European Escapade Page 8 of 12

	However, even more shops and restaurants were located across this bridge and down the canal. Unfortunately, the 'group' lunch had consumed more time than we had wanted to spend eating and we did not then have sufficient time (before the return boat departed)...		...to more fully explore the island. In short, we could easily have used another 2 hours in Burano to take photos and to shop for souvenir merchandise.
	We found the prices for the Venetian masks and other souvenir items to be significantly cheaper in Burano than the prices for the same items in Venice.		When Lena started to SERIOUSLY look at the styles and colors of Venetian masks available in several stores, Steve just knew we were going to end up being proud owners of one or more such masks.
	In this photo Lena happily displays one large and one smaller Venetian masks for which she had skillfully just negotiated lower prices from the shop owner. (Steve was busy trying to figure out WHERE in our house we were going to have wall space to display them.)		Burano is also famous for it varied selection of colorful hand-made LACE material.
	As we walked back to catch our boat, Steve had to get a photo of this famous LEANING church bell tower. While it is not too apparent from the angle in this photo, the tower's foundation has settled on one side and the tower is actually leaning about 15 degrees (off center) to the RIGHT side in this picture.		And, finally, this is the Burano photo for which Steve plans to use his computer and knowledge of Photoshop to try applying various filters and effects to create his own poster-size Burano 'artistic impression' suitable for framing and hanging in our home.
	From Venice, we traveled over the Apennine Mountains and down Italy to ROME [SEE MAP]. One of the first places we visited was the PANTHEON which is the best-preserved of the Roman Temples that is used today as a Christian Church. We arrived about sunset and took this photo, but...		...this commercial photo taken from a higher vantage point better illustrates how the Pantheon is sort of just 'tucked' among the other buildings in the immediate area.
	In the piazza di Spagna (one of the most popular meeting places in Rome), Lena was able to see CHESTNUTS being roasted on charcoal by a street vendor (and to see examples of Chestnuts still in their original shell hanging on the post on the right side of the picture).		Accross the square, at the bottom of THE SPANISH STEPS, is a beautiful fountain where we met our Trafalgar Guide to continue our walking tour of Rome. We continued walking several blocks...
	...and arrived at the PIAZZA NAVONA with its many street artists and beautiful fountains. This is a photo of one end of the Piazza Navona and...		...this is the view in the opposite direction in the Piazza Navona which better shows the street vendors, the fountains, and the many restaurants around the sides of the plaza.
	Lena tried an Italian dish and Steve had a pizza in one of the open-air restaurants.		Lena was impressed by the fountains and...
	...the variety and quality of local art work available from the street vendors. (She was NOT, however, attracted by the huge prices being asked for these art works!)		The next day we visited the SISTINE CHAPEL situated in the VATICAN MUSEUM and were able to see...
	...the incredibly beautiful ceiling paintings by MICHELANGELO as well as many other famous works of art.		It is difficult to imagine how Michelangelo could lay on his back on top of ladders for days, weeks, months, and YEARS...painting in dim light or by candlelight...and achieve these beautiful paintings enjoyed by millions of people even today.
	While Steve is not normally a big fan of museums, even he was greatly impressed by seeing these works of art.		As we entered ST. PETER'S BASILICA, an unfriendly Vatican guard told us 'No Photos' since our taking pictures would slow down the line of people he was quickly ushering through. However, after getting about 25 feet inside, Steve took this shot of him being more friendly with 'other' tourists!
	This photo of Lena was taken in front of St. Peter's and the large open area in the background is VATICAN SQUARE.		Down the steps and to the LEFT side of the previous photo is the POPE'S living quarters and WINDOW (as seen from Vatican Square).
	This is another shot of St. Peter's (on the left) and the Vatican (taken from the center of Vatican Square).		That elderly Nun in white behind Lena had certainly looked over Lena as she headed toward St. Peter's.
	This commercial aerial view of St. Peter's and the Vatican gives a much clearer perspective of the overall view of this huge complex of buildings and surrounding area.		And, thiscommercial aerial view at night of St. Peter's Basilica and Vatican Square is quite beautiful.
	While Steve long ago renounced Catholicism after his divorce in 1974, even he was impressed with the beauty seen inside St. Peter's Basilica.		Lena was also tremendously pleased with being able to visit such a world-famous church and to finally see first-hand what we had only seen previously in the movies or on TV.