Italy #4

We have just come back to the hotel after visiting Santa Maria Maggiore an amazingly elaborate church with some parts dating back to 400AD. While we were there a mass was being conducted, and we sat and listened for a while. It was obviously an important mass because there were about fifty priests including some who appeared to be cardinals and a choir of about 25. There were hundreds in the congregation, most wearing something red. As we came out of the church it was raining, so we got a taxi back to the hotel, and we have a bus picking us up to take us to the airport in about half an hour... Africa here we come!!!!

We have both really enjoyed Rome, perhaps not just only the ancient stuff, but the wandering through the piazzas, the food, the interesting shops, the people and just soaking in the atmosphere. The weather did improve over the last couple of days, and yesterday we actually sat in the sun drinking coffee at the Piazza Campo de Fiori (see photo) which was full of street vendors selling all sorts of food, fresh vegies, flowers, fruit, meat, cheeses, spices and pasta, a wonderful display of Italian culture.

Some of the photos from the previous pages will be taken off the website soon as they take up a lot of the meagre 25Mb monthly quota!

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