Arriverderci!

We are ready to leave-the kids are so anxious to get home, Ellen and I would love to go to the South of France next, but real life calls us home!
We had a great time with the Wittig's last night -dinner at the Campo de Fiori.
And yesterday morning Ellen and I showed up at the Borghese Galleria for a most magnificent marble and painting experience-Bernini is the man!
No pix allowed but we will remember it always.
Auf Wiedersein!
Au Revoir!
Arriverderci!

Last day in rome

All day yesterday Ellen and I tried to book tickets for the Borghese Galleria. Somehow we missed that this was a must book in advance and we forgot it was the weekend:( We just did not want to miss out on this fabulous museum. The kids are burnt out on any tours, art, etc-they are ready for home.
I spoke to a man who told me to get to the Borghese at 830 when it opened.
We arrived exactly on time and waited in line to be told they would let us know by 9:05 when the computer calculated how many people showed up-apparently there are no-shows. We prayed.
We got in! This museum is so fantastic that again there are no words to describe. The sculptures-Bernini-his David, my favorite Apollo chasing Daphne as she turns into a laurel tree to escape him. we saw Caravaggio and Canova-the sculpture of Paulina was so life like-even the bed looked like it was real. Melissa -you were right about David-Bernini captures him in motion-wow!!!Our audioguides helped with the history.there was so much and it was all beautiful.
Yesterday it rained, I mean poured just as we were walking to Piazza Navonna to hang out and have dinner.
the kids are hoping to go on the Time Elevator today and tonight we plan to meet the Wittig's at Piazza Navonna for dinner and a last gelato:)
Ciao!

more pix

More of Rome and Florence

Rome -don't know what day it is

Have to catch up here.It is so easy to forget what day it is when traveling.
Thursday we went to Vatican City. Had an unbelievable tour through the Vatican, Sistine Chapel and St.Peter's. Words cannot tell the story-all I can say is that it was breathtaking. I could not believe I was there. Kids were entranced. We also met another family traveling from Texas: 2 teenage girls, mom and grandma in a wheelchair-she did not let that wheelchair stop her one bit.
Looking at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel was really something to behold. Singlehanded-4 years of his life painting frescoes while on scaffolding.The Last Judgement Wall-5 years to paint and then a Cardinal pissed him off so he painted him on the bottom wrapped in chains. Honestly I had chills in the Sistine Chapel.
the tapestries in the Vatican were also amazing. All these words seem silly but the feeling we had when looking at these masterpieces-I cannot put it into words.
St. Peter's -we had to touch his right foot for good luck, the statues all over-sized-wow!
After we left and were able to come down to earth we went to dinner at Piazza Navonna with the other family. the street artists and musicians were out and we sat outdoors laughing and sharing our adventures with the Rengal family. What a great night.
We LOVE Rome!!!!!
Yesterday we went to Florence on the Eurostar. Great train. Everyone had times of crankiness-we thought were so great booking the tickets and we went without a plan. Bad idea. We went on the hop-on hop-off bus, We did get to see the Duomo (nasty woman there)David at the Academie (again-no words to describe)and Ellen got her leather jacket at the outdoor market and we got to cross the Ponte Vecchio bridge but we were too late the Uffizi Gallery. Kids ate at McDonald's before boarding train (ugh!) and Ellen and I dined onboard.
Exhausted and now trying to get tickets for Borghese Gallery as we wind down our trip.

OK -we LOVE Rome!

Will update tomorrow after our trip to Florence but we have finally acclimated to Rome and we love it!!!!

day 4 -trying to begin

apparently 10:30 is too early also. teenagers...this is not the beach trip. We are trying to get to Termini Station to buy tickets to go to Florence tomorrow. I can't imagine how we can even get those kids up to make a (gasp!) 10:00 train. Somehow they think that being on the computer and hanging out in their room is the way to spend a vacation in Rome...

more pix