European Escapade Page 9 of 12

	We were both quite pleased with the quality of digital images from both of our Nikon cameras which we were able to capture using only the existing low light levels inside St. Peters Cathedral.		While we took a number of photos inside St. Peters, these...
	...are representative of the others we shot.		The Altare della Patria is a huge complex that was finally completed by Mussolini. It is a majestic, white monument composed of stairways, columns, and marble statues that is Italy's "Unknown Soldier Tomb" from WWI.
	On the day we were to visit the monument, there was some kind of a demonstration underway and the police were not allowing cars or buses to stop. So, the only photos we got of Altare della Patria were through the windows of our Trafalgar bus!		A commercial photo taken from a higher level that better illustrates the size of Altare della Patria as well as its surrounding area.
	This is an 'unnamed' ancient Roman ruin which we photographed from the bus's window as we drove slowly by the site.		The ROMAN FORUM was the commercial, political and religious center of ancient Rome. We were not able to actually visit this site due to traffic congestion and time constraints, so had to use this commercial image.
	It was a hot, sunny, and beautiful day to visit the ROMAN COLOSSEUM (seen in the left edge of this photo).		The colosseum was built approximately 80 AD and is very well preserved. It was designed to hold 50,000 spectators and had eighty entrances so crowds could arrive and leave easily and quickly.
	These costumed 'Roman Centurions' were available to pose...for a hefty PRICE...in photos with tourists. Steve elected to simply shoot their picture using a telephoto lens and keep his cash!		Below the wooden arena floor, there was a complex set of rooms and passageways for wild beasts and other provisions for staging the spectacles. Eighty walls radiate from the arena and support vaults for passageways, stairways and the overhead tiers of seats.
	The temperature inside the Colosseum must have been around 90 degrees (F) the day we were there and one could only wonder what it must have been like for the gladiators in ancient times to fight in this arena.		The Colosseum has been used for modern concerts by adding the new wooden center 'cross' section where performers and audience can sit during the event (as well as being able to stand around the various original levels of the Colosseum itself).
	From inside the Colosseum, it was possible to see another set of Roman ruins across the street (which we were not able to visit due to time constraints).		Near our hotel in Rome (which was within walking distance of the Vatican and St. Peters's) we found a souvenir shop which had a nice selection of GOEBEL cats (made in Germany).
	After closely looking at these three different Goebel alternatives, we decided that the little guy in the middle (lying down) would be the perfect gift to ourselves as a 'reminder' of our European trip!		After two nights in Rome, we traveled northward to FLORENCE [SEE MAP], Italy which is world famous for its GOLD JEWELRY and LEATHER products (as well as being the city which has Michelangelo's sculpture of DAVID)!
	After a group photo of everyone on our Trafalgar tour was taken using the city of Florence as the background, we decided it might be nice to have just a photo of the two of us with the same background!		Actually, the city is quite beautiful with its river, bridges, and the classic architectural style of its buildings.
	This is a telephoto shot of a building or church located in the middle of the city.		We took a 'walking tour' of the city and stopped briefly in front of this impressive church. However, Lena was MUCH more interested in visiting the museum which was the home for DAVID (a sculpture which she has wanted all her life to see in person).
	After visiting that museum and NOT being able to take any photographs of Michelangelo's DAVID, we continued our walking tour to this 'village square' and clock tower in Florence.		Fortunately for Lena, in this town square was a life-size REPLICA of DAVID (as seen in this photo).
	The extensive selections and beautiful designs of GOLD JEWELRY available in the section of Florence which had many, many jewelry stores was beyond one's imagination. This is but one window along a street with as many as a 100 similar windows!		On the way from Florence, Italy to MONACO and NICE, France, we stopped in PISA [SEE MAP], Italy to see its LEANING TOWER. Tour buses were not allowed on the narrow streets of PISA, so we had to ride this miniature 'train' for about 3 or 4 miles into the city.
	We arrived at the LEANING TOWER very early in the morning and were somewhat surprised to discover it was located sort of 'out in the middle of NOWHERE!" In other words, Pisa is NOT a big city and it is located quite some distance from other tourist atttractions.		Of course, we had to shoot the usual 'gag' photo of someone (like Steve) appearing to be trying to keep the tower from falling over.
	It is interesting that when one sees the Tower in person, there is NO QUESTION as to its REALLY LEANING. In short, this is NOT some photographic trick or weird angle from which the photo was taken---IT IS CROOKED!		Lena thought these water fountains were cute.
	Steve wanted one final low-angle shot of the Tower with as few people in the scene as possible. It took some patience, but he finally got this image.		Lena was not surprised to see PISA tour books in RUSSIAN available for sale to tourists.