Greetings from Italy. The weather took a sudden turn for the colder yesterday and only got worse today. This reminds us of the cold we felt in Germany, so we have pulled out our warm clothing.
We have just boarded a EuroStar train bound for Naples, where we will change to another train to reach Sorrento. We have really enjoyed our time here in Rome, and we know we will return someday in the future. We ensured that the other night by tossing coins into the Trevi Fountain. The legend goes that tossing a coin with the right hand over the left shoulder ensures a return to this magical city. Some say the legend is bogus, but I had done it three times before this trip, and this is my fourth visit to the city. So maybe the legend has some truth to it�
Yesterday we tried to tackle the Vatican Museum, one of the greatest collections of art in the world. The museum is a testament to the wealth of the Catholic church through the centuries. Unfortunately, we didn�t consult our guidebook before going, and we missed the entrance times. It seems the museum is really only open in the mornings during the winter. So we didn�t see any of the great art. Oh well, something to look forward to for the next trip.
We did, however, spend a considerable amount of time in St. Peter�s, the grand cathedral that dominates Vatican City and an architectural wonder. Designed by Michelangelo, it is the greatest church in all of Christendom. The sheer size of the interior is enough to take my breath away every time I enter the building. The walls are adorned with statues of popes and saints, tilework that imitates canvas painting soars above, and hundreds of tourists wander about in awe, their necks craned to take in the spectacle. The cathedral is built over the remains of St. Peter, which lie in a box visible to the public. The dome soars overhead, confounding every attempt to gauge its size. The marble floor is ornately decorated. The tourists milling about and the tour groups following guides with umbrellas do nothing to fill the space.
We decided to enter the treasury, as we have done in so many cities by now, to seek out the relics owned by the capital of Catholicism. I have to admit, the collection was pretty impressive � the skull of St. Luke the Evangelist, various pieces of the true cross, bones of various saints, and a sharp-toothed clamp used to torture Christians during the early Roman Empire. Truly an impressive collection but, truth be told, not much more impressive than royal collections around Europe. And nothing like the collection we saw in the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul.
So last night we had our last, and our best, meal in Rome. The pasta was perfect, the mozzarella was smooth, and the meat was delicious. We took our time, enjoying the atmosphere and talking about our next stop on this magnificent journey. What amazes us is the fact that we still have six weeks left on the trip.
We hope all of you are safe and sound back home. As always, thanks to everyone for keeping us up-to-date on the happenings in the States. Being so far away, it is refreshing to have something familiar to think and talk about. We wish all of you the best. And keep reading�
Paul and Colleen
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