Making Time to Play

Well we made it back to Canada. Wow what a time in the Rome Airport. Not stressful or anything but it took forever to finally get to our gate. That and the fact the time changed and we lost an hour. So far I both time I left a country time changed. So good thing we left early but we lost a hour to enjoy the Rome Airport I guess.

So here are some of my thoughts of Rome

You will never go hungry and thirsty in Rome during the day, however if you are hungry around 6:00 pm you might have to wait an hour.
It is still hard to look really cool on a scooter.
Traffic signs and lights are just a suggestion.
Apparently everyone must honk their horn every 2 minutes at someone or something.
It is cheaper to drink alcohol, especially wine, than Coke.
No one dresses good, they dress very good.
Oh yeah forget trying to find a Caesar or a Caesar Salad in Rome.

And the biggest thing that I thought was very weird was that we could not find and Italian charms in Italy!
Ciao!

Today we spent the day at the Vatican City. It was beyond my amazement. What a spectacle and it is so huge. We walked throught the Museum and it was hallway after hallway of wonderful art, statues, paintings and collections of the past. My neck is sore from looking up so much. Then after a brief explanation...we saw it. The Sistine Chapel. It was surreal! So massive and so vivid. No way to explain it...it must be seen. I stood under God creating man for 5 minutes and then I was mesmerized by the last judgment.

Then we proceed to St Peters and what else is there to say but it is the worlds largest and richest church. Gold, bronze and marble everywere. We left the church and entered St. Peters Square. I must admit it looked very small but it was designed what way. It is still huge but that curves and slopes make it intimate.

I now understand why people stand in line for hours for the Sistine Chapel. I would.

Peace be with you.

Yes I saw a very vivid display of Eros....look it up. We made our way to Naples and Pompeii today. I saw the ocean and it was very rought but kicked up alot of waves. Pompeii was so much more than I could imagine. A very organized and planned city....I thought it was going to be much smaller but it was huge! Ruins ever where and all in the shadow of Mt Vesvious covered with snow today. I was impressed. Im full on pasta and wine again and we have not had a bad meal yet.

Tomorrow it is off to the Vatican.

Peace be with you

Well we spent the last two days in Ancient Rome. The first being the Roman Forum and the second being Imperial Rome. This was followed by a tour of outside of Rome at the Appian Way which was the first road to Rome. The best part was seeing the original road and the second being the aquaducts. They are so huge. We are in another hotel and it is alright. It has rained during the evening here and we also ran into some serious hail. Im limping along and trying to avoid stairs but this is tough. My legs are good but just a little worn out.

Tomorrow we go to Naples and Pompeii.

I love the wine here and what a great place to jump back on the wagon

Ciao!

Ran the Rome Marathon today. What a fantastic run it was. Started at the Colessium and end there as well. It was hot. I wasnt sure if that was going to affect me but it didnt. I just found something that makes a run better. The sponge. So my pace was pretty good but I must admit I walked about 20 minutes of it. I mean I took 27 pictures and as if I was going to run right past all the amazing monuments of Rome. It was unreal to run past St Peters at the Vatican at 15km. The last 7 km were hard but I did lots of sight seeing so it was not so bad. The Trevis fountain I just stared at and enjoyed. So I finished about4.25 but that is unofficial. 15000 people running is pretty hard to get a great time. I was so excited at the finish that once again I forgot to press stop. My sweet has everything on video which is awesome!

Yes number 4 is done and we are off to drink a bottle of wine!

Well we made it to Rome. The flights were fine just long. Our stay in Germany was pretty uneventful. Im so happy our luggage made it and our hotel is great. We walked to Trevis Fountain and the Spanish steps and ate at great resturants with pasta and pizza everywhere. Aaaa so good.

Today we took the metro to get my race package which is nice. Then proceeded to the Colessium. We took a tour and just sat in amazment of the size and the condition that it is in. After just watching Gladiator it was neat to see the actually building. We will see the Forum and the ruins another day but we saw it in the day and lite up at night as well. Fabulous. My legs are dead from all the walking so not much will happen tomorrow.

Ciao

Well we are off to Rome tomorrow and the Marathon is on Sunday. I'm ready...and excited. I really have no idea what to expect for a time but a 6:00 pace with a 4:15 would be great. I'm taking the camera so I will be snapping photo's all along the way of the race.

New Way Home

Have you found your way around the down and out?
I know it must seem long, so long
Im still trying to keep this time from running out
Head down, always moving on and on and on
I never heard this warning, another early morning
Takes me, wakes me into
If you could manage me, Ill try to manage you
But lately its all I ever doI felt like this on my way home,
Im not scared
I pass the boats and the kingdome,
Im not scared
Ill never tell you the secrets Im holding
I know these things must bore you but I cant find another way
Ill never tell you the secrets Im holding
I love this leash that holds me, when I try to run away
Im not scared, I felt like this on my way home
Im not scared, I pass the boats and the kingdom

See you at the finish line....that of course is the Coliseum

Well yes life is a little busy right now in our lives with work, tax season, meetings and getting ready for a marathon across the world.....so lets add something else this weekend like renovating the bathroom. Well actually not renovating....try gutting it and starting new. We have been waiting since January for our friend to come and do all the plumbing and electrical and he finally made it this weekend. Hey why not, throw it one. When we get back at least it will be done. Paint and pack in a day....that will be a first.

Yeah....I ran my long run of 30km in 2:58. Last time it took me 3:30. My legs started hurting at 30km like last time but when you run on the highway it gets really boring and you have no idea how the mind tunes into the distance and then seems to stop there. Weather was great but since we have had so much snow running in town was impossible.

So that's it....all I need to do is back my bags and then it's off to the Coliseum for 42km in the street of Rome.....I can't believe it is here. I have not had any fast food or alcohol since December. The glass of wine will be sweet.

I also found out that the day I get home from Rome, I fly to Ottawa for business. So my vacation just got extended.