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After breakfast we tried out the Internet connection; it was up and the data rate looks OK. So we then looked around for a good place to webcast the lunar eclipse from. The roof-top restaurant looked like a very good place, so we also met with the restaurant manager and hotel manager to work out a plan. As long as the weather cooperates, we should be ready to go.

Having accomplished the basics we decided to venture out and explore Rome a little. As it turns out, the hotel is in the middle of most of the things people come here to see. Not to mention everything is within walking distance (if you’re in good shape). Here’s a view of the ruins of the Roman Forum. P.S. There’s our hotel (brown building through the arch).

Here is Tricia and Tim - with the Coliseum in the background (along with more images of the Coliseum).

Here is a picture of Constantine’s arch (next to the Coliseum).

Looking back into the Roman Forum from the Coliseum.

We stopped for lunch (Lasagna for Tim and I, Tricia had Sea Bass – I also had pistachio ice cream for desert). I guess my next meal ought to be spaghetti? Anyway, after lunch we decided that we had enough time to venture out to see more sites.

Along the way we passed the Vittoriano.

Here’s the Fontana di Trevi. The place is a real attraction as you can see .

Next stop the Pantheon. Here are some inside images .

Last on our walking tour was Piazza Novona.

It was starting to get dark so we headed back to the hotel. Here’s a view looking down the stairs (leading up to and behind the Vittoriano) and towards the direction of Piazza Navona.

We got back to the hotel, took a break to update our blog and tend to email, etc, and then went for dinner. I did not have spaghetti! I had fish. Saving Spaghetti for lunch? The food is very good here. A bit pricey though - due to the exchange rate. Love the cheese! Finally, Rome seems like a very safe city. Even walking back to the hotel in the dark and down some empty streets, I never felt that we should watch where we were going. Other than watching out for the billions and billions of mopeds - they're quite and you don't hear them until they are "on top of you". Personally, I think they should be outlawed - only straight piped Harleys should be legal!

Got up and checked the system. One of the video servers appears to have locked up, so I called Tom Stokke to see if he could go in and reboot it. He did and we got it back up. Wew!

Later on we discovered that we could not download any pictures from the other cameras we were going to use to take pictures of the Moon with, so we headed out to find a memory card reader (like looking for a needle in a haystack). Along the way we came across another of these curb-side gas stations – pretty neat idea.

The hotel clerk thought that there an electronics shop down the road a bit. There was, but it was closed so we marched on…

Eventually, (after about a mile) we asked at a photo shop were one might find computer parts. The clerk said in the lower level of the train station. Since we were only a block or two away we trudged on…

The train station is big! With many rail lines and trains eagerly awaiting passengers

The train station also has (like we were told) a pretty good-sized shopping center (where we found a card reader). The multi-level shopping center connects to/separates the train station with a subway station – how well thought out is that?

Finally, the big event. We hauled everything to the roof (here’s the view) and spent much more tine than we should have getting the electricity to work (so our webcast was late). Otherwise, the weather was pretty good, the clouds cleared in time, and the network held up. Surprisingly, we had a lot of European viewers (it was cloudy over much of Europe).

Got up to wander around the area and to work our way towards the river and the Ghetto area (Jewish area). I took this close-up photo of an average building – just because.

Since we were heading past the Vittoriano again, we decided to get a close up. Here’s some images from the Vittoriano.

From the Vittoriano, we headed towards Pallintine (spelling?) Hill – were the Emperors lived. Here’s the view from the gardens on Pallintine Hill and a short video .

Here are some pictures of the living areas (all ruins now) and a short video .

From Pallintine Hill we headed towards the river along the way we passed this fountain (fountains are everywhere in Rome and they are safe to drink from – so I have read).

We made it to the river…

Along the way back we passed this theater again – note how they just built on top of the ruins? That is common practice (or was common practice). Also, we spotted what has to be the smallest car every made (seats 4!). Also, one of the churches started to rings it's bells (in Turkey one hears chanting from mosques, here you hear bells ringing) .

I got up late, and just made it to the Vatican. Glad I made it – what a place! Here are some views from the square (where the Pope gives Mass on Sundays) and a short video .

Here’s a pair of Vatican guards. Note the looking at me. Probably didn’t like the fact that I took his picture while he was in his pajamas (ha – that’s a joke). As I recall there was a song about not “pulling the mask of the lone ranger and not messing with Vatican guards in their pajamas” (ha – another joke). It's been a long day.

Here’s some images from inside St. Peters, including a short video .

After hiking up 12-15 floors via a spiral staircase (wew!) here’s the view from inside the dome looking down into St. Peters.

After hiking up 12-15 floors via a spiral staircase (wew!) here’s the view from Here’s the view from the top of the dome (worth the hike).

After making me way back down I ran into a service and St. Peters tomb.

After making me way back down I ran into a service From the Vatican I headed towards the Spanish stairs, here’s some images.

All I all a successful expedition; I did discover a few quirks in the chatroom setup, that I will address. Otherwise, this was by far the easiest webcast we have done yet. No major problems. Maybe experience is starting to show? Sorry about the terse blog, but time has been in short supply.

Finally, would I come back to Rome – YES! I highly recommend a visit. P.S. Finally had some spaghetti.