From Sicily, we headed north to Rome where we met our aunts, Maureen and Doreen (who are aptly named identical twins, as well as Catholic nuns), for a 12 day Italian holiday.  Their vacation would begin in Rome.

After a touch of confusion during our airport pick-up in the late afternoon, we whisked them into the city, surprised that their excitement over seeing Rome outweighed their jet lag.  So we promptly hit the streets, walking to the ruins of Rome's Forum (the governmental, civic, and commercial center of ancient Rome) to take in a free play--a comedy based on William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar.  It was very funny and, with the Forum as backdrop, had superb scenery.  If you are in Rome this summer, you can catch this play every Friday evening at 7:30 in front of the Mammertime prison in the forum.  

We walked a lot in Rome.  Often, our walks would take us pass this monument--the Victor Emmanuel Monument.  In front of the monument was an imminently enjoyable traffic circle, nicknamed Maniac Circle by Maureen and Doreen, where cars, buses, bikes, motorcycles, pedestrians, and others would all intersect in a swirling cauldron of accidents waiting to happen.  Merely looking on, wincing often with each near miss, was entertainment enough, and a good glimpse into the chaos that Rome is often noted for.

The Pantheon is an amazing building, and its massive dome inspired countless others.  Architecturally brilliant, its interior is wonderfully preserved.  Above, to the left, is a shot of the exterior facade under a full moon, as diners enjoy street-side meals with the Pantheon serving as an elegant back-drop.  To the right is the interior, giving some small sense of its size and its brilliant dome.  Below, we find the girls looking up at the large hole in the dome of the Pantheon.  This hole was put here purposely when it was built in 27 BC by Marcus Agrippa and again when it was rebuilt by Emperor Hadrian in 120 AD.  The dome of the Pantheon is considered the most important achievement of ancient Roman architecture.  In fact, the dome was closely studied by Michelangelo when he designed the dome for St. Peter's.  

A Roman landmark are the Spanish Steps, deriving its name 300 years ago when this was the site of the Spanish Embassy.  Later, it was a place where models would hang out hoping to be discovered or hoping to pick up some work (today, it is still the site of many fashion shows).

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