Vatican/Sistine Chapel/Saint Peter's Basilica

We started our day @ 6:45 AM and got on the Metro. We were going to take a cab to the Vatican, but it was raining so the hotel manager said it would be much faster by subway. Mike is the official map reader since I am directionally impaired! Finding the corner of where to meet was not that easy. We were glad we left the hotel early! We got there in time to get our headsets and a cup of coffee and a croissant.

A peek at St. Peter's

When you are smart enough to buy the "advanced skip the line tour ticket", you get in line with all of the other smart prepared tourist. So many people tour here, there is no such thing, in my opinion, as "skip the line!"

Pinecone courtyard. 

Roman bath!

I guess people were crazy back then too!

"Veddy Important, Fantastico" ....and then "rrrrrrrrrrr "After awhile it is very hard to understand the guide. We lost interest fast because much of the time it is hard to know what they are saying unless you also watch their face & read lips. Even then, you catch about every other word. It is worth paying for a private guide!! In this case, it was just easier reading the plaque next to the sculpture.

The previous two pictures are leading up to the Sistine Chapel. We could not take pictures in the chapel. Guards  announced loudly NO PICTURES and to BE QUIET. It was sort of intimidating. I was actually disappointed once we arrived. It was smaller that what I expected. The man next to me told his wife that he thought it was so spectacular that he got goose bumps. It must have been a spiritual experience for him...it wasn't for me.

Saint Peter's Basilica

Colosseum, Palatine Hill and Roman Forum

This is an example of what it might have looked like in the colosseum. People came early in the day and grilled food, made drawings on the steps, fought, played games, drank, gambled and waited for the shows. (This is my picture of a pic)

This reconstruction shows how the sub floor of the colosseum contained wild animals that would be released on the arena through trap doors. Also my picture of a pic.

Five levels to see the show. 

Level 1 is for the emperor and senators,

 Level 2 the Army or other important people

Level 3 & 4 Common People

Level 5 Slaves and women

This my picture of what we could see from the top!

The bathroom. Sponges were used to clean yourself...I don't know the details:/

The ladies that kept the fire burning. 

Roman Road made with obsidian, a volcanic rock.

A courtyard is left from an emperor's home, a place to exercise and enjoy the outdoors.

This is a caper plant. 

Grilled octopus appetizer.

Mike picked out one of these fish for lunch!

This could have fed 6-8 people. I'm not sure who to blame, Mike or our waiter!

Roma

Thanks, Bruno, for taking us from the villa to the Florence high speed train to Rome. We 

are glad we used INPIRATO for car travel. Saved us! 

So far, we had just one little mix up. We were on the train when someone else came over and had the same exact seats we were in. It turned out that our printed seats were fine, but the computer version was not. We stayed in our seats and the people that also had them booked, had find other seats. 

We are surprised how open the train system is in Italy. People get off & on so freely. 

Good bye, Florence!

Tomorrow we have a private tour of the Colosseum, Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum. This evening, Mike and I walked to where we will meet our guide in the morning. 

Siena

Siena Duomo - an art packed cathedral with mosaic floors and statues by Michelangelo and Bernini.

The legend of the origin of Siena says that in the 8th Century the sons of Remus ran away from Rome. When they left, they took the statue of the SHE-Wolf that had nursed the twins. They stopped at the Tressa River and some shepherds helped them build a castle. 

Many frescos in this church. During the trip I bought a book titled: The Story of Painting. The Romans learned about painting from the Greeks. The painters used white plaster & smoothed it on a wall. They had to paint their designs quickly before the plaster dried. 

Here we are  in the church of San Domenico....Diane was on a mission to get here. It was a pilgrimage to find it:) Anyway, it is a huge church where St. Catherine's head and thumb are displayed. Where is the head? See the glow in the middle of this picture?  We never did find the thumb!

See the V with a circle around it? This is where our villa is located.

We are staying at La Villetta in the Siena Region, Tuscany Italy.

Andre, the son of the caretaker, told us a bit about the property. It was built sometime around 1117 and was originally used for the queen's family from Florence. Later, it was used as a monastery and also as a refuge during WWI and WWII.

Diane is ringing the bell! It takes more energy than you think!

October is not the month to swim....but it would be a cool spot to relax!

Princess Diane in her court!

DING! DONG! DOUMO!

Lynn @ the bell

Tonight a personal chef came to our villa to make us dinner. It was hard for Mike to stay out of the kitchen. 

The chef started the vegetable stock first.

This might not look very good, but it was a favorite, asparagus risotto.

Chicken and wild boar.

Montalcino/Montepulciano/Pienza

Montepulciano is a medieval town.

Panoramic views of the Val di Chiana valleys.

Main street stretches for 1.5 KM to the top of a hill.

We are having way too much fun!!

Salute!

We wish we knew what this was.

Dinner @Alla Pieve  memories for a lifetime with lots of laughs and new quotes! Here we are with our chef & waiter who are married and own the restaurant.