A good sleep by all & the day started off delightful enough, and our usual breakie by 8:15. The same good food & coffee, before we head out for some shopping & a couple of churches. It's our last full day in Rome, so we'll get a few trinkets to take home, after a few churches.We check into taking the train to the airport tomorrow, but you have to be 1st class & it's 15E each, so we'll just take a taxi. Maybe it was the day--our 13th day-or I just let my guard down, but after we get tickets for today's bus trips, we head to bus # 64 & a trip to a large outdoor market. Well, the bus was beyond packed but we got on & all of a sudden I had a bad felling..sure enough, my pocket was picked & away went my billfold, some euros & credit cards. Why didn't I put them in my belt? Good question. We immediately get off the bus & check all pockets, & then call the credit card companies. Everything went ok & no charges have been made. We do retrace our steps to make sure, but we give up & go back to our original plan & go to the outdoor markets at Campo Fiori. There are lots of vendors selling everything from fresh strawberries, tee-shirts, & produce of all kinds. Back to a nice little park for a picnic lunch & watch a lady feed 100's of pigeons by a fountain. Now we proceed to the Piazza Di Pietro in Vincoli & what a church! A commissioned (1505) sculpture of Moses, by Michelangelo, who spent 8 months looking for the perfect piece of marble. Quite an awesome site & sight too. Back out to the street & a walk up to the Santa Maria Maggiore- a great Roman Basilica. It is an original 5th century building, with Medieval additions & a 13th century ceilings. The ceilings are incredible with gold brought from America by Columbus. There is also another Egyptian Obelisk erected in 1587 so pilgrims could find the church. A mass started while we were inside, in the "small" chapel, totally adorned in gold & some lovely singing. It's time for gelato, especially since it's raining a little. Ok, enough churches, so it's back toward the hotel & a stroll by the giant "Raffa" billboard-Joan would love it! Once at the hotel, the girls at the front desk said we should report the theft, so Cami & I walk to the police station (The Carabinieri). The officer is very polite & speaks good English, but it is apparent he doesn't want us to officially report the "complaint". It was a beautiful walk , with a few embassies & parks, but a waste of time , I suppose. Back up to the Ranieri & KK is still on the computer & talking with Geoff, who is visiting Dottie at the time (she's sort of awake). He's helping us with the reporting of the theft with the bank. Ok, we change and head out to our favorite restaurant-The Taverna Flavia. We are greeted at the door again & seated inside, served our bubbly & we take in all of the celebrity photos on the wall. Some wine, a grand birra & our pasta. I get the spaghetti with clams & there are tons of them! KK get the Spaghetti with green peas-the best yet! Cami goes for the spahgetti pamadoro with basil. A great meal to end our stay in Italy & Rome especially. Up to the room to shower & pack for our trip to Leonardo DeVinci Airport tomorrow morning.
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