Woke at round 7:30 Am and went out for breakfast of cappuccino and rolls. We checked out of the hotel by 10 AM and stopped at a COOP in Siena which was the first real supermarket I had seen in Italy. The market had a very good selection of everything and seemed reasonably priced. We continued our road trip and made our way north to Florence stopping occasionally to take photos. We stopped just outside of Florence for gas and got 32.7 Liters for 49,000 Lire (1,490 Lire/Liter). We arrived in Florence without even realizing it, but it soon became apparent because of the smog and number of cars and scooters. We studied the map and oriented ourselves and began the ordeal of looking for a place to spend the night. We finally found a place along the south side of the Arno River just east of Ponte Vecchio named Hotel San Remo (120,000 Lire). We unpacked our things and I managed to find a place to park the car (no small feat). We then walked to the Ponte Vecchio and found an American Express office where I was able to exchange $600 for 804,000 Lire (1,340 Lire/$) We crossed the Ponte Vecchio bridge to the Florence Duomo, and Uffizi Gallery . Florence is a shopper’s paradise and things were busy. We returned to the hotel and had wine, cheese and bread for dinner and watched a little Italian T.V. which consisted of a lot of dubbed American shows and silly game shows.
Monday, November 30, 1992
Italy - Denmark Trip - Day 32
Monday November 30, 1992 – Siena, Italy
Woke at round 7:30 Am and went out for breakfast of cappuccino and rolls. We checked out of the hotel by 10 AM and stopped at a COOP in Siena which was the first real supermarket I had seen in Italy. The market had a very good selection of everything and seemed reasonably priced. We continued our road trip and made our way north to Florence stopping occasionally to take photos. We stopped just outside of Florence for gas and got 32.7 Liters for 49,000 Lire (1,490 Lire/Liter). We arrived in Florence without even realizing it, but it soon became apparent because of the smog and number of cars and scooters. We studied the map and oriented ourselves and began the ordeal of looking for a place to spend the night. We finally found a place along the south side of the Arno River just east of Ponte Vecchio named Hotel San Remo (120,000 Lire). We unpacked our things and I managed to find a place to park the car (no small feat). We then walked to the Ponte Vecchio and found an American Express office where I was able to exchange $600 for 804,000 Lire (1,340 Lire/$) We crossed the Ponte Vecchio bridge to the Florence Duomo, and Uffizi Gallery . Florence is a shopper’s paradise and things were busy. We returned to the hotel and had wine, cheese and bread for dinner and watched a little Italian T.V. which consisted of a lot of dubbed American shows and silly game shows.
Woke at round 7:30 Am and went out for breakfast of cappuccino and rolls. We checked out of the hotel by 10 AM and stopped at a COOP in Siena which was the first real supermarket I had seen in Italy. The market had a very good selection of everything and seemed reasonably priced. We continued our road trip and made our way north to Florence stopping occasionally to take photos. We stopped just outside of Florence for gas and got 32.7 Liters for 49,000 Lire (1,490 Lire/Liter). We arrived in Florence without even realizing it, but it soon became apparent because of the smog and number of cars and scooters. We studied the map and oriented ourselves and began the ordeal of looking for a place to spend the night. We finally found a place along the south side of the Arno River just east of Ponte Vecchio named Hotel San Remo (120,000 Lire). We unpacked our things and I managed to find a place to park the car (no small feat). We then walked to the Ponte Vecchio and found an American Express office where I was able to exchange $600 for 804,000 Lire (1,340 Lire/$) We crossed the Ponte Vecchio bridge to the Florence Duomo, and Uffizi Gallery . Florence is a shopper’s paradise and things were busy. We returned to the hotel and had wine, cheese and bread for dinner and watched a little Italian T.V. which consisted of a lot of dubbed American shows and silly game shows.
Sunday, November 29, 1992
Italy - Denmark Trip - Day 31
Sunday November 29, 1992 – Rome, Italy
Had breakfast and checked out of Hotel San Anselmo around 10 AM. Drove around Rome and checked out some areas we hadn’t seen. We eventually left Rome around 11:30 AM. While driving on the autostrade, we averaged around 110 – 120 Km Per Hour (62 – 80 MPH) but cars (usually BMW, Mercedes, Alfa Romeo) still passed us like we were standing still. I usually drove in the slow lane because whenever I was in the fast lane, cars would come up behind and flash their lights signaling to get out of the way. We stopped in Orvieto which is a small, picturesque town up on a hill. The town had a beautiful cathedral which, unfortunately was closed. We continued our road trip and stopped at one of many Autogrills that occur along the highway. These appear to be Italy’s version of the gas, fast food and mini mart highway stops in America. We had a cappuccino and pane con ova and prosciutto (bread with egg and ham). We left the Autogrill and arrived in Siena at around 2:30 PM. We drove around for a while until we found a hotel Carol had read about in a travel book called “Casa del Pellegrino”. The hotel was an old monastery run by nuns and had the most amazing view of Siena and the Duomo (Cathedral) up on a hill. Cost was 60,000 Lire and there was a curfew of 11 PM. We drove to the Duomo which ended up being one of the highlights of the trip. The roads were incredibly narrow and winding with all sorts of obstacles, and I was surprised how close we were able to get to the Duomo. We returned to the hotel and decided to get something to eat and explore the city some more. We found a Pizzeria which was very good. I had Quattro Stagioni Pizza and Carol had Lasagna (26,000 Lire). We then walked back to the Duomo and found it was much easier to get there on foot. The outside of the Duomo was amazing with black and white marble. The inside of the Duomo was also very amazing but the carvings of the faces of priests staring down from the ceiling was a bit disconcerting. We walked to the Piazza del Campo which was a huge open plaza where people congregate and celebrate different occasions such as the Palio di Siena (horse race). We hung out on the piazza and eventually walked back to the hotel. Later, I took some night photos of the Duomo.
Had breakfast and checked out of Hotel San Anselmo around 10 AM. Drove around Rome and checked out some areas we hadn’t seen. We eventually left Rome around 11:30 AM. While driving on the autostrade, we averaged around 110 – 120 Km Per Hour (62 – 80 MPH) but cars (usually BMW, Mercedes, Alfa Romeo) still passed us like we were standing still. I usually drove in the slow lane because whenever I was in the fast lane, cars would come up behind and flash their lights signaling to get out of the way. We stopped in Orvieto which is a small, picturesque town up on a hill. The town had a beautiful cathedral which, unfortunately was closed. We continued our road trip and stopped at one of many Autogrills that occur along the highway. These appear to be Italy’s version of the gas, fast food and mini mart highway stops in America. We had a cappuccino and pane con ova and prosciutto (bread with egg and ham). We left the Autogrill and arrived in Siena at around 2:30 PM. We drove around for a while until we found a hotel Carol had read about in a travel book called “Casa del Pellegrino”. The hotel was an old monastery run by nuns and had the most amazing view of Siena and the Duomo (Cathedral) up on a hill. Cost was 60,000 Lire and there was a curfew of 11 PM. We drove to the Duomo which ended up being one of the highlights of the trip. The roads were incredibly narrow and winding with all sorts of obstacles, and I was surprised how close we were able to get to the Duomo. We returned to the hotel and decided to get something to eat and explore the city some more. We found a Pizzeria which was very good. I had Quattro Stagioni Pizza and Carol had Lasagna (26,000 Lire). We then walked back to the Duomo and found it was much easier to get there on foot. The outside of the Duomo was amazing with black and white marble. The inside of the Duomo was also very amazing but the carvings of the faces of priests staring down from the ceiling was a bit disconcerting. We walked to the Piazza del Campo which was a huge open plaza where people congregate and celebrate different occasions such as the Palio di Siena (horse race). We hung out on the piazza and eventually walked back to the hotel. Later, I took some night photos of the Duomo.
Saturday, November 28, 1992
Italy - Denmark Trip - Day 30
Saturday November 28, 1992 – Rome, Italy
Woke early and went down to the hotel dining room and had our free breakfast of cappuccino and rolls. We then took the Metro to Via Veneto to pickup our rental car. I had mixed feelings about driving in Rome, but I was glad we wouldn’t have to depend on public transportation anymore. We had reserved a Fiat Panda, but they didn’t have one. So, they upgraded us to a bright red Peugeot. We left the car rental office at around 12 noon and remarkably made it back to the hotel without a problem. We then decided to take a drive towards the coast and see how far we could get. We made it as far as the port of Anzio which was a very picturesque fishing town. We found a small store where we bought some crackers and cheese and had a little picnic. We then left Anzio around 4 PM and made it back to the hotel around 6:30 PM. After resting a bit, we decided to go out for dinner to a restaurant I knew near the F.A.O building. I had the bucatini amatriciana, Carol had ravioli, and we both shared some antipasto and a half liter of vino bianco
Woke early and went down to the hotel dining room and had our free breakfast of cappuccino and rolls. We then took the Metro to Via Veneto to pickup our rental car. I had mixed feelings about driving in Rome, but I was glad we wouldn’t have to depend on public transportation anymore. We had reserved a Fiat Panda, but they didn’t have one. So, they upgraded us to a bright red Peugeot. We left the car rental office at around 12 noon and remarkably made it back to the hotel without a problem. We then decided to take a drive towards the coast and see how far we could get. We made it as far as the port of Anzio which was a very picturesque fishing town. We found a small store where we bought some crackers and cheese and had a little picnic. We then left Anzio around 4 PM and made it back to the hotel around 6:30 PM. After resting a bit, we decided to go out for dinner to a restaurant I knew near the F.A.O building. I had the bucatini amatriciana, Carol had ravioli, and we both shared some antipasto and a half liter of vino bianco
Friday, November 27, 1992
Italy - Denmark Trip - Day 29
Friday November 27, 1992 – Rome, Italy
Woke at around 8 AM and went down to the hotel dining room where Carol and I had a cappuccino, bread, and cheese for breakfast. We went to take the Metro to the Vatican but discovered it was closed because there was a strike! So, we managed to squeeze onto bus 27 to the termini and from there, we took Line A of the Metro (which for some reason was running) to the Vatican. We spent most of the day exploring the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and Saint Peters Basilica. We then walked to Piazza Navona, past the Pantheon, and got gelato at a little gelateria near the Trevi Fountain. We had heard the Trevi Fountain myth that if you throw a coin into the fountain, you will return to Rome. So, we each threw a coin into the fountain. We then walked to the Spanish Steps where we hung out and for a while. We were going to take the Metro Line A from there, but it was now closed. So, we walked to Via del Corso to catch a bus (Bus 90?) to Piazza Venezia and then Bus 57 to Hotel San Anselmo. Carol was impressed at how well I could get around Rome using public transportation which made me realize I probably knew how to get around Rome better than Los Angeles! After we got back to the hotel, we decided to go to a Pizzeria I had been to several times before. This was Carol’s first taste of an authentic Italian Pizza and she immediately fell in love with the Pizza Margherita.
