The "Roman Holiday" Story
It was an ordinary day. We were leaving Assisi, Italy and heading to Rome. The "We" is retired Rev. Mary Lou Broucht and her group of 32 tourists in a bus, mostly from our church. She made all the arrangements, since she had been to Italy many times. As a matter of fact, she had two of our kids on a tour when they were in high school. Arrived at 4:00 PM and checked into Hotel Pace Elvezia. Really an elegant old place. Of course, what place in Rome wouldn't be old! We had a quick supper at a corner cafe and headed back to the hotel to hop in bed. Had an early breakfa
st at the hotel then off to visit Rome. Melissa, Roselyn, Neil and wife Barbara and Carol and I headed toward the Coliseum. The streets are mostly stone as we travel. After several blocks, we make a final turn and there it is! I have read about the ancient world, but until you see something like the Coliseum in person, you can't believe your eyes. I was awestruck!! Brought tears to my eyes. Magnificent!! As I walked toward the
Coliseum I felt like I was going back in time. We toured the structure and the Palatino which is next to the Coliseum. I felt like I should be wearing armor and carrying a sword. Street vendors had them for sale. At noon we headed toward the Pantheon. Melissa's husband John couldn't make the trip so we promised to wave to him on the webcam which is on the roof of the Albergo del Senato Hotel located across from the Pantheon. I made a big sign to hold up and we wore bright clot
hing. Melissa got him on the phone and he saw us. TECHNOLOGY in ancient Rome! At 2:00 PM we traveled with our group by bus to St. Paul's outside the Walls Church and then to the Di San Callisto Catacombs. Again, sights I had read about and seen photos of in history books. After we returned we walked a few blocks to visit the Trevi Fountain before dark. Two days before a person threw packets of red dye in the fou
ntain and all the water turned red. By the time we had arrived, it had all been filtered out. It certainly put Rome in the spotlight for a few days. Supper of pasta and gelato and another trip to the Coliseum to see it at night. So glad digital cameras had been invented. I took a gadzillion photos today. The following day we continued with our sightseeing visiting the "Spanish Steps" which are the longest and widest staircase in Europe. It was built to connect the Bourbon Spanish Embassy to the Holy 
See. We also toured the markets and walked to the Circo Massimo which is where they raced the chariots. Our last evening meal in Rome was fantastic, but after our meal we all boarded the wrong tour bus and were taken to the wrong hotel. Boy, was that driver po'ed. After finally returning to the hotel we walked one more time to the Trevi Fountain to see it and photograph it at night. Just a beautiful sight. Extremely romantic!! We will return, since we threw the mandatory three coins in the fountain (over our shoulder). The next day was 
a really bad day in the history of Rome. We headed home!!! It was an EXTRAORDINARY day in the life of an ordinary guy. PS - photos from top to bottom: Coliseum is the distance; Coliseum and entrance to the Palatino; part of the Palatino; holding up sign for Melissa's husband at the Pantheon; throwing our "3 coins in the fountain"; The Trevi Fountain; The Spanish Steps
It was an ordinary day. We were leaving Assisi, Italy and heading to Rome. The "We" is retired Rev. Mary Lou Broucht and her group of 32 tourists in a bus, mostly from our church. She made all the arrangements, since she had been to Italy many times. As a matter of fact, she had two of our kids on a tour when they were in high school. Arrived at 4:00 PM and checked into Hotel Pace Elvezia. Really an elegant old place. Of course, what place in Rome wouldn't be old! We had a quick supper at a corner cafe and headed back to the hotel to hop in bed. Had an early breakfa
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