Once we were well “spritz’s” it was time to make our way to the Siena train platform. We are now professionals at navigating train stations but we still maintain a level of anxiety that keeps us on our toes and alert.

One change of trains and a quick cab ride to the hotel completed our nine hours of travel. We were pleased to find a welcoming room with no surprises. Rick Steve’s came through again.

The hotel is half of the third floor of a commercial building, a total of seven rooms. And an elevator straight out of the 1930’s.

Once unpacked we decided to stay close and had dinner at the corner restaurant. It turned out to be a great choice.

Once rested we were prepared to see all that Rome had to offer on our 9-5 walking tour that started at the Coliseum and would end at the Vatican. Our guide Tonya warned us that by the of the day we would be tired of having her in our ear. And by golly, she as right! She was very knowledgeable and pleasant, but I can’t remember the last time I had eight continuous hours of culture and education.

We started at the Coliseum and walked across Rome to take a lunch break before our leisurely stroll through the Vatican.

Finally lunch.

The streets of Rome on a Saturday are very crowded, but they did not prepare us for what we were in store for as we entered the Vatican. Interesting but nerve racking. If it were not for following the little feathered ball, we most likely wold still be wandering its halls.

As we entered the Sistine Chapel and gazed at Michelangelo’s Last Judgement, Becky summarize our situation: “We have entered tour group hell!” We were packed like sardines in a can, all looking the same direction. We both put on our masks as there was no such thing as Social Distancing in this environment. Once our 15 minutes were up, like a key opening our can, a door was available for our group to swim through and soon we were in fresh air looking at St. Peter’s basilica.

Here our guide left us to figure out how to get back to the other side of the city. But first we toured the basilica on our own. We have seen some great churches on this trip and in Spain last year, and this was as ornate as any of them, but neither of us found it moving. Again Becky put our feelings into poetry; “Unfortunately my give a s—- meter quit registering about an hour ago “. Don’t take this the wrong way, it is more of a comment on our trying to see everything in one day than it is a comment on the Vatican.

So with that behind us, we sought out an attitude adjustment at Piazza Navano.

And then back to our corner restaurant where we knew they would take good care of us.

We would not make the same mistake on our last day, we would make an even larger one; Hop on Hop off bus. Things started off good as we walked several miles to do shopping and Becky scored:

So now we would find the bus and ride around for a while. Took about 20 minutes of walking to find the bus stop. A walk that included our having to climb the Spanish Steps.

So with a 20 minute wait for the bus we were finally on our way. Every now and then there would be something interesting to look at, but for the most part it was as fun as any city bus ride.

So as you may be able to tell, it has been a successful vacation because we are looking forward to returning home. And with one added bonus. We have been reunited with all those pounds we lost on the Camino last year. They weren’t lost, just waiting for us in Italy.