Arrivederci Roma

Early in our first look at Rome we began the day at St. Peter's Square. As we visited Castello Sant' Angelo on our last day, we walked up on the outer parapet and saw a wonderful view of the square from the high vantage point. It was a feeling of completing a circle for us. Meanwhile, we stopped in a small cafeteria for appetizers and a soft drink. The owner, on the right, visited with us for quite a while, and then our waiter, on the left came by and heard we were from the Chicago area. He was so pleased to tell us that he went to high school, not in Italy, but in Croatia. What would make that interesting to a Chicagoan? He was a high school pal of former Bulls star Toni Kukoc. Small world!

Labor Day Poster

Happy Labor Day with the wish that everyone could be so fortunate to have the family as a haven in a heartless world.

SUNDAY POSTER, 1000 POSTS

Love your neighbor as yourself. What could be a more fitting poster than this on the occasion of the 1,000th post on Rickbeatophoto. Steady production considering that 33 months ago the first post suggested that we would share this form at least, say, once per week. And now we manage to do this daily. Thanks for joining me!

Bridges Over the Tiber

Our tour guide had headed home with his family, but he had helped us plan a walking tour for Sunday that had us crossing the Tiber on four different bridges, a real chance to see some of the city . . . and to stop for appetizers and cold drinks in a quiet ristorante. The major sight to see was the huge Castello Sant' Angelo, a majestic name indeed for a huge tomb built by and for the Emperor Hadrian.

Road Back to Roma

The magical week was winding down and our bus pulled back into Rome for our goodbye dinner. A fine Saturday evening with new friends and old, thinking about all the places we had been and the things we had seen.

Fortunately for our party of four, though, the adventure was not nearly complete. We had a free day in Rome the next day followed by a long Mediterranean Cruise.

Peace

As the visitor exits the upper cathedral in Assisi, the wide green expanse of lawn with the word PAX, Peace, fills the eye. A soft and gentle place, and several depictions of Mary with the infant Jesus are seen along the walk back down toward the parking area. A stunningly beautiful place.

Assisi

The road back toward Rome and the end of the Trafalgar adventure in Italy took us into Assisi, the home of St. Francis. There are two complete cathedrals in the image above, an older one under the newer one, in an impressive display. Below the lower cathedral in a small chapel, the tomb of the saint is located. In the upper cathedral is a work of art that is also reproduced outdoors along the walkway, showing Francis being crucified together with Christ. This is a surprise to those who do not know that Francis was the first Christian to show the Stigmata, actual wounds of the hands and feet and sides in the locations where Jesus suffered. It is a rare and amazing physical effect.