Arreverdercci, Italy! continued

    We spent three days with cousin Alessandra, her husband, Lorenzo and their two sons, Nicola, and Pierpaolo, down in Caserta.  They just bought a house in the country, up around the hills of Caserta, which is where we slept.  Cool, fresh breeze, cherry trees, winding cliff roads and a little fishing lake.  Lorenzo took us to see the Palazio in Caserta which is equal in grandeur to Versailles, although the French might not agree.  I've only seen the outside of Versailles, but both are the size of small cities.  One day, Nic and I went to Alessandra's school, where she is an English teacher and helped quiz some of her students who are studying for an English exam.  On the day we were to leave for Rome, Alessandra made her special lasagna and eggplant parmesan and Lorenzo baked them in their outdoor brick oven fed by a wood fire.  Delicious!

Arreverdercci, Italy! continued

Vincenzo, Nicole, Lia, Nicoletta (I'm taking the picture)

     That morning, June 1st, Nicole and I visited the Colosao (Coluseum) of the gladiators; the Forum of ancient Rome where the Vestal Virgins "did their thing" and Caesar was assassinated; Palantine Hill where all the emperors resided and Circus Maximus which was like the Saratoga Springs and Kentucky Derby of yore, but instead of horses, there were chariot races.

Ciao, Italy! Arrevedercci (sp?)!

    Nic and I are sitting at the Frankfurt airport waiting for the last leg of the flight--to JFK.  I'm too lazy to go into my locker to get my Italian-English dictionary and getting a little frustrated with this German keyboard which is different than the Italian keyboard which is different than my Macbook.  So I may have misspelled "Arreverdercci!" I know I'm sounding a little whiney--or as Nic would say,"Shall I call the wambulance?"  My disposition shows me it's time to go home.
    I have nothing to complain about--we spent the last four days with the cousins and were treated royally. Nicoletta and her husband, Vincenzo drove us to the airport early this morning after cooking a four-course meal last night and giving us their bed.  Nicoletta and Vincenzo live in a spanking new modern apt. on the outskirts of Rome.  Cousin Lia joined us for the dinner.  Earlier, Nicoletta picked us up from the Caesar House on Via Cavour to show us around the Borghese Gardens.  Photos to follow