Europe Trip 2011

EUROPE TRIP 2011


Saturday, May 21,
I left home about 7:15 a.m. for Mark’s house. He and Sharon dropped me off at the SLC airport. I checked my largest bag, and since I was in group A on Southwest Airlines. I got on board fairly easily. There is no assigned seating with Southwest but I found an empty luggage bin over an empty seat which worked out well.

For some reason, the flight first flew to Seattle, and almost everyone got off, only 2 or 3 remained on board; including me. Then lots of people got on to fly to Kansas City.

In SLC I bought a burrito as no meals are served on Southwest. The price listed was $7.89 but with the tax it was $11.07. I was astonished at how much it was.

I arrived in Kansas City about 6 p.m. and Lauren picked me up. We then drove to her house, a very nice one, and joined Ross and their two kids and went to IHOP for dinner. I read some books to Ethan and Leah and then, after a little visit with Lauren and Ross, went to bed. A very comfortable bed. Very cute kids.

Sunday, May 22
I went to church with the Terry family. After Sacrament meeting, Lauren went to teach the eight-year-old kids in Primary and Ross went to do Financial Clerk business. I went to Sunday School then the Priesthood and Relief Society were combine talking about preparing for the Kansas City Temple, which should be ready later this year.

After the block of meetings, we returned home and Alan, Peggy, Sam and Will came about 12:30 p.m. After lunch, Sam drove us to the airport.

The first plane was small, two seats on either side. We flew to Philadelphia, a very large airport. The second plane was huge. Two seats, then four across, then two more. We always lucked out getting an empty bin by an empty seat. The night was very long and I didn’t get hardly any sleep, though I took a sleeping pill thinking it would help.

Monday, May 23
We arrived in London about 9:30 a.m. their time. After going through customs, we took a taxi to our hostel to leave our luggage, as it was too early to check in. The hostel is the King William IV, part pub and part hostel. We took two buses and visited a museum at Somerset House. They had Van Gogh, Gaugain, Renoir, Cezanne and others but those were my favorites. We then found a sandwich shop and ate our food outdoors in a big courtyard that had a water fountain going. I had a Cornish pasty, meat, potatoes and veggies, fried. Good.

We then went back to the hostel. Our room is small with four sets of bunk beds, two showers and one toilet. We have a balcony overlooking the Thames River but too windy and cold to enjoy. Tomorrow we have to change to another room, no sé porque.

Everyone else went out this evening but I enjoyed being by myself. Had a shower and washed hair but no good mirrors; hard to see to do my hair. Most of the 22 girls and 1 boy have arrived.

Tuesday, May 24
Breakfast consists of cereal, hard boiled eggs, toast, juice etc. We went to Westminster Abbey, but it was closed due to Pres. Obama’s visit so we went to Sir John Soame’s Museum. It was chuck full of paintings, statues and whatever. The originals of the series of paintings “The Rake’s Progress” by Hogarth were there.

We then visited the Banqueting Hall. It is the only building left from Whitehall Palace which burned down in 1622. The ceiling has paintings by Rubens. Charles I was beheaded there. It is a beautiful building. I bought a book about it.

The four of us went to ride on the London Eye. It took about 30 minutes for it to complete a circle and we had great visions of the city. We then went to the British Museum and I spent my
1 ½ hour in the Roman Britain section. Loved it.

We bought our supper at a “Pret a Manger” sandwich shop and ate at tables out-of-doors by St. Martin in the Fields church. Windy and cold. When we returned to the hostel we had to change to another room and make our beds again. We get a bottom sheet, a cover for a comforter or duvet, a pillow case and a towel. We have a large nice bathroom but no plug to use in it. A little tired.

Wednesday, May 25
Visited Westminster Abbey. Next to it is a large building called Sanctuary, I don’t know if that is the name of the building or of the area. There is an opening to a large open space called the Dean’s Ward. Beautiful buildings. Loved seeing Westminster Abbey again but a little difficult doing it with 26 other people as we were supposed to stay together. Next was the Tower of London and I admired the Crown Jewels again. So beautiful and sparkly. I walked up some very narrow steep steps to the Bloody Tower. I sat awhile while Alan, Peggy and Will saw more.

We, the four of us, walked across Tower Bridge, then visited an old church. Saw a replica of Sir Francis Drake’s ship The Golden Hind. Returned to the hostel for a rest, then went to Victoria Station and found a good Italian restaurant , Il Posto, then back to the hostel.

Thursday, May 26
We walked to Pimlico train station and took the tube to Kings Cross station. Some students were late so Alan and I waited for them while Peggy, Will and the rest of the students went on. When the others finally arrived we took a train to Petersborough then changed to a train to Stamford and took taxis to Burghley House. It was built by William Cecil, later treasurer for Queen Elizabeth I. It is a lovely, elegant home. What was most impressive was the huge kitchen. It had a vaulted ceiling, huge table and very large pots and pans. The state bedrooms and great hall were also very impressive.


After lunch, we then took the taxis back to Stamford, took the train to Peterborough and walked into town. We visited Peterborough Cathedral. It was beautiful; Katherine of Aragon is buried there. Mary Queen of Scots was also but after 25 year, her son James I moved her to Westminster Abby.

When leaving Pimlico station we experienced a huge downpour. The rain was pouring down the entrance like a river. The one day I didn’t have my umbrella but Alan shared. We were within walking distance of the hostel but took the bus. I get tired with all this walking.

