Saint Valentine's Day in Rome: We were up for a 7:30 a.m. breakfast. Not so much our students. They were to meet us at 10 a.m. for our final walk around Rome. It was raining heavily when we awoke, and the internet hourly forecast said heavy rain and thunderstorms all morning, 100% chance. We were trying to come up with a "Plan B" activity.
But almost precisely at 10 a.m., when we were to set out, the rain stopped. As we walked, the clouds parted and blue skies prevailed. Do lead a charmed life, or what?
We walked to the Spanish Steps -- a monument in Rome I've never quite understood because, for all of the attention, poetry, romanticism, etc., in the end, they're just stairs.
From there it was a short walk to Trevi Fountain. The stonework has recently been cleaned, and all of the coal and diesel grime removed. It's an amazing piece of work. Although it was crowded, our students made their way down, and several managed the ritual of tossing in three coins over their shoulder.
A few students insisted they needed just one more photo at the Colosseum or the Forum, so they ran off while the rest of us headed back to the hotel. Our route took us right past the Pantheon, now closed for Sunday Mass. Police keep the tourists out during services, so we're glad we didn't wait until today to see it.
The van drivers were right on time to get us to the airport, and Air Malta was right on time to bring us home. Ivan, our van driver in Malta, tried to give us all a lesson in speaking Malti. I'm very glad most people here speak English, as well.
Our trip to Rome was wonderful, and the weather smiled on us particularly.
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