the city walls.

Our next stop was Basilica St. Maria degli Angeli E Dei Martiri which was built in the 16th century in the ruins of the Roman baths. Michelangelo was instrumental in the design of this Basilica and it was his last work.

The meridian solar line on the floor was built by the astronomer and philosopher Francesco Bianchini in 1703.  Bianchini’s meridian would tell when noon was throughout the year, the arrival of the solstices and equinox, as well as a calendar. It also predicts the day of Easter.

After two churches it was time for pastry. So a little cannoli and cappuccino.

It was interesting to note that at many crosswalks there weren’t any lights. We saw a man cross and traffic just stopped for him. When he reached us. He said, “Be brave and just walk. They will stop. “ So we did. And we are alive to tell about it!

Inside a cinema. We didn’t go to watch a movie. Just wanted to check out the theater.

Some architecture!

We stopped at a bakery so I could rest my foot!

We took a stroll to Trevi Fountain passing the National Art Museum on the way.

Some interesting frescoes on the way.

As I get older I find it difficult to be in huge crowds. At the Trevi Fountain, it was a mob scene. Because of Bruce’s height, he was able to get a photo without us waiting in a long line.

We had planned to eat near there, but everything was so crowded. We took a cab back to our hotel and then found a little place in the neighborhood. We shared a margarita pizza.

We had already eaten half when I remembered to take a photo. After dinner we had ice cream at another little restaurant.

And now back to the Hotel Artemide for sleep.

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