Wandering in Rome...

Thirty+ years ago I had the good fortune to travel 

to Europe on my own...

one of my stops was Rome...where I searched out Bernini's sculpture...

The Ecstasy of Santa Theresa...

When I was in college, I started out as an art major 

(I changed my major a couple of times!)

and was mesmerized by this sculpture in my art history class...

When we were in Rome in the fall, one of my goals was to find this church again...

If you're planning a visit to Rome...be sure to visit 

the Cornaro Chapel, Santa Maria della Vittoria.

This sunburst style is a frequent theme in Bernini's altars...

Since when did they start using electric candles???

It's no wonder these churches usually took hundreds of years to complete...

just look at the detail!!!

 When in Rome you have to visit the colosseum...

I think it's a law or something!!!

After the colosseum...a little wine...a little pasta...a little more wine...

(my apologies to TheChief...I didn't mean to cut you in half darlin'!)

Tiffany made friends with MoMo...our fabulous waiter!!!

On to Rome and then Across the Atlantic!!!

And on our first full day in Rome...we headed out to Ancient Ostia...

a large archeological site where the harbour city of ancient Rome was located.

Ostia means "mouth" and of course, Ancient Ostia was at one time, 

located at the mouth of the River Tiber.

Our group...ready for the day...come rain or shine!!!

Yep...you guessed it...Rain!!!

Natalie...a two fisted umbrella whiz!!!

The ancient road into Ostia...

If you notice the walls on the right....the guide took us 

into the the buildings which at one time housed gladiators...

we had to duck significantly when going in

and the guide's comment was...

"If you're thinking Russel Crowe, you'd be wrong...

think more along the lines of Danny DeVito!"

Apparently, the gladiators were not particularly ripped...

This area included shops, an exercise field, and of course, the beloved Roman baths...

Shop doors on the road in town....

Our friend Pat...and one half of the couple

who talked us into this trip!!!

TheChief!!!  Ever the gentleman, relieved me of

the umbrella that was rusted, looked like it was found in a dump, 

and was sold to us by a street vendor for $5!!!

(Moral of the story:  When in Rome...do as the Romans do...

DON'T buy umbrellas from street vendors!!!)

  

Anyone up for the theater???

Mosaic floors...I don't know what the elephant signified, but the

second mosaic was in front of a storefront, or restaurant front!!!

A grander view of the theater...

Decorations (?) along the walkway to by the theater...