Thursday, November 26, 1992
Italy - Denmark Trip - Day 28
Thursday November 26, 1992 – Rome, Italy
I left for the airport around 7 AM and took the train to the Fiumicino Airport. The train ride took about 45 minutes and I arrived around 8 AM. Carols’ plane wasn’t supposed to arrive until 8:30 AM. So, I decided to get a cappuccino. Carol finally arrived around 9 AM and we took the train back to the Ostiense station. Since the walk to the Hotel San Anselmo wasn’t far, and I didn’t feel like negotiating with taxi drivers, we walked to the hotel (me carrying the bags, etc.). After Carol got settled, we went to a local restaurant where we got a cappuccino and a very tasty eggplant antipasto dish. From there we took the metro to the Vatican where Carol got her first look at Saint Peters Basilica. We then walked to Piazza Navona and got drinks at Tre Scalini while sitting outside. Carol’s feet were bothering her (new shoes). So, we took a bus back to the Hotel San Anselmo. Back at the hotel, we both decided we were hungry for “munchy” food. So, I walked down to the local market and bought some cheese, crackers, and drinks which ended up being our Thanksgiving dinner
Wednesday, November 25, 1992
Italy - Denmark Trip - Day 27
Wednesday November 25, 1992 – Rome, Italy
Today was my last day at work so I had to clean up my work area and wrap things up. At 9 AM I went over to the remote sensing building with Don, Paul, Hank and Ciska to listen to a talk by Dr. Grud?? about using computer classified Landsat data to detect changes in vegetation. He went through a bunch of overheads that were very difficult to read and gave a long discussion on the mathematical process used to calibrate the images and classify them using a vegetation map that was manually interpreted. He was somewhat critical of the Forest Resource Assessment Project’s method of having countries manually interpret images which he felt was too labor intensive and time consuming. It seemed a bit ironic however that his method used a manually interpreted vegetation map to classify his Landsat imagery. He advocated putting a computer in each country for them to use with an image processing program to classify and map their forests and agricultural lands. Unfortunately, at this time, it didn’t seem like most countries would have the ability to support that type of technology. Anyway, Carol will arrive tomorrow, and I was trying to figure out how I would take the train to the airport and bring her back to the hotel. I was looking forward to seeing her again and hoped all goes well for her trip and our upcoming trip to Denmark. Later, I went to dinner to a restaurant near the Colosseum with Don and Ron. Ron thought he knew a good restaurant but when we got there, it was closed. So, we had to find another place. The place we chose ended up being not very good. So, we left disappointed and went to the Hotel Lancelot where Ron and I had a drink and said goodbye.
Today was my last day at work so I had to clean up my work area and wrap things up. At 9 AM I went over to the remote sensing building with Don, Paul, Hank and Ciska to listen to a talk by Dr. Grud?? about using computer classified Landsat data to detect changes in vegetation. He went through a bunch of overheads that were very difficult to read and gave a long discussion on the mathematical process used to calibrate the images and classify them using a vegetation map that was manually interpreted. He was somewhat critical of the Forest Resource Assessment Project’s method of having countries manually interpret images which he felt was too labor intensive and time consuming. It seemed a bit ironic however that his method used a manually interpreted vegetation map to classify his Landsat imagery. He advocated putting a computer in each country for them to use with an image processing program to classify and map their forests and agricultural lands. Unfortunately, at this time, it didn’t seem like most countries would have the ability to support that type of technology. Anyway, Carol will arrive tomorrow, and I was trying to figure out how I would take the train to the airport and bring her back to the hotel. I was looking forward to seeing her again and hoped all goes well for her trip and our upcoming trip to Denmark. Later, I went to dinner to a restaurant near the Colosseum with Don and Ron. Ron thought he knew a good restaurant but when we got there, it was closed. So, we had to find another place. The place we chose ended up being not very good. So, we left disappointed and went to the Hotel Lancelot where Ron and I had a drink and said goodbye.
Tuesday, November 24, 1992
Italy - Denmark Trip - Day 26
Tuesday November 24, 1992 – Rome, Italy
Started to wrap things up at work. Met with K.D. later to talk about my experience working on the project, etc. He asked me to write a letter and give it to Pauline requesting me to work an additional 2-3 weeks on FORIS when I get back to the U.S. I wrote the letter and gave it to Pauline to edit but was unsure about committing the time needed to work on FORIS. I felt it could take a lot longer but was willing. Don and I went to dinner at the Rome Termini and I was again surprised at how good (and cheap) it was. After about 1 ½ carafe of vino rosa, we each staggered out looking for a theater he’d seen the night before that he said looked “very interesting”. After walking in circles, we finally found the theater called “Teatro Sexy”. We each paid the 10,000 Lire and went in, apparently towards the middle of a live performance which was indeed, “very interesting”.
Started to wrap things up at work. Met with K.D. later to talk about my experience working on the project, etc. He asked me to write a letter and give it to Pauline requesting me to work an additional 2-3 weeks on FORIS when I get back to the U.S. I wrote the letter and gave it to Pauline to edit but was unsure about committing the time needed to work on FORIS. I felt it could take a lot longer but was willing. Don and I went to dinner at the Rome Termini and I was again surprised at how good (and cheap) it was. After about 1 ½ carafe of vino rosa, we each staggered out looking for a theater he’d seen the night before that he said looked “very interesting”. After walking in circles, we finally found the theater called “Teatro Sexy”. We each paid the 10,000 Lire and went in, apparently towards the middle of a live performance which was indeed, “very interesting”.
Monday, November 23, 1992
Italy - Denmark Trip - Day 25
Monday November 23, 1992 – Rome, Italy
Today was uneventful and I was starting to get anxious to leave. I copied the entire FORIS database onto 2.5 inch floppy disks to take home and possibly work on. Went to lunch with Don, Ron and Pauline to the F.A.O. cafeteria. Later Don and I went to the “F” building to talk with a couple people. We talked with Mr. Latham who explained the project they’re doing in Afghanistan mapping land use and agriculture areas using manually interpreted Landsat imagery. After work, I went to the Hotel Lancelot with Ron and had a couple beers. Later, I went by myself to a local Pizzeria and had a pizza capricciosa (“clean the fridge”) and vino.
Today was uneventful and I was starting to get anxious to leave. I copied the entire FORIS database onto 2.5 inch floppy disks to take home and possibly work on. Went to lunch with Don, Ron and Pauline to the F.A.O. cafeteria. Later Don and I went to the “F” building to talk with a couple people. We talked with Mr. Latham who explained the project they’re doing in Afghanistan mapping land use and agriculture areas using manually interpreted Landsat imagery. After work, I went to the Hotel Lancelot with Ron and had a couple beers. Later, I went by myself to a local Pizzeria and had a pizza capricciosa (“clean the fridge”) and vino.
Sunday, November 22, 1992
Italy - Denmark Trip - Day 24
Sunday November 22, 1992 – Rome, Italy
Woke up at 8:30 AM and had breakfast in the hotel dining room. I went back to my room and called Carol around 9:30 AM (6:30 PM Pacific Time) and confirmed she would arrive in Rome on Thursday at 8:30 AM. I went to work at 10:30 AM where I met with K.D. who had just returned from Brazil. I ended up talking with K.D., Don, Paul, and Ron until about 3 PM which just about killed the day. Don and I went to the Basilica of Saint Paul which is one of Rome’s four major papal basilicas. The basilica was very impressive. We left and agreed to meet for dinner at his hotel at 6 PM. I ended up getting lost trying to find his hotel and didn’t arrive until 6:30 PM. We had dinner at the cafeteria at the Rome Termini which was much better than I expected. After dinner, we walked to Trevi Fountain, Pantheon and Piazza Navona (Don’s 1st visit and my 5th visit). I got back to the Rome Termini at around 9:30 PM and found out the B line was closed! Since I didn’t care to walk, I tried to find a bus but couldn’t figure out which bus to take. Finally, after going in circles for about 20 minutes, I determined I needed to take bus 27. When the bus finally arrived, it was packed, and I got crushed in the middle of the bus with no hope of getting off. I still wasn’t sure I was on the right bus but eventually the bus had thinned out enough for me to get off and I was relieved to see I was close to Hotel San Anselmo.
