Irish Cliffs to Swiss Alps to Tuscan Hilltowns

Tuesday, July 11th Lar and I got up early to visit St Peter’s Basilica without crowds…we arrived at about 6:50 am and were inside by 7:10!    Phew…earlier in the week, we’d seen the long lines waiting in the hot sun!    The sculptures that adorn the Basilica are extraordinary, massive and evoke such wealth!    Two services were being held while we walked through the magnificent building; the lovely music accentuated the beautiful mosaics and famous artwork!    We paid to climb the 551 steps of the duomo - the tallest dome on Earth!    The steps were steep, well worn and narrow in certain places…the fresh air and views were spectacular!    Later, we walked the city, including lunch near the Spanish Steps, drinks in the outdoor terrace of the 5 star Hotel Hassler and general sightseeing!    It was bloody hot!    After a nap and shower, we joined Karen & Phil for dinner and gelato!    A lovely end...

Monday, July 10th We met our tour guide at the Arch of Constantine next to the Colosseum at 9 am…it was already in the 90’s!    I booked the skip-the-line tour through Booking.com the night before…I was so happy that was still possible!    I tried to make reservations for a Vatican museum tour and they were sold out!    The tour guide was very knowledgeable…he was formerly an archaeologist!    The colosseum was built between 72 and 80 AD with the spoils gained during the Judean conquest and financed by the Flavian family thus its rightful name, the Flavian Amphitheater!      It is understood that fights between two people (gladiators, slaves, mere mortals) resulted in a winner and a loser…not always to the death!    One could tap out but wouldn’t be paid as well! More than 1,000 were killed in the arena per year over a 500 year period…wow!!    Major reconstruction has taken and continues to take place…it is astou...

Sunday, July 9th We left our apartment by 10 am for the 2 hour drive to Rome airport to say arrivederci to our rental car!    We checked into our hotel, Hotel Emmaus, which was a short walk away from the Vatican!    We had lunch near the Piazza del Risorgimento.    Although the walk wasn’t far, we were glad to be seated inside with air conditioning!    Given the outside temperature in the high 90’s, we welcomed an afternoon siesta!    We had a lovely dinner on Piazza Navona and enjoyed watching the street artists!