Linda and I landed at the Rome Airport at around 10:30 a.m. on Thursday 7/8/11 and took the train to the Roma Termini. Our lodgings were 4 blocks from the Termini and we found them without too much trouble. It turns out the Roma Termini is a great location, central to lots of little shops and cafe's -- and all the transportation options one needs to get around Rome.

After a good night sleep (we hit the sack at around 5 p.m.!!) we got up around 9 on Friday and set out for a day of sightseeing. After finding a neat little "super market" and getting our lunch and snacks for the day, we headed over to the Trevi Fountain. Remember "Three Coins in a Fountain" and "Roman Holiday" -- well, it's the same really cool fountain. The fountain is +500 years old, founded and built for Pope Urban in 1629 or so. Neat. The water was clear and cool -- cold actually -- and with the ambient temperature around 85-degrees, it felt really great getting wet.

We spent about an hour there, threw some coins in the fountain met a couple of neat couples from Canada and Venice California. It's easy to meet people when you offer to "take a photo for them" so they can both be in the picture. We had a great time. It was off for a walk and found a neat cafe where we enjoyed some of Rome's finest coffee!!

Then it was off to the Pantheon. Now here's a rare and beautiful building -- built I am told -- in 27 B.C.E. The tourbook we bought describes it as the largest free standing masonry dome built. Inside it lighted by a huge central opening/window in the center top of the dome. We were able to sit for a while and enjoy the cool inside.

After wondering some more, we stopped and enjoyed some "thin crust pizza" cooked Roman style and a couple of beers. We sat outside and enjoyed people-watching as well as good conversation. After, we struck out on foot and intended to walk back to the Termini -- but,good sense urged us onto a bus and we made it back in style in one of Rome's many motor-coaches.

So, we're more or less done for the day. We'll go out this evening and explore the neighborhood around the hotel and Termini, maybe visit one of the neat cafe's for a beer or gelato flavors in the street-side vendors. Tomorrow we plan to hit the Colosseo and find the one Michelangelo that it "outside the Vaitcan".

More to come........