Woke up at 8:30 AM and had breakfast in the hotel dining room. I went back to my room and called Carol around 9:30 AM (6:30 PM Pacific Time) and confirmed she would arrive in Rome on Thursday at 8:30 AM. I went to work at 10:30 AM where I met with K.D. who had just returned from Brazil. I ended up talking with K.D., Don, Paul, and Ron until about 3 PM which just about killed the day. Don and I went to the Basilica of Saint Paul which is one of Rome’s four major papal basilicas. The basilica was very impressive. We left and agreed to meet for dinner at his hotel at 6 PM. I ended up getting lost trying to find his hotel and didn’t arrive until 6:30 PM. We had dinner at the cafeteria at the Rome Termini which was much better than I expected. After dinner, we walked to Trevi Fountain, Pantheon and Piazza Navona (Don’s 1st visit and my 5th visit). I got back to the Rome Termini at around 9:30 PM and found out the B line was closed! Since I didn’t care to walk, I tried to find a bus but couldn’t figure out which bus to take. Finally, after going in circles for about 20 minutes, I determined I needed to take bus 27. When the bus finally arrived, it was packed, and I got crushed in the middle of the bus with no hope of getting off. I still wasn’t sure I was on the right bus but eventually the bus had thinned out enough for me to get off and I was relieved to see I was close to Hotel San Anselmo.
Saturday, November 21, 1992
Italy - Denmark Trip - Day 23
Saturday November 21, 1992 – Rome, Italy
Don and I had agreed to go to Ostia Antica today but we forgot to exchange phone numbers. So, I went through the yellow pages phone book and called the Best Western Hotel near the Rome Termini hoping that was the hotel where Don was staying. I agreed to meet him at his hotel in a half hour. We took the Metro to the train station where we took a train to Ostia Antica. The trip took about 45 minutes, and we spent a few hours looking at the old Roman ruins. The ruins were impressive, especially the tile work. We took the train back to Rome and then decided to take a 50-minute bus ride to Tivoli to check out the famous gardens and fountains. We arrived in Tivoli but were unable to find information on where to go. So, we found a woman who spoke English and asked where the gardens and fountains were located. The woman told us where to go but added they closed at noon! We were very disappointed and decided we should high-tail it back to Rome. We made it back to Rome around 6:30 PM and decided to find a restaurant. However, much to our dismay, nothing was open until 7:30 PM. So, we headed to the Rome Termini thinking by the time we got there, we could find an open restaurant. We found a little Italian restaurant where I had spaghetti and vino. Spaghetti was good and the vino hit the spot.
Don and I had agreed to go to Ostia Antica today but we forgot to exchange phone numbers. So, I went through the yellow pages phone book and called the Best Western Hotel near the Rome Termini hoping that was the hotel where Don was staying. I agreed to meet him at his hotel in a half hour. We took the Metro to the train station where we took a train to Ostia Antica. The trip took about 45 minutes, and we spent a few hours looking at the old Roman ruins. The ruins were impressive, especially the tile work. We took the train back to Rome and then decided to take a 50-minute bus ride to Tivoli to check out the famous gardens and fountains. We arrived in Tivoli but were unable to find information on where to go. So, we found a woman who spoke English and asked where the gardens and fountains were located. The woman told us where to go but added they closed at noon! We were very disappointed and decided we should high-tail it back to Rome. We made it back to Rome around 6:30 PM and decided to find a restaurant. However, much to our dismay, nothing was open until 7:30 PM. So, we headed to the Rome Termini thinking by the time we got there, we could find an open restaurant. We found a little Italian restaurant where I had spaghetti and vino. Spaghetti was good and the vino hit the spot.
Friday, November 20, 1992
Italy - Denmark Trip - Day 22
Friday November 20, 1992 – Rome, Italy
I met Don on the shuttle bus, and we rode to the FAO building together. He had never been to Europe and was a little overwhelmed with the language gap and everything else. I had arranged a meeting with Klaus Janz who is K.D.’s counterpart in the “F” building. The meeting went O.K. and Klaus gave us a little background on the project. I had asked him to arrange a meeting with the head GIS person in the main FAO building, Mr. Ataman. Klaus setup a meeting for next Tuesday which, unfortunately wasn’t soon enough. Don and I were getting anxious about getting going so we decided to go over on our own today unannounced. This didn’t go over well with others in the office and everyone started scrambling to try an contact Mr. Ataman to let him know we were coming over. We missed the 2:30 PM bus so we decided to visit the “F” building GIS and remote sensing lab. We ended up talking to just about everyone in the lab in an impromptu meeting of four other people beside Don and myself. I was impressed with how genuinely interested they seemed in helping us. We caught the 3:30 PM bus to the main FAO building for a 4 PM meeting with Mr. Ataman. This meeting also went well, and Mr. Ataman was very supportive. We left around 5 PM with the agreement that we would return Tuesday at 2:30 PM. Don and I met later around 7 PM and went to the Hotel Lancelot for dinner with Ron Groves. The dinner was excellent and cost 25,000 LIRE which included all the wine you could drink! The menu at the Hotel Lancelot had only one choice. There were six people seated at my table including Don and Ron, a couple on vacation, and a woman who was a professor of communication. The conversation ranged from politics, religion to the Consent Decree that the U.S. Forest Service Region 5 was now under. The Consent Decree was basically a court order requiring the U.S. Forest Service Region 5 to hire more woman. Being that I’m a male, this was a bit of a sore issue for me since it blatantly discriminated against males. However, I was surprised that it also offended the woman on vacation. I left with Don and the professor and found out the Metro wasn’t running. So, I tried to find a bus but ended up walking back to Hotel San Anselmo.
I met Don on the shuttle bus, and we rode to the FAO building together. He had never been to Europe and was a little overwhelmed with the language gap and everything else. I had arranged a meeting with Klaus Janz who is K.D.’s counterpart in the “F” building. The meeting went O.K. and Klaus gave us a little background on the project. I had asked him to arrange a meeting with the head GIS person in the main FAO building, Mr. Ataman. Klaus setup a meeting for next Tuesday which, unfortunately wasn’t soon enough. Don and I were getting anxious about getting going so we decided to go over on our own today unannounced. This didn’t go over well with others in the office and everyone started scrambling to try an contact Mr. Ataman to let him know we were coming over. We missed the 2:30 PM bus so we decided to visit the “F” building GIS and remote sensing lab. We ended up talking to just about everyone in the lab in an impromptu meeting of four other people beside Don and myself. I was impressed with how genuinely interested they seemed in helping us. We caught the 3:30 PM bus to the main FAO building for a 4 PM meeting with Mr. Ataman. This meeting also went well, and Mr. Ataman was very supportive. We left around 5 PM with the agreement that we would return Tuesday at 2:30 PM. Don and I met later around 7 PM and went to the Hotel Lancelot for dinner with Ron Groves. The dinner was excellent and cost 25,000 LIRE which included all the wine you could drink! The menu at the Hotel Lancelot had only one choice. There were six people seated at my table including Don and Ron, a couple on vacation, and a woman who was a professor of communication. The conversation ranged from politics, religion to the Consent Decree that the U.S. Forest Service Region 5 was now under. The Consent Decree was basically a court order requiring the U.S. Forest Service Region 5 to hire more woman. Being that I’m a male, this was a bit of a sore issue for me since it blatantly discriminated against males. However, I was surprised that it also offended the woman on vacation. I left with Don and the professor and found out the Metro wasn’t running. So, I tried to find a bus but ended up walking back to Hotel San Anselmo.
Thursday, November 19, 1992
Italy - Denmark Trip - Day 21
Thursday November 19, 1992 – Rome, Italy
Had my usual breakfast and went to work. Don Norris arrived today at about 9 AM wide-eyed and worried about what was expected of him. It was somehow reassuring that he was worried but I did my best to calm him and introduce him to people in the office. After that, I took him over to the local bar and introduced him to Italian coffee. He wasn’t a coffee drinker but liked the cappuccino he had. After that, I briefed him on what I had been doing and what he was supposed to do. I got George to give us a demo of their GIS and by that time he was ready to leave since he hadn’t quite adjusted to the time change, etc. Don went back to his hotel at about 2 PM and I spent the rest of the day working on a review of FORIS, etc.
Had my usual breakfast and went to work. Don Norris arrived today at about 9 AM wide-eyed and worried about what was expected of him. It was somehow reassuring that he was worried but I did my best to calm him and introduce him to people in the office. After that, I took him over to the local bar and introduced him to Italian coffee. He wasn’t a coffee drinker but liked the cappuccino he had. After that, I briefed him on what I had been doing and what he was supposed to do. I got George to give us a demo of their GIS and by that time he was ready to leave since he hadn’t quite adjusted to the time change, etc. Don went back to his hotel at about 2 PM and I spent the rest of the day working on a review of FORIS, etc.
Wednesday, November 18, 1992
Italy - Denmark Trip - Day 20
Wednesday November 18, 1992 – Rome, Italy
I had a bit of a hangover in the morning. So, I decided to skip breakfast and slept in an extra ½ hour. Work was uneventful. I had lunch with Ron and later around 4 PM went down to the Golden Bar with Paul, Hank, and Ciska and had a birra (beer). Mel called earlier in the day to tell me when he checked out from his hotel, his phone bill came to 401,000 Lire ($300)! He said he had made 2 calls to the U.S. at 36 minutes and 40 minutes each and didn’t realize how much it cost to call the U.S. That made me worry about my bill. Thankfully though, I had only made 3 calls of about 5 minutes each. So, I wasn’t too worried. I went back to the hotel and crashed.
I had a bit of a hangover in the morning. So, I decided to skip breakfast and slept in an extra ½ hour. Work was uneventful. I had lunch with Ron and later around 4 PM went down to the Golden Bar with Paul, Hank, and Ciska and had a birra (beer). Mel called earlier in the day to tell me when he checked out from his hotel, his phone bill came to 401,000 Lire ($300)! He said he had made 2 calls to the U.S. at 36 minutes and 40 minutes each and didn’t realize how much it cost to call the U.S. That made me worry about my bill. Thankfully though, I had only made 3 calls of about 5 minutes each. So, I wasn’t too worried. I went back to the hotel and crashed.
