1st trip to visit grandkids

After we got home from Italy in January, the 1st thing we did was drive south to visit the grand kids.  This was our first chance to see Rowdy who was born while we were in Italy!

Grandma get to finally hold Rowdy

Lovable Lu

 Rowdy Brame Harmer

 Rowdy going through the doggy door to check on the dogs.

 We also had a great time with the Kids in St George.  Will is going rock climbing.

 Now it is Jane's turn

A nice place to sit.

Sorry, but I missed a picture of Abigail.

The Mouth of Truth

On our last day before we caught the train back to Milano, we took a bus to see the Mouth of Truth.  This is an interesting piece of sculpture that tradition has it that if you tell a lie while your hand is in the mouth, the mouth will bite off your hand.  Italians would threaten to take their children to the mouth of truth to determine when they were being dishonest.

 A temple across the street from the Mouth of Truth

 Inside the church that hosts the mouth of truth - the floor is covered with many interesting mosaics.

Walking back to the metro stop we went past the Circus where the chariot races were held.

 Here we are at Linate Airport the following day with the office Elders - on our way home.

The Vatican

The Vatican Museum was immense and amazing.

 I have grown to really like mosaics

 They even had a great door knocker

 We then walked a horribly long way around to St Peter's (we missed a short cut from the Sistine chapel, where the do not allow any pictures) and ended up riding the bus to a place to have lunch.

 Peters Keys

 It was great to see a wonderful nativity

The Vatican Guards

 On the way back to our B&B we stopped at the Spanish steps.  WOW was it ever crowded.

 Off to the side we saw two guys huddling under a silk curtain.  We waited to see what was going to happen.  After 5 - 10 minutes the curtain was removed buy one guy and this is what was left standing.

A view from the top of the Spanish steps

Colosseum, Palatine Hill, Typewriter, Pantheon, Piazza Navona

Tuesday we  rode the metro to the Colosseum and began our tour of Rome.

Next we walked over to Palatine Hill where all of the Roman Senators lived.

Then we roamed trough the Forum

 The Romans walked on these Cobble stones

 As we were walking around the corner to the Typewriter there was this guy sitting there.  Kind of cool.

 A group of street performers were behind their trailer getting dressed, so we decided to sit down and wait for them.  after about 15 minutes three witches on stilts began to dance around the crowd while their support guy pushed around a load music system.

The typewriter

 Street musicians in front of the Pantheon

 Inside the Pantheon

Finally we walked several more blocks to Piazza Navona.

 This Piazza is know for three large fountains

 It was Epiphany and there were loads of Italians out in the streets celebrating the holiday.  This gal is dressed up as the Bufana or Christmas Witch that visits the homes of good boys and girls on Epiphany to give them candy and gifts.

 We found a great place to eat - I had smoked Salmon Risotto - YUM YUM

Lots of crowds in the Piazza