Italy and Greece J

Not sure if that is the correct Italian heading but you get the point! Mom and I took it easy yesterday since we had to get up EARLY for Rome today. Didn't sleep for some reason, got up at 4:00 a.m. and then took a series of trains to get to the Rome airport. Stayed with mom until she went to her departure gate and then I darted back to the main Rome train station -- a virtual hornet's nest -- to get a refund for the mistake with my railpass....

That was an adventure...I did not take NO for an answer from the first 3 employees and I think I finally wore them down! I got my money, but didn't have time for the Vatican since they close early....so I went to another (quiet) place. I went to a church called St. Peter in Chains. It has the actual chains that held Peter when he was imprisoned, according to the Vatican. They were in a glass ark type thing that was set up as an altar, with these little tree-shaped candle holders so you could light candles for people. I lit one for my three grandparents that passed on and Alton and Mania and my great-grandmother....you get the picture. I'm not Catholic, but it seemed to be a nice thing for remembrance...besides, I want someone saving me a seat up there!!!

Then, I went back to the train station, caught the slowest, hottest train in Rome and headed home. (No, I didn't know it at the time, silly.) It was over 30 minutes late, which made me almost miss my connecting train. There would have been a meltdown heard 'round the world! (Picture the Peanuts cartoon strip where they throw their head back and cry....) Anyway, I rode to the ends of the earth with a window that didn't go down.....finally made it back to my stop...had a healthy dinner of ice cream since I was too tired for anything else...and now I am ready for a shower and sleep......

Oh, I met a girl on my last train who was listening to country music....Sammy Kershaw singing about a doublewide trailer.....so I KNEW she had to be American and from the south...Sure enough, she is from North Carolina.....where I want to move back to....small world.... She is staying near here so we may see each other at the train station....

Ok, here is my disclaimer: Sentences that I write on this blog are to be considered correct grammatically. I am usually too tired when I write these things to care much about that until I return home....then my writing, spelling, and speech will be impeccable again!! ha ha