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Day 4 Tuesday 14th Sept.
Today was dedicated to The Vatican. The Pope remained reclusive and I didn't get the chance to ask why St. Christopher had been struck of the list of saints? Not a Bishop or Cardinal in sight so, tough questions remained unanswered!
Our experience at the Vatican must be classified as disappointing. According to our guide,she had not witnessed such great hordes of people before. So marching through the SistineChapel was very much alighting or boarding a train. If you stop to admire you were in danger of being trampled. Perhaps the morning would have been a better time rather than the afternoon.
Our morning was spent at the Catacombs. Our guide through the labyrinths was a Fr. Anthony who also was the parish for Don Bosco in Liluah for 5 years!!! At least he was gracious enough to come out to meet me unlike someone else we know.

Ciao!


Day 5 Wed. 15th Sept.
We left Rome around 9am and set off for our next overnight stop at Perugia. Our first stop was Rieti and can only be described as quaint…get used to this word.!! Next town was Spoleto. The high-light was a great escalator ride that we took to the top of the mountain to look down on the town and grand country side. Next stop Assisi.This was a much more appreciated visit with more of a religious feel to it. As everything here is built on steep inclines one feels cleansed to some degree on reaching the shrines. Numerous shops lined the lane to the Church, most of selling souvenirs with some religious connotations. Except, for the one that was selling replica pistols and crossbows! Finally, Perugia. A beautiful town set high up in the hills. This is also the town where University students come to study all things Italian and most of all the language. To encourage this the store owners have been instructed to converse only in Italian. An interesting night at dinner followed. The hotel room at Hotel Fortunato returned to normal size which meant we need a map to negotiate the shower. See day 1 Hotel Nerva!

Ciao


Day 6 Thursday 16th Sept.

Woke to a sumptuous breakfast in a dining hall with Candelabra .
The change of breakfast menu was a appreciated. The ceilings in the hotel rooms were painted – not quite Michael Angelo but very close. We had our own sitting room and a balcony to check out the views. It truly felt were stepping up in life.
We then proceeded to Rieti and through the grand Tuscan countryside. It is hard to explain but all the pics are true. You are stepping back in time when you visit this part of the world.Sienna was next on our list to visit. Again, magnificent! Lots of pics were taken. Chris even brought out the big guns. San Mag?? Cant spell the rest. Visited the Basilic that held the Head, Thumb and the Self flagilitating (spell check not workingh) tool that she used were on display. Taken pics of her thumb. It has not deteriorated a bit and you can even see her face on display. No decay. Must be a miracle. Had lunch in the town before moving on.
We are spending the night in another glorious hotel actually, the next two nights. Having wild boar for dinner – Cant wait.
Hasta la pasta to each of you and wish you were here.
Chris and Bel