We are home! And still unpacking!

We had a wonderful 48 days traveling through Europe - but we are glad to be home in Tennessee! And back to reality! But most important - back with family and friends!!

I think it will take a little time to process everything we were able to see and experience during our travels. The blog was actually quite fun to do. As so many of you know - I spent 18 years of my life working with Chambers of Commerce and non-profit organizations. If my blog sounded like a Chamber brochure - it is really the way I think and relate. Trey warned Darrell when we first married that "Mom has never met a brochure she didn't love!"

Thanks to all who were interested in our trip and followed the blog. It was great to share with you the wonderful places we visited. As you can imagine - my photos could not do justice to the beauty, history and intrigue of these places.

Friends from the Cruise

Thanks so much to Gail and Bob Popeney from California for forwarding these photos! We were able to share several day trips and dinners with wonderful folks that we met on Oceania! And thanks also to Nancy Hancock from Des Moines for also sharing photos!

Roman Forum

This area was the seat of power for the Roman Empire for over 1000 years. Only remants of temples, palaces, and other important buildings remain. The years after the fall of the Roman Empire - the area was filled over and eventually buried. The street levels are at least 20 feet above thhe forum area. Excavations on on-going.

But is is neat to walk in this place and to know that the Romans shaped the history and influenced the founders of our country.

Palatine Hill in the Roman Forum Area

Palantine Hill was the site of the palaces of the Emporers of Rome. This hill was adjacant to and overlooked the Roman forum. Palaces were subsequently built over the top of the older ones -so many of the archeaological remains overlap. This hill is considered the location for the founding of Rome in 700 BC by Romuls. Archeaologists have excavated back to small "huts" that predate written history on this hill.

Excavations are ongoing in many parts of the Palentine and the Roman Forum.

Roman Treasury

These are the columns that remain in the Roman Forum for the Treasury Building. They make look familar because this image is on American money. Our American forefathers respected the Democratic principles of the Roman Empire and adapted some of the best features when they planned our country.

Ceremonial Arches

The Roman Emporer's built huge ceremonial Arches and located them on the "Processional Way" where huge parades into the old city were held. These arches were carved to show the Emporer's great military accomplishments. Here are 3 of the central arches in the Roman Forum area: 1. Constantine 2. Titus 3. Septimius Seversus.

They each look about the same - but each one celebrated a different Emperor.

Roman Colosseum

The Flavian Ampitheater (aka Colosseum) is the most famous site in Rome. It is adjacent to the Roman Forum. The is where gladiators fought and the Christians were killed.

Ancient Romans loved their spectacle. Even modern sporting arenas today have adopted a similar shape for football or baseball games. The Colosseum could hold over 60,000 people.

Santa Maria Della Popollo Church

This church was also part of the Angels and Demons movie - signifying "Earth". Inside are several Bernini masterpieces and Caravaggio paintings. The church is in Popollo Square which is eliptical shaped with the fountains of Neptune and an obelisk in the center.

Notice there is a pyramid inside the church in the Chigi Chapel. (The "Demon's Hole" and a few of Bernini pieces where under rennovation in the Chigi Chapel).

The "Martyrdom of Saint Peter" by Caravaggio hangs in a chapel to the left of the Altar.
Their are 4 central buildings around the Popollo Square with 2 being churches and 2 being civic. This is the "Square of the People".

Obelisks from Egypt

The Romans captured Egypt after the fall of Cleopatra. They brought many obelisks back from Egypt and placed them in parks all over town. I think there are 13 or so original obelisks to be found in Rome. Many of these are 2000-3000 years old.

The Romans and the Catholic Church adapted many of their symbols from the Egypt culture. These obelisks are shown from the following squares: Santa Trinita, Santa Minerva, The Pantheon, Piazza Narvona and Popollo Square.

Spanish Steps

A famous gathering place for visitors and Romans alike - the Spainish Steps is sure to draw a crowd. Santa Trinita is the church above the steps and was the Borghese Family church. Borghese Park entrances can also be found at the top of the steps.

Villa Borghese - Park

The Park is much like Central Park in New York City. A very large park with trees, open spaces, fountains, bike and walking paths. There is a lot of sculpture - including this Roman statue with a pigeon where the head should be. We were there on Sunday afternoon and the park was filled with families just having fun together.

The small lake in the park surrounded a small Roman Temple and people could rent small boats. The Gardens were lovely.

Borghese Gallery masterpieces

I can't take credit for these two photos - but this is Bernini's marble: Apollo and Dahpne. The marble carving is so finely carved - the leaves at the top are so thin they are almost transparent.

Caravaggio's Boy with the Flowers is also in the Borghese. The Romans love Caravaggio - many churches have original Caravvagio paintings inside.

Borghese Gallery

The Gallery Borghese houses a remarkable art collection and is a lavishly decorated villa. The Borghese family were associated with the Catholic Church - one was a bishop and one became Pope. Their wealth and influence allowed them to commission and acquire many fantastic pieces of art.

Bernini's sculpture fills the house along with many masterpieces by Caravaggio! The ceilings and walls are elaborately decorated with beauty to be found in every room.

The villa is located at the edge of the old city walls inside Villa Borghese Park.

Rome - Piazza Narvona

Bernini was a famous sculptor and artist in Rome during the Baroque Period. His famous "4 Rivers Fountain" is located in Piazza Narvona. This was the sight of the "Water" part of the Angels and Demons" movie. (based on Dan Brown's book and starring Tom Hanks)

This piazza is a lively open park that was a former circus arena lined with restaurants, performers and people strolling about. A stage was set up for a performance later that evening - it looked like a Christian "soft rock" group.

We had a lovely Italian meal in one of the sidewalk cafes!

Rome - Piazza Narvona

Bernini was a famous sculptor and artist in Rome during the Baroque Period. His famous "4 Rivers Fountain" is located in Piazza Narvona. The statue was featurered in the movie "Angels and Demons" from the Dan Brown book.

Rome - The Pantheon

The Pantheon is one of the signature buildings for Rome. Our hotel is just behind the Pantheon - so we are enjoying walking around in this area!

Slaughter of the Innocents - floor of Siena Duomo

The floor is really unbelievable - the entire floor is marble inlay with intricate designs. The floor is only uncovered during October every year. - We were there in 2003 and 2005 - and the floor was uncovered in 2005.

This scene is called the Slaughter of the Innocents from the New Testament. There are about 20 or 25 different sections of the floor with different scenes from the Bible and from the Siena history.

Inside Siena Duomo

So many beautiful aspects to the Siena Cathedral. The interior is magnifcant with a beautiful ceiling. Huge marble (striped in green and light Tuscan marble) pillars!

Also - the cathedral has a wonderful side chapel Which is the Library. The libary has beautiful frescoes but it also has the illuminated manuscripts from the Medieval times. Each page is a work of art - individually painted and illustrated. The books are huge - 3 or 4 feet tall! The room is full with beautiful displays of these books. I really love this church - it is a masterpiece in so many respects!

Siena, Italy - Duomo

Another beautiful Tuscan church - the Duomo in Siena is actually my very favorite Tuscan church. It is beautiful on the outside - like Florence's Duomo with the pink and green Tuscan marble - but when you walk inside - there is so much to see!!

Here of views of the Duomo - I took this late in the afternoon as the sun was setting. The colors just radiate in that light.