Tuesday, November 17, 1992
Italy - Denmark Trip - Day 19
Tuesday November 17, 1992 – Rome, Italy
Met Mel for breakfast. Today was his last day at work so most of us went to a small restaurant down the street. I had spaghetti with tomato sauce which was O.K. but not like I would have expected from an Italian restaurant in Italy. After work, Mel and I stopped at a bar and ran into a guy Mel had met over the weekend. The guy was your classic loud mouthed American and seemed a little shady. We all had a couple rounds and Mel’s friend entertained us with his stories. Another guy came by who was friends with the loud guy and this guy was almost as loud. So, things started picking up. Turned out the other guy was married to the woman whose family owned the Hotel San Anselmo so I learned some interesting things about the hotel. Eventually Mel and I decided to leave and go get dinner. The first guy told the second guy to “set us up” with a restaurant that was supposed to be really good. They recommended a dish called Bucatini all’Amatriciana. The bucatini was like fat spaghetti with holes and the Amatricana is one of the best known pasta sauces in Italy. It was excellent and for the second plate, we had scampi which is a type of lobster and was also very good. Our waiter brought out a bottle of very potent liqueur which I drank way too much of. So, by the time we left, we were both feeling pretty good and hoping we could walk without falling on our faces. The bill came to 98,000 Lire which was another record for me. We split the bill and wobbled back to our hotels in the rain.
Met Mel for breakfast. Today was his last day at work so most of us went to a small restaurant down the street. I had spaghetti with tomato sauce which was O.K. but not like I would have expected from an Italian restaurant in Italy. After work, Mel and I stopped at a bar and ran into a guy Mel had met over the weekend. The guy was your classic loud mouthed American and seemed a little shady. We all had a couple rounds and Mel’s friend entertained us with his stories. Another guy came by who was friends with the loud guy and this guy was almost as loud. So, things started picking up. Turned out the other guy was married to the woman whose family owned the Hotel San Anselmo so I learned some interesting things about the hotel. Eventually Mel and I decided to leave and go get dinner. The first guy told the second guy to “set us up” with a restaurant that was supposed to be really good. They recommended a dish called Bucatini all’Amatriciana. The bucatini was like fat spaghetti with holes and the Amatricana is one of the best known pasta sauces in Italy. It was excellent and for the second plate, we had scampi which is a type of lobster and was also very good. Our waiter brought out a bottle of very potent liqueur which I drank way too much of. So, by the time we left, we were both feeling pretty good and hoping we could walk without falling on our faces. The bill came to 98,000 Lire which was another record for me. We split the bill and wobbled back to our hotels in the rain.
Monday, November 16, 1992
Italy - Denmark Trip - Day 18
Monday November 16, 1992 – Rome, Italy Woke up at 6:45 AM and had my usual cappuccino and rolls. I hadn’t gotten tired of the cappuccino, but the rolls were getting a little old. Then went to work and spent the day working on the FORIS database. Mel was gone and was supposed to leave for Australia on Wednesday. I had lunch with Ron and met some other FAO people. Left work and got back to the hotel at about 6 PM and decided to go see the movie White Sands with Mickey Rourke, William Defoe, Samuel Jackson, and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio. I liked the movie and would probably give it a 7 out of 10.
Sunday, November 15, 1992
Italy - Denmark Trip - Day 17
Sunday November 15, 1992 – Rome, Italy
Woke up at 8 AM and had a cappuccino and rolls. I tried calling Mel, but he was gone. I decided to go to the Capitoline Museums on Capitoline Hill, (one of the 7 hills in Rome). The museums were full of paintings by Titian, Rubens, Velazquez, Caravaggio, and others I remembered studying in art history. One museum was full of some interesting sculptures. One of the sculptures was of the Capitoline Wolf which is the symbol of Rome and can be seen in pictures, logos, etc. everywhere in Rome. I tried to do some more shopping, but everything was closed. So, I went back to the hotel and wrote some postcards and updated my journal. Around noon, I called Carol in McKinleyville where it was 9 PM. All was well with Carol, and it was good to hear a familiar voice. Later, I decided to go get some Chinese food at a restaurant down the street. I got there at around 5 PM and was surprised to find out they didn’t open until 7:30 PM. Apparently Italians eat dinner later than people do in the U.S. I walked around a bit and stopped at a tobacco store and bar and bought some stamps. I then returned to the Chinese restaurant and was happy to see they were open. I had a spicy chicken dish with rice and a half bottle of red wine. It was great and really hit the spot. I think I had been craving spicy food.
Woke up at 8 AM and had a cappuccino and rolls. I tried calling Mel, but he was gone. I decided to go to the Capitoline Museums on Capitoline Hill, (one of the 7 hills in Rome). The museums were full of paintings by Titian, Rubens, Velazquez, Caravaggio, and others I remembered studying in art history. One museum was full of some interesting sculptures. One of the sculptures was of the Capitoline Wolf which is the symbol of Rome and can be seen in pictures, logos, etc. everywhere in Rome. I tried to do some more shopping, but everything was closed. So, I went back to the hotel and wrote some postcards and updated my journal. Around noon, I called Carol in McKinleyville where it was 9 PM. All was well with Carol, and it was good to hear a familiar voice. Later, I decided to go get some Chinese food at a restaurant down the street. I got there at around 5 PM and was surprised to find out they didn’t open until 7:30 PM. Apparently Italians eat dinner later than people do in the U.S. I walked around a bit and stopped at a tobacco store and bar and bought some stamps. I then returned to the Chinese restaurant and was happy to see they were open. I had a spicy chicken dish with rice and a half bottle of red wine. It was great and really hit the spot. I think I had been craving spicy food.
Saturday, November 14, 1992
Italy - Denmark Trip - Day 16
Saturday November 14. 1992 – Rome, Italy
Woke up at about 8 AM and went down for a cappuccino and rolls. It was a beautiful day, probably the sunniest yet but a little cool. I wrote some postcards and decided to take them to the Vatican to mail. I also wanted to do some shopping in the Via Condotti area for gifts to take home. Tried to visit the Castel Sant’Angelo but discovered it closed at 12 Noon on Saturdays. Went to the train station at the Rome Train Termini to check prices to Florence. It appeared it would cost between 22,000-30,000 Lire for a second-class ticket to Florence. Had lunch at McDonalds of all places just to see how their hamburgers compared to U.S. Surprisingly, they tasted the same. A Big Mac cost 4,500 Lire, and ketchup cost 300 Lire per packet. The place was packed with kids and appeared to be a regular hang out for young kids.
Woke up at about 8 AM and went down for a cappuccino and rolls. It was a beautiful day, probably the sunniest yet but a little cool. I wrote some postcards and decided to take them to the Vatican to mail. I also wanted to do some shopping in the Via Condotti area for gifts to take home. Tried to visit the Castel Sant’Angelo but discovered it closed at 12 Noon on Saturdays. Went to the train station at the Rome Train Termini to check prices to Florence. It appeared it would cost between 22,000-30,000 Lire for a second-class ticket to Florence. Had lunch at McDonalds of all places just to see how their hamburgers compared to U.S. Surprisingly, they tasted the same. A Big Mac cost 4,500 Lire, and ketchup cost 300 Lire per packet. The place was packed with kids and appeared to be a regular hang out for young kids.
Friday, November 13, 1992
Italy - Denmark Trip - Day 15
Friday November 13, 1992 – Rome, Italy
I was feeling like I was getting a cold and hoping it wouldn’t amount to much. I went to work on the 8 AM shuttle bus and arrived before anyone else (most don’t arrive until 8:45 AM). Had some discussion with Paul, Hank and Cisca about what I should be doing. They seemed to think I should be fine tuning the FORIS database, but I told them I felt it might be a mistake given the amount of time I would be there. I think Paul understood how complicated it would be and how dangerous it could be too. I talked with George and Max about this, and they agreed given the time I had, it would be dangerous to mess around with the database. I left work at 3:30 PM so I could pick up my laundry and the computer power supply. My clothes were cleaned and dried for a mere 50,000 Lire! ($38 at $7.60/Kilogram) I decided that from now on I would wash my clothes in the sink by hand! I went to pick up the power supply and to my surprise, they fixed the old one! The man said they replaced a part and took me upstairs to plug it in and show me that it worked. I was very happy but was holding my breath until I heard how much it would cost. He said they spent 1 hour, and it would cost 80,000 Lire ($61). I got him to throw in a cord with an Italian plug on it for free. All things considered; I think I got off fairly cheap.
It started raining cats and dogs and continued to rain until 8 PM. I went down to the hotel lobby for a beer and to watch Italian T.V. No one was watching T.V. so I turned it on and flipped through the channels. There were a lot of news programs, one French channel and one English Channel with M.T.V. I found one channel with an Italian version of Wheel of Fortune which I watched while drinking my beer. After a while, I went back to my room and wrote some postcards and updated my journal.
I was feeling like I was getting a cold and hoping it wouldn’t amount to much. I went to work on the 8 AM shuttle bus and arrived before anyone else (most don’t arrive until 8:45 AM). Had some discussion with Paul, Hank and Cisca about what I should be doing. They seemed to think I should be fine tuning the FORIS database, but I told them I felt it might be a mistake given the amount of time I would be there. I think Paul understood how complicated it would be and how dangerous it could be too. I talked with George and Max about this, and they agreed given the time I had, it would be dangerous to mess around with the database. I left work at 3:30 PM so I could pick up my laundry and the computer power supply. My clothes were cleaned and dried for a mere 50,000 Lire! ($38 at $7.60/Kilogram) I decided that from now on I would wash my clothes in the sink by hand! I went to pick up the power supply and to my surprise, they fixed the old one! The man said they replaced a part and took me upstairs to plug it in and show me that it worked. I was very happy but was holding my breath until I heard how much it would cost. He said they spent 1 hour, and it would cost 80,000 Lire ($61). I got him to throw in a cord with an Italian plug on it for free. All things considered; I think I got off fairly cheap.
