Trip of a Lifetime--Days 1 and 2

I thought I would try to write a little bit about our trip to Italy and Greece. I kept a journal and tried to get every detail, but I won't bore you with ALL of them :o)
We left SLC on Sunday October 9 (Kian's birthday--Yes, I felt guilty, but not enough to stay home!)
We flew into Atlanta and there was a fashion display in a few of the cases that was really cool. It was a way to re-use items and re-work clothing.

We got on the plane and the lady behind us (her name was Rose) made  37 calls  to people she knew to say that she was on the plane to Rome with Aunt Louise and she won't be back until October 26--Aunt Louise is beside herself with excitement and Rose just wanted to say good-bye and I love you!!

Then I found out that Kristin Chenoweth has her own channel on Delta Airlines so that was fun to hear her singing.

We arrived in Rome at 8:30 a.m. Rome time..it was a long night! We were waved on through the passport station so NO stamp! Then we waited a couple of hours in the airport for the rest of our group to arrive. I was SO tired it was kind of a blur.  We got on tour buses and were taken to a restaurant called Angelique for a "typical Roman style meal".

This was our darling waitress, Giovanna who spoke very little English, but she was exactly what I pictured a quintessential Italian girl!
I had Tiramisu for the first time and it was DIVINE! I probably won't ever eat it again because I'm afraid it will never be the same.

Then it was on to the Colosseum with our tour guide Tyberio, who was SO funny and extremely knowledgeable!! He knew every date and every name of ancient Rome and I was completely gobsmacked.

We then went and saw the Forum and the sense of history was palpable.

This the site where Julius Caesar's body was cremated in a ceremonial pyre...notice that people are still leaving flowers. Amazing.

 

"All roads lead to Rome".  This is the site of the beginning of the first road.

The hotel in  Rome was small and dark and not so great, but I was exhausted and we were hardly there at all so it was OK.
That night we hung out with Steve and Ralene Eller. We went to Campo Di Fiori and found a great place for dinner where we met two very cute and very different Italian boys.

Guiseppe was our waiter and he, ironically, wants to be an actor!! He is planning to move to NYC to study acting, but his Dad is not too hip on the idea. I thought he was adorable and he did ask for my Facebook contact info, but I haven't heard from him yet. I was hoping to set him up with someone from our family!

Then the four of us walked the streets looking for gelato and taking in the Bernini fountains along the way.

Gotta throw my coin in the fountain so I get to come back someday!  I loved the Trevi fountain...there were so many people just sitting on the steps, hanging out--locals and tourists.

The Spanish Steps

Then there were the high end shops...I had to get some pictures of the girls even if the stores were closed.