Back to The European Trip - ROMA!!!

Kathryn and Richard's Big Adventure in Europe continues.

We're talking about our day in Rome, Italy. After a 90 minute bus ride in from the coast (ugh!!!) we got down to business. Even though it was a Sunday we saw a whole bunch of interesting things. Did you know that the Vatican owns property ALL over Rome?!?!? All of the sites that underground contain catacombs. We got to go into some of those catacombs. Very interesting. Couldn't take any photos though. Pretty cold down there. We weren't dressed for that cuz everywhere else was nice and warm.

Did you know that is a pyramid right in the middle of Rome? It's the only one in Europe. Some guy was working in Egypt way back when and thought that "hey, I want to be buried like an Egyptian king when I get back home". So, he comissioned his only MINI pyramid to be built for his grave is marble (of course - we are in Italy after all). It's still standing. It's just so OBTUSE when it just pops out around a corner.

Off to the Colosseum (as in Colossus - REALLY BIG). It is actually 2 stadiums together. Did you know that originally, it was a Caesar's PERSONAL SWIMMING POOL. YEESH! Then it became a place to watch entertaining naval battles. Imagine mini boats like kids in a bathtub only bigger. Then the infamous use.

The movie makers that did Gladiator actually improved the stadium to bring it back to show what it looked like. Another use it had was a home for a large family. I don't quite understand that one but whatever. All the marble is now gone. To the churches (Vatican)....

St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. It is AMAZING. Can't do it justice. Pictures from inside just didn't turn out. Needed a better camera I guess.

Ah... The Swiss Guards in their "interesting" uniforms.

Well, that's it for now. Next day will probably be the windswept island of Mykonos, Greece

Ham Dinner for 13 adults and 2 kids - DONE!

And we had enough room around the dining room table and enough chairs to handle everyone (another three weren't even used). PHEW!

Ham, sweet potatoes, brussel sprouts, corn, salad, buns. Desserts were amazing. Brought by guests. Pumpkin pie, Mexican Milk Cake, Butter tarts (2 sizes) and my own made up recipe for Apple Maple Cranberry Crisp/Crumble.

Thank for for all coming. I hope you all enjoyed yourselves on Sunday.

1 year + 1 day and my laptop suffered a power surge

Literally 1 year and a day after I was laid off, my laptop hit a power surge and the power adapter blew out. I'm SO lucky that I took out a 3 year extended warranty on the machine. This is my second time I've had to use the warranty on this machine.

Extended warranties are REALLY useful for laptops since local companies are not allowed to open up and repair them. They are so specialized.

I'm now without a machine and having to use Rich's desktop. I'm supposed to be going on a trip in a few weeks. I hope that the new adapter (or fixed old one) is sent back to me SOON.

In the meantime, I'm doing LOTS of needlework. :)