Vacation!! - End of Italy, Beginning of Britain

The first day in Rome, we did manage to get over to the Vatican to see the Pope address the audience from his study window. His message was in Italian on the Transfiguration of Christ, but after the sermon he talked briefly about the war with Libya. Italy declared war on Libya the day we all arrived in Italy. The Pope expressed concern for the welfare of the Libyan citizens.





Our last day full day in Rome was our day at the Vatican Museum.

The Vatican tour wasn't left to chance. I wanted to get a pro to lead us through what was the highlight of our trip in Italy. I loved my guide for the Vatican tour. I hired one from Context tours. We got a private tour with a guide because we had a child with us. That's a challenging tour for any guide, but we got Linda Nolan who was spectacular:



Linda led us through the Vatican Museum. She took pity on me and let us go to the little coffee shop in the Vatican museum where I downed 2 lattes and an orange juice in as many minutes to try to cut through my tired haze. (It worked) I took my sleeping meds too late the night before and I was barely functional the first half hour of the tour. She rose to the occasion valiantly.

The tour was beyond my expectations. Saint Peter's Basilica is quite simply the most beautiful sacred space that I've ever been inside. The Sistine Chapel was bigger than my imagination and full of lovely color and movement. I took very few pictures during the tour because I can't do it justice and it was just too lovely. I did get that snapshot of our lovely guide though.

That evening we all had dinner at the hotel which was lovely. The food was excellent. The host entertaining. All in all, it was a lovely way to end our visit in Italy.

The next day we nipped out to see San Clemente church with it's ancient Mithraceum and 4th Century church under the main church floor. We got back just in time to catch our bus to the airport for our flight to England.

Once in England, I bid goodbye to Mom and Dad for a while. They flew to Manchester to visit with the English family members. I got picked up by Sue for a short stay in Castle Rising.

The village of Castle Rising is always peaceful and lovely. It amazes me every time how quiet and dark the village is at night. This was my last visit there as Sue and the family are leaving to return to the U.S. (probably) in August.



We did all nip out for a day trip to Brugge, Belgium during my stay. The ferry ride from Dover to Calais was a first for me. I got a chance to see the White Cliffs of Dover for the first time.

Brugge is a lovely lace-trimmed painted chocolate box of a city. With beer. And canals. We took a boat ride on the canals and had lunch in a great little restaurant with hot cocoa after the meal. Then we prowled through chocolate shops, lace shops, and one lone needlework shop before catching the bus back to England.



Here are Lily and Amelia with the famous swans of Brugge:



And we all took a boat ride:







After the few days with Sue, she dropped me off at the hotel near London Heathrow airport so that I could spend a day in London with Amelia.

We spent our day at the Tower of London. We joined in on a tour with one of the Beefeaters. He enthralled the audience with gory stories of beheadings and lost princes. Amelia was both terrified and enraptured. She slept in my bed that night.



But I think she really enjoyed London.





What a great trip!