Departed on Sunday  May 15, 2001 and arrived the following morning in Rome. Checked in and spent the rest of the day resting and getting organized.

Tuesday  17, 2001: Spent the whole day in Rome visiting the Roman Forum,  Circus Maximus, the incredible Colosseum and St.Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.

Wednesday 18, 2001: Left Rome to visit the Abbey of Montecassino. Was impressed by the reconstucted one, as the original  was completely destroyed by the Allies in World War ll. The bombing had raised a lot of controversy since it was discoverd after the war that the Germans had dug in only after the bombing. Next  drove to Pompeii. This Roman city destroyed and preserved by Mt. Vesuvius 2000 years ago was amazing.

Thursday 19, 2001: Headed for the bay of Naples with the legendary and idylic Isle of Capri. No wonder it  was the location chosen by Roman Emperors to build their  summer homes. Fantastic views of the shoreline, white-washed houses, fashionable shops and quaint little restaurants.

Friday 20, 2001:This morning visited Assisi. A pink-stone city ringed by medieval ramparts set in the heart of the Umbrain hills. In the center is the 13th-century Basilica of St Francis know for its beautiful fresco paintings.

Saturday 21, 2001: Drove to San Marino. This tiny republic is the smallest in the world and is famous for its spectacular hilltop location.

Sunday 22, 2001: Unique Venice with incredible sights and sounds. St. Mark's Square, Doges Palace, Bridge of Sighs and the Venetian lagoon. Visited a glass blowing factory which was very interesting to watch and had a wonderful seafood lunch in Burano, a little island on the lagoon, where we discovered it too had an inclined tower that to the naked eye, matches the slope of the one in Pisa.

Monday 23, 2001: Left Venice heading for Verona and the Italian Lakes. The Roman Arena in Verona is amazingly, still in use today. Verona with touristic  innovation has preserved a building that purports to be Juliet's balcony from Romeo and Juliet. As in most Italian cities we've seen,  it too has a picturesque market square with little shops.

Tuesday 24, 2001: The shores of Lakes Maggiore and Lugano surrounded by the splendor of the Swiss Alps are just awesome to behold. Below Brenda and I having coffee at our hotel named very a propos "Splendid Hotel".

Wednesday 25, 2001: Lunch in Milan on our way to view the extraordinary Leaning Tower at Pisa (180 feet high and no less than 16 feet out of the perpendicular). Unbelievable!

Thursday & Friday 27, 2001: Florence the Capital of Tuscany is one of Italy's most atmospheric and pleasant cities and is by far my favorite. The Duomo, Piazza Della Republica, Medici Chapels and shop-lined Ponte Vecchio makes for an unforgetable visit. Is it a small wonder then, that sipping a caffe latte in one of the side-walk cafes seems to taste better than those at home?

Saturday 28, 2001: Left Florence and drove to Siena. Ramparts still surround the hills of this city which is renowned for the Palio horse race which takes place in the main square every summer. The pictures below were taken in San Gimignano, city of the beautiful towers surrounded by the splendid Tuscan countryside.

Back in Rome for the last night, we enjoyed a very special farewell dinner. Three tenors and a soprano entertained us with beautiful arias and Neapolitan songs. A lovely way to end this most enjoyable trip.

Sunday 29, 2001: Boarded a Delta flight for our return home.