Last night's dinner at Ristorante Ambsciata d'Abruzzo was great with many different anti-pasti, pasta's, meat and lots of wine arriving at our table almost continuously for 90 minutes.   After airline food and not much else that day, it was great to be full and ready for bed.  Today started with Mass at the Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore (St. Mary Major) - one of Rome's most spectacular churches, followed by a guided tour of the church.  The highlight of this magnificent building are the relics of the manger of the Baby Jesus, housed under the main alter in a gold and glass enclosure.  From here, we traveled to the Church of St. Peter in Chains - a much less ornate venue, that has housed the chains that held St. Peter before he was crucified, and which have been held at this church for more than 700 years.  We were then off the the Coliseum, a truly magnificent stadium that held more than 60,000 people and was in use for more than 400 years. It is pretty easy to imagine the battles of the Gladiators in those times. After a lunch break in St. Peter's Square, we started a walking tour of Rome under sometimes rainy, snowy, hailing, and sunny skies.   Luckily it was sunny more than anything else.  We started at the Trevi Fountain - one of Rome's most visited sites and wandered the streets and plazas to the Basilica of the Pantheon, one of the most remarkable buildings in the world.  It is essentially perfectly preserved on the inside, and since it had been raining, we were able to see how the water that comes through the hole in the ceiling is drained (holes in the floor!).  I have visited the Pantheon on several other occasions, but I am amazed at it in new ways everytime I see it.  Off to another wonderful dinner at a restaurant near the hotel tonight.

Many have asked for pictures. When I get back in the office and get a chance to do some editing, I will be posting a web album of the journey for everyone to take a look at.