It started raining cats and dogs and continued to rain until 8 PM. I went down to the hotel lobby for a beer and to watch Italian T.V. No one was watching T.V. so I turned it on and flipped through the channels. There were a lot of news programs, one French channel and one English Channel with M.T.V. I found one channel with an Italian version of Wheel of Fortune which I watched while drinking my beer. After a while, I went back to my room and wrote some postcards and updated my journal.
Thursday, November 12, 1992
Italy - Denmark Trip - Day 14
Thursday November 12, 1992 – Rome, Italy
Went to work and was happy to find out I would be able to use Max’s laptop for the rest of my time there. At around noon, I walked over to a Basilica of Saint Paul with Mel which was about 10 minutes from the office. The basilica is supposed to be second in size in Rome to Saint Peters Basilica and dates to around 300 A.D. Unfortunately, I wasn’t feeling great. So, I left work at 6 PM and went back to the hotel and crashed.
Went to work and was happy to find out I would be able to use Max’s laptop for the rest of my time there. At around noon, I walked over to a Basilica of Saint Paul with Mel which was about 10 minutes from the office. The basilica is supposed to be second in size in Rome to Saint Peters Basilica and dates to around 300 A.D. Unfortunately, I wasn’t feeling great. So, I left work at 6 PM and went back to the hotel and crashed.
Wednesday, November 11, 1992
Italy - Denmark Trip - Day 13
Wednesday November 11, 1992 – Rome, Italy
Today was Veterans Day in the U.S. and it turned out, since it was a Federal Holiday and the Forest Service was paying for me to be there, I was entitled to take the day off! I decided to try and deal with the computer and walked over to the place where I saw the IBM sign. When I got there, I had to go through a locked gate by pushing a button to get access to the building. I was finally able to locate the IBM office on the first floor (second floor in the U.S.) and once again, no one spoke English! I managed to communicate my problem using hand signs and my Italian phrase book. The person I was talking with called someone on the phone and asked me to wait. Eventually, a guy came in and they talked with him for a while and then asked me to follow him in Italian. We went up to the second floor to an office where there were about four other guys with one who spoke a little English and who seemed like he was in charge. They tested the power supply and bingo, it was dead. I “talked” with the head guy for a while and said I’d like to have it repaired or get a replacement if possible. He made some phone calls and, much to my surprise, he said they could find a replacement by 4 PM Thursday! We discussed whether the power supply was under warranty, and I decided it probably wasn’t and asked them to see if they could fix it. If not, I would buy the new one. The only problem was the new one would cost 320,000 Lire ($245)! After dealing with the laptop, I planned on taking my laundry to a local laundry / dry cleaner. For some reason, there were no laundromats in Rome or Italy. So, if you don’t own a washing machine or don’t want to wash your clothes by hand, you needed to pay to have it done for you. I checked two different places before I found one that could do it in the shortest time which was 4 PM Friday! It cost 10,000 Lire / Kilogram or 50,000 Lire since my clothes weighed 5 Kilograms. After dropping my clothes off, I took the Metro (subway) to the Vatican and Sistine Chapel. It took about 1 hour to get to the Vatican and another ½ hour to walk to the Vatican Museum where the Sistine Chapel was located. From the entrance, it took about ½ hour to walk through the corridors and rooms before I finally reaching the Sistine Chapel by around 1:30 PM. I spent about ½ hour there until they announced the museum and chapel were closing. They close early every day to prevent and limit exposure to some of the delicate artwork to light and human breath, etc. The Sistine Chapel was spectacular but was jammed packed with people. I learned after I had already taken a few photos and short video (non-flash of course) that photography was not allowed in the Sistine Chapel. I was amazed though at the number of people that ignored the restriction and even used flashes. The colors were more brilliant than I expected which was due to the restoration work that started in 1985. The restoration was being paid by the Japanese who have sole rights to photographing and documenting the efforts. I left the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel at 2 PM and took the Metro to the Spagna Metro terminal where I could exchange some travelers checks for Lire. I exchanged $500 at about 1,310 Lire/$ which I hoped would hold me through the next two weeks. I walked around the Via Condotti area which was supposed to be as posh for shopping as areas in Paris. People were walking around shopping and window shopping. I went into a a men’s clothing store to see how much clothes cost. They had a pair of 501 Levi’s for 110,000 Lire ($84) which still had a U.S. price sticker of $21.00! Other pants weren’t as expensive though (60,000+ Lire). I stopped at an English bookstore and bought some maps of Florence, Venice and Northern Italy. I then took the Metro to the Rome Train Termini to check out the train station. The station was bustling just like an airport terminal, and I was impressed with the way everything looked very modern and somewhat clean. I then took the Metro back to the Colosseum and arrived back at the hotel at around 7 PM.
Today was Veterans Day in the U.S. and it turned out, since it was a Federal Holiday and the Forest Service was paying for me to be there, I was entitled to take the day off! I decided to try and deal with the computer and walked over to the place where I saw the IBM sign. When I got there, I had to go through a locked gate by pushing a button to get access to the building. I was finally able to locate the IBM office on the first floor (second floor in the U.S.) and once again, no one spoke English! I managed to communicate my problem using hand signs and my Italian phrase book. The person I was talking with called someone on the phone and asked me to wait. Eventually, a guy came in and they talked with him for a while and then asked me to follow him in Italian. We went up to the second floor to an office where there were about four other guys with one who spoke a little English and who seemed like he was in charge. They tested the power supply and bingo, it was dead. I “talked” with the head guy for a while and said I’d like to have it repaired or get a replacement if possible. He made some phone calls and, much to my surprise, he said they could find a replacement by 4 PM Thursday! We discussed whether the power supply was under warranty, and I decided it probably wasn’t and asked them to see if they could fix it. If not, I would buy the new one. The only problem was the new one would cost 320,000 Lire ($245)! After dealing with the laptop, I planned on taking my laundry to a local laundry / dry cleaner. For some reason, there were no laundromats in Rome or Italy. So, if you don’t own a washing machine or don’t want to wash your clothes by hand, you needed to pay to have it done for you. I checked two different places before I found one that could do it in the shortest time which was 4 PM Friday! It cost 10,000 Lire / Kilogram or 50,000 Lire since my clothes weighed 5 Kilograms. After dropping my clothes off, I took the Metro (subway) to the Vatican and Sistine Chapel. It took about 1 hour to get to the Vatican and another ½ hour to walk to the Vatican Museum where the Sistine Chapel was located. From the entrance, it took about ½ hour to walk through the corridors and rooms before I finally reaching the Sistine Chapel by around 1:30 PM. I spent about ½ hour there until they announced the museum and chapel were closing. They close early every day to prevent and limit exposure to some of the delicate artwork to light and human breath, etc. The Sistine Chapel was spectacular but was jammed packed with people. I learned after I had already taken a few photos and short video (non-flash of course) that photography was not allowed in the Sistine Chapel. I was amazed though at the number of people that ignored the restriction and even used flashes. The colors were more brilliant than I expected which was due to the restoration work that started in 1985. The restoration was being paid by the Japanese who have sole rights to photographing and documenting the efforts. I left the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel at 2 PM and took the Metro to the Spagna Metro terminal where I could exchange some travelers checks for Lire. I exchanged $500 at about 1,310 Lire/$ which I hoped would hold me through the next two weeks. I walked around the Via Condotti area which was supposed to be as posh for shopping as areas in Paris. People were walking around shopping and window shopping. I went into a a men’s clothing store to see how much clothes cost. They had a pair of 501 Levi’s for 110,000 Lire ($84) which still had a U.S. price sticker of $21.00! Other pants weren’t as expensive though (60,000+ Lire). I stopped at an English bookstore and bought some maps of Florence, Venice and Northern Italy. I then took the Metro to the Rome Train Termini to check out the train station. The station was bustling just like an airport terminal, and I was impressed with the way everything looked very modern and somewhat clean. I then took the Metro back to the Colosseum and arrived back at the hotel at around 7 PM.
Tuesday, November 10, 1992
Italy - Denmark Trip - Day 12
Tuesday November 10, 1992 – Rome, Italy
Went to work as usual and worked some more on the FORIS database documentation. The laptop went on the fritz today and I ended up leaving work early to go to an electronics store to see if they could test the power supply (AC converter). I had to walk from the bus stop about 2+ miles with the laptop and when I got there, no one in the store understood English. Luckily a customer came in who offered to translate. I explained the problem and asked if they could test the power supply. They tested it and couldn’t figure out what the problem was and didn’t know where I could go to get it fixed. So, it looked like I was S.O.L. I trudged back to the hotel and looked in the phone book to see if I could find a computer store that could repair IBM laptops. There was only one computer store listed for all of Rome which I couldn’t locate on the map. As luck would have it, when I was walking to a restaurant for dinner, I happened to notice an IBM logo sign hidden along one of the main streets which looked like it was an IBM computer distributer. It was closed but it boosted my spirit knowing there might be a chance to fix the laptop. I figured I’d been spending about $35 per day over my allowed per diem. I had been eating lunch at the FAO cafeteria which was generally cheaper (7,000 – 12,000 Lire) and generally hadn’t been eating large dinners. So, today I decided to try a nicer restaurant down the street from the hotel for dinner. I ordered lasagna, garlic bread, ½ bottle white wine, strawberry torte and a cappuccino for a total of 24,000 Lire. That was the most I’d spent on a meal for a long time. One interesting thing; when I ordered garlic bread, the waiter didn’t know what I was talking about. So, I tried to describe to him that it was a slice of bread toasted with olive oil, garlic, and a little cheese on top. The waiter scratched his head and went back to the kitchen and in no time came back with a plate with a slice of toasted garlic bread on it! I was so grateful and thanked him profusely and left a nice tip.
