Finally!

Ostia and Rome
Ever since we arrived to Rome we have been very busy and very tired but in a good way. It’s expected to feel a little out of sorts when you travel a Sunday, you can expect some of our traveling party where not too excited to adventure to a ruin: even a ruin as grand as Ostia Antigua. After a very short drive from the airport we dropped out of the bus and into one of Rome’s best weather days of the year. Ostia is one of the best kept secrets to the tourist world. Acres of some of the best preserved Roman history were literally at our feet to wander and explore. Most of the kids forgot about how tired they were and immediately found the place as wonderful as our experienced chaperones did.
After our two hour visit we hopped back on the bus to take the trip to our hotel La Meridienne in the village called Palestrina about 30 miles S.E. of Rome. Winding roads in the dusk of Rome revealed the beauty of this hilly landscape of olive trees, quaint shops and vista views.
We stumbled out of the bus wiping the sleep from our eyes to meet up together for dinner at 8:30. Our splintered travel group where one hundred strong of South wolverines once again. After dinner, bed checks by the chaperones were just a formality. Sleep found all quickly.
After a 5:45 wake-up call, we were ready for breakfast and a traffic congested Monday morning drive of 2 hours to Vatican City. If it is possible, the day was even more beautiful than the previous one. The drive in might have been long but there was plenty to see. The daily life of Romans was revealed to us along the highway. Speeding mopeds and smart cars worked their way around our bus as they hurried to work.
In the Vatican City we lined up to meet our day guide Maria who handed us whispers to hear her presentation. We then began our marvelous journey through the halls of priceless paintings, marble sculptures and tapestries that led to the culminating event of the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basillica.
After a break for lunch we went on to the Coliseum and the Forum. This was full day of walking in the glorious Roman sun. Many of us took advantage of the weather and took many pictures of this unique tourist attraction. People were out in numbers to enjoy the day.
Our 3rd day in Rome we had the opportunity to go just a little deeper into Rome and have some time to explore some of it on our own. After a longer bus ride to Rome from our hotel we arrived to Piaza De Popla. We assembled then marched down the narrow crowded streets to the Spanish Steps and took a group photo. After we caught our breath we took another collective stroll to the Trevi Fountain. I have been to this fountain several times but we found it this time to be the least crowded. Again, the day couldn’t have been dialed up any better as we experienced our 3rd day in a row of divine weather. Laura, our most patient tour director for EF, finally gave everyone the words most have been waiting for: “free time.” Most of the students wasted no time as they hit the shops for souvenirs. We all scattered through the streets of Rome. Becky Gerik, Chris Scott and I went to different shops to look at the wares. I was personally in a hunt for a doll for the doll collection my wife and daughter enjoy but I didn’t find what I was looking for. What I am constantly in the hunt for in Rome or anywhere on these trips for that matter is the perfect photo. In that, I was quite fortunate. The day produced many good shots.
Caprice
We woke up to an early breakfast to prepare our next leg to a new destination: Caprice. None of us have ever been here before but I have done some internet searches and knew that we were in for something special.