Rome Redux

They say if you throw a coin into the Trevi Fountain, you will return to Rome. It was late June 1993 that Nonie tossed a lira into the Fountain.










Her she is, twenty years later, June 2013 throwing a Euro into the Trevi Fountain. What a difference 20 years of inflation makes.














My beard was darker.




















Global warming was just starting to make its presence felt.





 
 







The Collosseum was 1,.913 years old.















At 1,933 years old, it is still looking good.











20 years ago, it was hot, Africa hot, Tarzan wouldn't like it that hot. The boys were getting grumpy as we arrived to the Spanish Steps. Perhaps too many historical sites. Just next to the Stairs we found a McDonalds. It was filled with pseudo ancient Roman artifacts that completely took our breath away. That and the ridiculous price for a cheeseburger and fries. We bit the burger, fed the boys and the day was saved.


 

The Steps are still there and McDonalds is still saving the day. This day was wet, cold. Antarctica cold, penguins wouldn't like it that cold. Cue "You Deserve a Break Today". Pan the camera over to three wet and cold tourists huddled over cups of  steaming hot McCoffee,  digging in to a rich chocolate McMuffin and taking advantage of the shiny clean McToilets. The prices are still ridiculous but location, location, location.

Thanks to the kindness of Nonie's Italian branch of the family, we were able to enjoy a day on our own, while the kids roamed Rome with their cousin Antoinetta. We spent the day exploring the Forum, the downtown of ancient Rome where some of the ruins date back to the 7th Century BC.














Does my butt look too big?

Twenty years, later, a leaner and meaner Brett and Nonie. Yeah, and the Forum still looks good too.












Twenty years ago, we had to visit the Vatican twice. Seems shorts are verboten and we were not allowed into to the Sistine Chapel. No shirt, no pants, no service. We came back appropriately dressed and were not disappointed.

It was a hot day at the Vatican, with no air conditioning. Most of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel was hidden behind scaffolding as it was undergoing extensive restoration.  Worse of all, the Vatican did not have a McDonalds.

Twenty years later, a new Pope and they still won't let you into the Sistine Chapel with out pants. Admission fees are biblical in price but the air conditioning was worth the price.  Best of all, the ceiling of the Chapel was free of any obstructions. To call it stunning would be an understatement. Sadly, no photos allowed and still no McDonalds.

Meet the de Lucia girls, the Italian and Canadian branches.







Still looking good after 20 years.

Twenty years ago, we visited Europe on a shoe string. Feeding and housing two teenage boys was a daily challenge.

Twenty years later, still on a shoe string, found us switching our daily libation from cheap Sangria to cheap Italian red,  bought from a back street convenience store.  They pull the cork, throw it away and provide you with plastic glasses to enjoy the wine while perching on a 500 year old fountain with the young of Rome laughing at the old tourists squirming around trying to get comfortable.