Went to work as usual and worked some more on the FORIS database documentation. The laptop went on the fritz today and I ended up leaving work early to go to an electronics store to see if they could test the power supply (AC converter). I had to walk from the bus stop about 2+ miles with the laptop and when I got there, no one in the store understood English. Luckily a customer came in who offered to translate. I explained the problem and asked if they could test the power supply. They tested it and couldn’t figure out what the problem was and didn’t know where I could go to get it fixed. So, it looked like I was S.O.L. I trudged back to the hotel and looked in the phone book to see if I could find a computer store that could repair IBM laptops. There was only one computer store listed for all of Rome which I couldn’t locate on the map. As luck would have it, when I was walking to a restaurant for dinner, I happened to notice an IBM logo sign hidden along one of the main streets which looked like it was an IBM computer distributer. It was closed but it boosted my spirit knowing there might be a chance to fix the laptop. I figured I’d been spending about $35 per day over my allowed per diem. I had been eating lunch at the FAO cafeteria which was generally cheaper (7,000 – 12,000 Lire) and generally hadn’t been eating large dinners. So, today I decided to try a nicer restaurant down the street from the hotel for dinner. I ordered lasagna, garlic bread, ½ bottle white wine, strawberry torte and a cappuccino for a total of 24,000 Lire. That was the most I’d spent on a meal for a long time. One interesting thing; when I ordered garlic bread, the waiter didn’t know what I was talking about. So, I tried to describe to him that it was a slice of bread toasted with olive oil, garlic, and a little cheese on top. The waiter scratched his head and went back to the kitchen and in no time came back with a plate with a slice of toasted garlic bread on it! I was so grateful and thanked him profusely and left a nice tip.
Monday, November 9, 1992
Italy - Denmark Trip - Day 11
Monday November 9, 1992 – Rome, Italy
Woke at 6:45 AM and did my usual free breakfast of cappuccino, croissant, roll with butter and jam. The rolls were getting a bit tired and I’m thinking I may have to occasionally try someplace else for breakfast. A new person showed up at work today. His parents must have had a sense of humor when they named him because his name was Mel Mehl. He was starting a two-month detail and said, besides Rome, he would also be going to Australia and Fiji! Mel was from Forest Service Region 2 and was the Regional Old-Growth Forest coordinator. Turned out he graduated in 1971 from Humboldt State University, alma mater, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry. Like me, he seemed to be a little shocked at getting selected for the detail. Other than that, work was uneventful. I spent the day working on the FORIS database documentation. He was staying at the Hotel San Anselmo. So, after work, Mel and I rode the shuttle bus back to the hotel and stopped for a couple birra at a local bar near the hotel. After that, we went to a restaurant I knew about near the Pyramid of Cestius and had dinner and conversation.
Woke at 6:45 AM and did my usual free breakfast of cappuccino, croissant, roll with butter and jam. The rolls were getting a bit tired and I’m thinking I may have to occasionally try someplace else for breakfast. A new person showed up at work today. His parents must have had a sense of humor when they named him because his name was Mel Mehl. He was starting a two-month detail and said, besides Rome, he would also be going to Australia and Fiji! Mel was from Forest Service Region 2 and was the Regional Old-Growth Forest coordinator. Turned out he graduated in 1971 from Humboldt State University, alma mater, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry. Like me, he seemed to be a little shocked at getting selected for the detail. Other than that, work was uneventful. I spent the day working on the FORIS database documentation. He was staying at the Hotel San Anselmo. So, after work, Mel and I rode the shuttle bus back to the hotel and stopped for a couple birra at a local bar near the hotel. After that, we went to a restaurant I knew about near the Pyramid of Cestius and had dinner and conversation.
Sunday, November 8, 1992
Italy - Denmark Trip - Day 10
Sunday November 8, 1992 – Rome, Italy
I woke up late (~10 AM) partly because I was pooped. I decided to go to a flea market I had heard about that happens every Sunday in the Trastevere section of Rome. The flea market was a zoo. There was a main street that was jammed with merchants selling their stuff and side streets also filled but not quite so much. I walked up and down the main street which must have gone for a mile and at some points, the grid lock was so bad, I couldn’t move for 5 minutes. I found a collapsible umbrella for 10,000 Lire which I bought on the advice of Ron who said the weather can be quite unpredictable. I went back to the hotel (~2 PM) and rested for about ½ hour and then decided to walk over to the Catacombs of Callixtus . The catacombs were on the edge of old Rome outside the old Roman wall, and I got there by walking down the Appian Way which was one of the few original roads left intact from old Roman times. The road was composed of cobble stones and was quite a challenge to walk on since there was little or no road edge. Cars seemed to come in bunches and whenever a group of cars would come, it sounded like the start of an Indy race with about 3 lanes of cars competing for what should have been one lane. Whenever a group of cars would come, I would just cling to the side of the road until they passed. On the way to the catacombs, I stopped at the Domine Quo Vadis church which was supposed to be where Peter saw a vision of Jesus after he was crucified. Peter supposedly asked Jesus, “domine quo vadis?” (Where are you going?) To which Jesus replied, “Eo Romam iterum crucifigi” (I’m going to Rome to be crucified a second time). At which Peter turned back to Rome and was martyred. The church and countryside where it was located was one of the more memorable sights I had yet seen in Rome. I made it to the catacombs just as an English-speaking tour was going in. So, I bought a ticket (6,000 Lire) and made it to where the guide was giving some preliminary info. There was a sign that said “No Foto” which was a little disappointing. I decided to hang out at the back of the group and as people left each room (crypt) I would be very discreet and take a quick video. This worked great until suddenly, my group disappeared and couldn’t be found anywhere. I tried looking up and down some of the passages but no luck. Finally, I came across a German speaking group and decided to tag along with them. No one seemed to notice me, but I felt a little conspicuous since I couldn’t understand a word anyone was saying. Finally, further down the tour, I caught sight of my old group and was able to switch back. The catacombs were very interesting, and I would like to visit them again to see if I missed anything. After leaving the catacombs, I decided to walk back to the hotel following a different road that was not as narrow as the Appian Way . BIG MISTAKE! I managed to find a road that was not only narrower but had a continuous stream of cars and motor bikes. It was pretty hair raising at times and to compound my problem, I got turned around and couldn’t figure out where I was. I ended up taking a road that went off my map, so I had to use my basic instincts to figure out which way was correct. I finally made it to a main road and after walking what seemed like forever, found a sign that told me where I was. I couldn’t find any of the street names on my map and was getting a little disturbed since it was now about 7 PM and dark. I kept walking though hoping to find some sort of landmark and finally, I came to a Metro (subway) sign. It turned out I had walked way out of my way in a completely different direction and was on the edge of the city! After studying the subway map and route, I determined I could ride the subway to the Colosseum which was a huge relief. The subway was clean, modern, fast, and FREE! It should have cost 700 Lire, but I think the guy at the entrance felt sorry for me and just let me go for free. I made it back to the hotel in no time, took a shower, and went to a Pizzeria down the street. It was a bit intimidating going into some restaurants and not being able to speak the language. However, I at least was able to order pizza and birra which hit the spot. So far, I’ve had pizzas at two different pizzerias and have determined that Italian pizzas are plainer but much better tasting than American pizzas. The thing I really liked was the thinner crust and surprising flavor Italian pizzas had compared to American pizzas.
I woke up late (~10 AM) partly because I was pooped. I decided to go to a flea market I had heard about that happens every Sunday in the Trastevere section of Rome. The flea market was a zoo. There was a main street that was jammed with merchants selling their stuff and side streets also filled but not quite so much. I walked up and down the main street which must have gone for a mile and at some points, the grid lock was so bad, I couldn’t move for 5 minutes. I found a collapsible umbrella for 10,000 Lire which I bought on the advice of Ron who said the weather can be quite unpredictable. I went back to the hotel (~2 PM) and rested for about ½ hour and then decided to walk over to the Catacombs of Callixtus . The catacombs were on the edge of old Rome outside the old Roman wall, and I got there by walking down the Appian Way which was one of the few original roads left intact from old Roman times. The road was composed of cobble stones and was quite a challenge to walk on since there was little or no road edge. Cars seemed to come in bunches and whenever a group of cars would come, it sounded like the start of an Indy race with about 3 lanes of cars competing for what should have been one lane. Whenever a group of cars would come, I would just cling to the side of the road until they passed. On the way to the catacombs, I stopped at the Domine Quo Vadis church which was supposed to be where Peter saw a vision of Jesus after he was crucified. Peter supposedly asked Jesus, “domine quo vadis?” (Where are you going?) To which Jesus replied, “Eo Romam iterum crucifigi” (I’m going to Rome to be crucified a second time). At which Peter turned back to Rome and was martyred. The church and countryside where it was located was one of the more memorable sights I had yet seen in Rome. I made it to the catacombs just as an English-speaking tour was going in. So, I bought a ticket (6,000 Lire) and made it to where the guide was giving some preliminary info. There was a sign that said “No Foto” which was a little disappointing. I decided to hang out at the back of the group and as people left each room (crypt) I would be very discreet and take a quick video. This worked great until suddenly, my group disappeared and couldn’t be found anywhere. I tried looking up and down some of the passages but no luck. Finally, I came across a German speaking group and decided to tag along with them. No one seemed to notice me, but I felt a little conspicuous since I couldn’t understand a word anyone was saying. Finally, further down the tour, I caught sight of my old group and was able to switch back. The catacombs were very interesting, and I would like to visit them again to see if I missed anything. After leaving the catacombs, I decided to walk back to the hotel following a different road that was not as narrow as the Appian Way . BIG MISTAKE! I managed to find a road that was not only narrower but had a continuous stream of cars and motor bikes. It was pretty hair raising at times and to compound my problem, I got turned around and couldn’t figure out where I was. I ended up taking a road that went off my map, so I had to use my basic instincts to figure out which way was correct. I finally made it to a main road and after walking what seemed like forever, found a sign that told me where I was. I couldn’t find any of the street names on my map and was getting a little disturbed since it was now about 7 PM and dark. I kept walking though hoping to find some sort of landmark and finally, I came to a Metro (subway) sign. It turned out I had walked way out of my way in a completely different direction and was on the edge of the city! After studying the subway map and route, I determined I could ride the subway to the Colosseum which was a huge relief. The subway was clean, modern, fast, and FREE! It should have cost 700 Lire, but I think the guy at the entrance felt sorry for me and just let me go for free. I made it back to the hotel in no time, took a shower, and went to a Pizzeria down the street. It was a bit intimidating going into some restaurants and not being able to speak the language. However, I at least was able to order pizza and birra which hit the spot. So far, I’ve had pizzas at two different pizzerias and have determined that Italian pizzas are plainer but much better tasting than American pizzas. The thing I really liked was the thinner crust and surprising flavor Italian pizzas had compared to American pizzas.
