Rome and Animal Wednesday

 I love visiting Rome - who wouldn't?  But having my sister and brother-in-law live there makes it even more special to me.  I'm not living in a hotel, but staying in a city apartment in an area where people do their daily shopping, lean out the windows, drink coffee at the local cafe.  Every morning we'd go out for cappuccino, and cornetto (An Italian word for Croissant), and sit outside in the thin morning sunshine sipping coffee and waking up.

This is the view I have from my bedroom window - look at those perfect colors.

When we did decide to eat at home, we sat outside on their little terrace and basked in the sunshine at the table, with flowers all around us, green vines, geraniums and some lemon scented herb scenting the air. 

This is the view from their terrace, a beautiful nursery, with gorgeous large Terra Cotta pots.   To the left of this nursery is a Monastery that looks just huge and beautiful - and Rich. 

I didn't actually see these parrots but did hear some squawking - and Stef and Abdul have seen parrots many times on the trees outside their apartment and across the street from their house. 

We did some touring around - first to the tomb of the unknown soldier at Piazza Venezia - the building is also known as the Wedding Cake.   

When you wander around Rome you see these little shrines to Mary - this one was tucked in between two buildings, a tiny alcove.

Near to the Wedding Cake building we did a tour of a fairly new archaeological site - a villa that fell down in an earthquake in the year 187 AD.  Of course we had to go down about 50 feet to see the ruins, and then you walk on top of them - on a glass floor so that you can see everything.  It was absolutely wonderful, but I kept thinking a few things.  First - I'm walking on GLASS and it's nerve wracking. Second...if they had an earthquake now what would happen and Thirdly - archaeologists are brilliant to be able to clear all the earth and debris away and figure out what is going on down there.  

This is the building that was above the ruins, a government building that looks nothing like the government buildings that we have here.  

 And my earthquake fears? Well, I'm glad I wasn't in that subterranean dig on Sunday morning - let me tell you!!

As we were strolling thru the city we stopped in a tiny little leather store that appealed to both of us.  We didn't realize that the craftsman was world known for his bags and holsters.   I've saving my pennies for one of his bags - he is a true artist.

Last but not least, we went to an exhibition on Italian Immigrants to the New World.  It was a very interesting exhibit - and the most interesting thing that we saw....under glass...in an actual exhibit...was a 1912 copy of "Il Progresso" an Italian New York newspaper.  And there was an ad for Dr. Giuseppe Stella, Eye Doctor and my grandfather.  Stef and I were stunned...and my dad would have been so proud.   It was a wonderful thing to see, and we wondered how it came to be that that page was shown.

Darn Blogger won't let me add any more pictures - I'll have to save them for another time.

Happy Animal Wednesday