Saturday, November 7, 1992
Italy - Denmark Trip - Day 9
Saturday November 7, 1992 – Rome, Italy
I got up at about 9 Am and felt a bit guilty that I’d already wasted part of the morning sleeping. I decided to visit Saint Peters Basilica again and this time take my video camera and regular cameras. That was a hard decision due to the weight, but I didn’t want to be caught without a camera. I walked from the hotel to the Colosseum , Roman Forum , Victor Emmanuel II National Monument , Trevi Fountain , Pantheon , Piazza Navona and to Saint Peters Basilica where I went up to the top of the dome again. There were two souvenir shops in St. Peters, one on the ground level and one on the roof, where they sell some of the tackiest souvenirs you could possibly hope for. I almost bought a snow globe of Saint Peters Basilica but instead bought some pens that had figures (horse and carriage, guards) that move across the pen when you tilt it. I also bought an 8X11 inch 3D print of Jesus that would switch between his face and a shroud with his face on it. I left Saint Peters Basilica and retraced my steps back to Piazza Navona where I stopped at one of the bars and ordered a large bottle of beer which I drank while sitting on the Piazza feeling quite sophisticated. I then made my way to the Trevi Fountain which I photographed in 3D and video at night. When I finally got back to the hotel it was about 9:30 PM but I still had enough energy to go to a local pizzeria and order a pizza and birra, Perfetto!
I got up at about 9 Am and felt a bit guilty that I’d already wasted part of the morning sleeping. I decided to visit Saint Peters Basilica again and this time take my video camera and regular cameras. That was a hard decision due to the weight, but I didn’t want to be caught without a camera. I walked from the hotel to the Colosseum , Roman Forum , Victor Emmanuel II National Monument , Trevi Fountain , Pantheon , Piazza Navona and to Saint Peters Basilica where I went up to the top of the dome again. There were two souvenir shops in St. Peters, one on the ground level and one on the roof, where they sell some of the tackiest souvenirs you could possibly hope for. I almost bought a snow globe of Saint Peters Basilica but instead bought some pens that had figures (horse and carriage, guards) that move across the pen when you tilt it. I also bought an 8X11 inch 3D print of Jesus that would switch between his face and a shroud with his face on it. I left Saint Peters Basilica and retraced my steps back to Piazza Navona where I stopped at one of the bars and ordered a large bottle of beer which I drank while sitting on the Piazza feeling quite sophisticated. I then made my way to the Trevi Fountain which I photographed in 3D and video at night. When I finally got back to the hotel it was about 9:30 PM but I still had enough energy to go to a local pizzeria and order a pizza and birra, Perfetto!
Friday, November 6, 1992
Italy - Denmark Trip - Day 8
Friday November 6, 1992 – Rome, Italy
Work was very quiet today. Both Paul and Ron took the day off. So, the only people there were Paulina, Cisca, Max and Walter. I composed and Faxed a letter to Don Norris. I then spent most of the day editing a user guide for the FORIS database. Cisca and I had lunch together. It was nice to find out a little more about her background. She was native to Belgium and got a degree in Forestry from a University in Flanders. She could speak several languages including French, English, Dutch, Italian and I think Spanish. I was amazed at the number of languages people could speak in the office and throughout Rome. The office secretary, Paulina was from Australia and could speak Italian, Spanish and English. Nobody seemed to know how many languages K.D. Singh could speak but Paul said he had heard him go from English to Italian to French to Indian to some obscure African language at a moment’s notice. It really struck me how isolated, self-centered, and stupid most Americans are as far as their ability to speak other languages. I decided to go see a movie tonight. I had been told by Paul there was an English-speaking theater in the Trastevere section of Rome. By chance, my trusty Rome Access guide showed where the theater was located. So, I was able to find it with relatively little trouble. I made it about 15 minutes before the next showing of the movie Basic Instinct which starred Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone . It was a bit gruesome with a dumb plot, and I wasn’t too surprised to see several people walk out of the theater apparently offended by the violence. On the plus side, it was nice seeing San Francisco and the scenes along the California coast made me nostalgic for home.
Work was very quiet today. Both Paul and Ron took the day off. So, the only people there were Paulina, Cisca, Max and Walter. I composed and Faxed a letter to Don Norris. I then spent most of the day editing a user guide for the FORIS database. Cisca and I had lunch together. It was nice to find out a little more about her background. She was native to Belgium and got a degree in Forestry from a University in Flanders. She could speak several languages including French, English, Dutch, Italian and I think Spanish. I was amazed at the number of languages people could speak in the office and throughout Rome. The office secretary, Paulina was from Australia and could speak Italian, Spanish and English. Nobody seemed to know how many languages K.D. Singh could speak but Paul said he had heard him go from English to Italian to French to Indian to some obscure African language at a moment’s notice. It really struck me how isolated, self-centered, and stupid most Americans are as far as their ability to speak other languages. I decided to go see a movie tonight. I had been told by Paul there was an English-speaking theater in the Trastevere section of Rome. By chance, my trusty Rome Access guide showed where the theater was located. So, I was able to find it with relatively little trouble. I made it about 15 minutes before the next showing of the movie Basic Instinct which starred Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone . It was a bit gruesome with a dumb plot, and I wasn’t too surprised to see several people walk out of the theater apparently offended by the violence. On the plus side, it was nice seeing San Francisco and the scenes along the California coast made me nostalgic for home.
Thursday, November 5, 1992
Italy - Denmark Trip - Day 7
Thursday November 5, 1992 - Rome, Italy
Work went relatively smoothly today. K.D. Singh was gone, and the office seemed more relaxed. I tried calling Don Norris in South Carolina to get a FAX number so I could FAX him some info on what he would be doing when he replaces me.To call out of the office, I had to call the operator and give them my name, office code, extension, and the number I wanted to call. They said they would call back when they had made a connection. Well, about ½ hour later the operator called back and when they tried to connect me, there was nothing there. I tried calling the operator back but apparently, they had already left for the day. Luckily, I found a FAX number listed in a Forest Service directory Paul had and was able to use that number. Unfortunately, I couldn’t be sure if Don ever got the FAX though. After work, I decided to walk to the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon . Trevi Fountain was impressive, and I was amazed at the number of people walking, sitting, and couples making out there (and everywhere). The Spanish Steps were completely overrun with younger people (mostly male). There was a McDonald’s restaurant nearby which I couldn’t resist checking out. This McDonalds was quite different than in the U.S. and had a salad bar that included all kinds of pasta dishes, desserts, etc. They also had an ice cream bar (Gelateria) which appeared to be very common all over Rome. The menu had most of the usual McDonald’s items, but everything was written in Italian and was a little hard to translate. I meant to make a note of the price of a Big Mac but forgot (somewhere around 3,000 Lire?). I got a mixed pasta salad, large fries, and birra (beer)! I later stopped at a local Gelateria near the Trevi Fountain and got a triple scoop cone. Life is good 😋
Work went relatively smoothly today. K.D. Singh was gone, and the office seemed more relaxed. I tried calling Don Norris in South Carolina to get a FAX number so I could FAX him some info on what he would be doing when he replaces me.To call out of the office, I had to call the operator and give them my name, office code, extension, and the number I wanted to call. They said they would call back when they had made a connection. Well, about ½ hour later the operator called back and when they tried to connect me, there was nothing there. I tried calling the operator back but apparently, they had already left for the day. Luckily, I found a FAX number listed in a Forest Service directory Paul had and was able to use that number. Unfortunately, I couldn’t be sure if Don ever got the FAX though. After work, I decided to walk to the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon . Trevi Fountain was impressive, and I was amazed at the number of people walking, sitting, and couples making out there (and everywhere). The Spanish Steps were completely overrun with younger people (mostly male). There was a McDonald’s restaurant nearby which I couldn’t resist checking out. This McDonalds was quite different than in the U.S. and had a salad bar that included all kinds of pasta dishes, desserts, etc. They also had an ice cream bar (Gelateria) which appeared to be very common all over Rome. The menu had most of the usual McDonald’s items, but everything was written in Italian and was a little hard to translate. I meant to make a note of the price of a Big Mac but forgot (somewhere around 3,000 Lire?). I got a mixed pasta salad, large fries, and birra (beer)! I later stopped at a local Gelateria near the Trevi Fountain and got a triple scoop cone. Life is good 😋
Wednesday, November 4, 1992
Italy - Denmark Trip - Day 6
Wednesday November 4, 1992 - Rome, Italy
This morning I learned that Bill Clinton was officially elected the next president of the U.S ! There was a lot of interest in the outcome of the elections in Italy, and it seemed like most Italians and Europeans were happy George H.W. Bush lost. Today, I spent most of the day trying to outline what I would be accomplishing during my time here. I also found out K.D. Singh was leaving today and wouldn’t be back until the day before I was supposed to leave! This made it critical for me to pin him down on what he wanted me to do which I tried to do later in the day. The rest of the day was uneventful and after work I ended up going back to the hotel and, surprisingly, conked out for the night.
Tuesday, November 3, 1992
Italy - Denmark Trip - Day 5
Tuesday November 3, 1992 - Rome, Italy
Woke up early and walked to the United Nations FAO building where I was able to take the bus to the FAO Forestry building which certainly beat walking! I spent most of the morning talking with George and Max who were the GIS technicians and database managers. Both George and Max were Italians native to Rome and spoke good English. George gave me a brief overview of SPANS which was the GIS system they were using and FORIS which was their dBase IV database. Later, Max gave me an additional demonstration of SPANS. Both Max and George were heavy smokers which appeared to be common among Italians. It was becoming apparent that many Italians were attracted to anything that was either outlawed, dangerous, or unhealthy. For example, it was against the law to drive without seat belts or ride motorcycles without a helmet, but I had yet to see anyone wearing either and to add to the danger, many motorcyclists and cars would drive at night without headlights. This might not have been so bad if Italians were cautious drivers, but few seemed to show much respect for rules of the road 😱. The rest of the day I spent setting up my workspace and trying to get organized.
Woke up early and walked to the United Nations FAO building where I was able to take the bus to the FAO Forestry building which certainly beat walking! I spent most of the morning talking with George and Max who were the GIS technicians and database managers. Both George and Max were Italians native to Rome and spoke good English. George gave me a brief overview of SPANS which was the GIS system they were using and FORIS which was their dBase IV database. Later, Max gave me an additional demonstration of SPANS. Both Max and George were heavy smokers which appeared to be common among Italians. It was becoming apparent that many Italians were attracted to anything that was either outlawed, dangerous, or unhealthy. For example, it was against the law to drive without seat belts or ride motorcycles without a helmet, but I had yet to see anyone wearing either and to add to the danger, many motorcyclists and cars would drive at night without headlights. This might not have been so bad if Italians were cautious drivers, but few seemed to show much respect for rules of the road 😱. The rest of the day I spent setting up my workspace and trying to get organized.
Monday, November 2, 1992
Italy - Denmark Trip - Day 4
Monday November 2, 1992 - Rome, Italy
Woke up at 5 AM to the sound of one of the more spectacular lightning and thunder shows I’ve seen and heard in a while. I had planned to get up early anyway so I could call Carol at home. So, it turned out to be good timing (8 PM Pacific time). I managed to dial home and was amazed when Carol answered the phone considering she was on the opposite side of the globe. The connection had a time delay of about 2-3 seconds which caused some confusion at first. I already felt like I had been gone for a month so it was nice to talk to someone familiar who could understand me. I ended up not sleeping much the rest of the night and got up at 7 AM and went down and had a free continental breakfast. The FAO building didn’t open until 8:30 AM so I spent some time writing postcards before walking over to FAO (pronounced F A Oh). Much to my surprise, the FAO building was closed for a national holiday! There were several guards at the front desk where you check in and they told me I should just take the day off because it was a holiday, and no one was there. It turned out the FAO building where I was to work was 5 miles away from the main FAO United Nations building. Normally you could take a shuttle bus between buildings but since it was a holiday, the bus wasn’t running. I was finally able to get in contact with one of the people I was supposed to work with, but he confessed he didn’t know if anyone, including the project manager, K.D. Singh, would show up for work. Not to be dissuaded, I decided to walk to the other FAO building using directions given to me by the guard and a map of Rome. As to be expected, after getting about halfway, it started pouring rain and I was forced to hide under an old Roman bridge and wall that circles old Rome. I finally made it to the FAO building and as luck would have it, K.D. and most of the other crew were there. The office where I would be working looked somewhat like most government furnished offices where people aren’t too concerned about appearances. I was happy to find out that most everyone also understood and spoke English, although K.D.s’ English was a bit rough. I ended up talking most of the day with K.D. and Paul Howard about what my job would be for the next month. Paul was also a Forest Service employee who was on a one-year detail. Once done, I walked back to the hotel and found out the hotel decided they would only charge 100.000 Lire like they had originally quoted.
Woke up at 5 AM to the sound of one of the more spectacular lightning and thunder shows I’ve seen and heard in a while. I had planned to get up early anyway so I could call Carol at home. So, it turned out to be good timing (8 PM Pacific time). I managed to dial home and was amazed when Carol answered the phone considering she was on the opposite side of the globe. The connection had a time delay of about 2-3 seconds which caused some confusion at first. I already felt like I had been gone for a month so it was nice to talk to someone familiar who could understand me. I ended up not sleeping much the rest of the night and got up at 7 AM and went down and had a free continental breakfast. The FAO building didn’t open until 8:30 AM so I spent some time writing postcards before walking over to FAO (pronounced F A Oh). Much to my surprise, the FAO building was closed for a national holiday! There were several guards at the front desk where you check in and they told me I should just take the day off because it was a holiday, and no one was there. It turned out the FAO building where I was to work was 5 miles away from the main FAO United Nations building. Normally you could take a shuttle bus between buildings but since it was a holiday, the bus wasn’t running. I was finally able to get in contact with one of the people I was supposed to work with, but he confessed he didn’t know if anyone, including the project manager, K.D. Singh, would show up for work. Not to be dissuaded, I decided to walk to the other FAO building using directions given to me by the guard and a map of Rome. As to be expected, after getting about halfway, it started pouring rain and I was forced to hide under an old Roman bridge and wall that circles old Rome. I finally made it to the FAO building and as luck would have it, K.D. and most of the other crew were there. The office where I would be working looked somewhat like most government furnished offices where people aren’t too concerned about appearances. I was happy to find out that most everyone also understood and spoke English, although K.D.s’ English was a bit rough. I ended up talking most of the day with K.D. and Paul Howard about what my job would be for the next month. Paul was also a Forest Service employee who was on a one-year detail. Once done, I walked back to the hotel and found out the hotel decided they would only charge 100.000 Lire like they had originally quoted.
Sunday, November 1, 1992
Italy - Denmark Trip - Day 3
Sunday November 1, 1992 – Rome, Italy
I ended up sleeping until 7 AM which gave me about 13 ½ hours of much needed sleep. I went down to the dining area where they offered a free continental breakfast of croissant, roll, and coffee. The coffee in Italy is quite an experience. It seems like they have perfected coffee to include every possible nuance. The coffee served with breakfast was in two separate pitchers, one with strong coffee and one with hot milk. After breakfast, I decided to walk to the Vatican and see some sights along the way. The route to the Vatican and Saint Peters Basilica passes by the Colosseum , Roman Forum, and zillions of statues, monuments, and churches. The San Anselmo church located next to my hotel looked to be about 1,000 years old. On my walk I discovered a door with a “keyhole” you could look through and see Saint Peters Basilica in the distance. One monument to Victor Emmanuel II was nick named the “wedding cake” since it looks like a giant cake with white frosting. Saint Peters Basilica was fantastic, and I must have used 6 rolls of film trying to capture the different angles. I took the hike to the top of the dome which included over 300 steps and a view of Rome that can’t be found anywhere else in the city. Unfortunately, the weather was cloudy and by the time I got to the top, it was getting dark, but I’ll be back. A highlight was during mass, they would occasionally play the organ which filled the cathedral with a sound that would make a believer out of almost anyone. By the time I left Saint Peters Basilica, it was about 6-7 PM and took about 1 ½ hours to get back to the hotel. By that time, I was both starving and thirsty and decided to go down the street to a nearby Pizzeria where I was able to buy a kind of calzone and some local Italian beer (Nastro Azzurro) .
I ended up sleeping until 7 AM which gave me about 13 ½ hours of much needed sleep. I went down to the dining area where they offered a free continental breakfast of croissant, roll, and coffee. The coffee in Italy is quite an experience. It seems like they have perfected coffee to include every possible nuance. The coffee served with breakfast was in two separate pitchers, one with strong coffee and one with hot milk. After breakfast, I decided to walk to the Vatican and see some sights along the way. The route to the Vatican and Saint Peters Basilica passes by the Colosseum , Roman Forum, and zillions of statues, monuments, and churches. The San Anselmo church located next to my hotel looked to be about 1,000 years old. On my walk I discovered a door with a “keyhole” you could look through and see Saint Peters Basilica in the distance. One monument to Victor Emmanuel II was nick named the “wedding cake” since it looks like a giant cake with white frosting. Saint Peters Basilica was fantastic, and I must have used 6 rolls of film trying to capture the different angles. I took the hike to the top of the dome which included over 300 steps and a view of Rome that can’t be found anywhere else in the city. Unfortunately, the weather was cloudy and by the time I got to the top, it was getting dark, but I’ll be back. A highlight was during mass, they would occasionally play the organ which filled the cathedral with a sound that would make a believer out of almost anyone. By the time I left Saint Peters Basilica, it was about 6-7 PM and took about 1 ½ hours to get back to the hotel. By that time, I was both starving and thirsty and decided to go down the street to a nearby Pizzeria where I was able to buy a kind of calzone and some local Italian beer (Nastro Azzurro) .
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