Friday, May 27
The whole group went by train the Cambridge. We had a great tour with a great guide. Saw Kings College, its Chapel which was beautiful, and other parts. We then saw St. John’s College, also great. It was endowed by Margaret Beaufort, descended from John of Gaunt.

We ate lunch in a restaurant in a restored church and then went punting on the River Cam. Our man was half Portuguese and half from Sri Lanka but didn’t speak Portuguese. He said he was dark on the outside but white on the inside. He was very handsome.

We took the train to Ely and visited the cathedral. It is magnificent!!! We attended an evensong service with lots of plain song then other hymns by a male choir of six men. Took the train back to London, tube and bus to hostel.

Saturday, May 26
Alan, Peggy and I did laundry at a laundromat. It is so good to have clean clothes again. We then took the bus and tube to Portobello Market. Too many people and it looked different than what I expected..

We took a taxi to Wallace House. A huge home filled with great paintings: Rembrandt, Velazquez, Cannaletto, Romney, Reynolds, Gainsborough, etc. One of the paintings I recognized was “The Laughing Cavalier” so I bought a postcard of it. On the way back to the hostel, I sat by a very friendly lady and visited with her. We went to eat at Il Posto again.

Sunday, May 29
We had planned on riding the tube to church, which was clear across town but found out the tube stations near the church were closed down for repairs. It seems that on Sunday is when they shut down places for repairs. So the four of us opted for Hampton Court. King Henry VIII took it from Cardinal Wolsey. The last monarchs to live there were William and Mary. Loved seeing the huge kitchens. People in costume were kneading bread, chopping meat and doing other tasks while staying in character. There were several rooms, all interesting with huge fireplaces and ovens for cooking. 600 people were fed twice a day from them.

That evening, the four of us attended an organ recital at Westminster Abbey. It was glorious! Cathedrals and Abbeys are what organs are made for. The music was so grand!


Monday, May 30
The group took the train to Salisbury where four large passenger taxis took us to Stonehenge. We each had individual hearing devices so we could hear all about it. We walked all around it in the rain. It was awesome.

The taxis then took us to Walton House, the home of the Earls of Pembrooke. I saw the riding stables where horses had been exercised but now housed a collection of antique cars. It also had about 15 dioramas of 17th and 18th centuries battles. Very interesting. Then I visited the Tudor kitchens. Very well presented with mannequins and samples of food. They also had a huge Victorian laundry room and a room with two large doll houses. That part of the place was my favorite though the house was very beautiful.

Taxis then took us to Salisbury Cathedral, very beautiful. A copy of the Magna Charta is preserved there.

Tuesday, May 31
Alan, Peggy and I went to St. Paul’s Cathedral which I hadn’t visited before. It is very large and spacious. Nelson and Wellington are buried there. Awe inspiring. We then took the tube to Paddington Station where we took a train to Bath. The country near Bath is very green with rolling hills and lots of trees.

We took a taxi to view the Royal Crescent, a row of 30 dwellings arranged in a semi-circle. #! Royal Crescent is a home restored to its Georgian days. Very interesting. One could see one of Jane Austin’s heroines in it.

Peggy and I visited the Fashion Museum but it wasn’t like what I had seen 25 years before. They did have a display of wedding dresses from 1800 to the present but lots of modern clothes. When I had visited it before they had clothing from 1400 to the present and was most interesting.

Alan, Will and I visited the Roman Bath. They now have audio so one can listen as we look at things. A man, dressed in Roman costume, visited with us. I enjoyed it a lot again and felt the water. It is quite warm.

We took the train back, ate one more time at the Italian Restaurant. It is still very good.

Wednesday, June 1
Alan, Peggy and I took a taxi to St. Pancras station, then took the train to Canterbury. Very old cathedral. Saw the tomb of the Black Prince, brother of John of Gaunt. I also saw the candle marking the spot where Thomas a’Becket’s tomb was before it was destroyed by Henry VIII. There were beautiful flowers in the cloister.

We ate at a Vienniese restaurant, a chicken, bacon and avocado salad. So good to have some vegetables. We miss fruit and vegetables as we usually grab a cibatta bread sandwich at various train stations.

Alan and Peggy walked to some other sites and I visited a Roman Museum. Loved it !!! A Roman town existed here in Canterbury, now well below street level. It had great exhibits with models showing how they dressed, worked: made shoes, fixed hair, etc. We met back at the train station and returned to London. Bought things for supper. A great day.

Thursday, June 2
We took a taxi to Kings Cross Station. On the way we passed the statue of Boudicca. I had wanted to see it but wasn’t sure just where it was. I was glad to have seen it. We took a 2 ½ hour train ride to York. Walked to the hostel through the Micklegate Bar; the hostel is a cut above the London one. It is a Georgian home but our room was up three flights of stairs on what would be our fourth floors!!! Our room has one double bed and two single ones with lots more room. The bathroom is very small.

We left our luggage and walked to York Minster. It is a beautiful cathedral with tons of stained glass windows. It is built on the foundation of a Norman Cathedral which was built on the foundation of part of the Roman Fort here at Eboracum, where the IX Legion was stationed. There is a Roman Museum in the crypt which I enjoyed.

We walked some more and ate at a “Slug and Lettuce” restaurant. Horrid name but good food.

Friday, June 3
Breakfast consists of cereal, croissants, fruit. We took a tour bus, Eddie Brown’s, to Harewood House. It is a lovely home set in a large park. John Carr designed the outside and Robert Wood the inside. The ceilings were the most beautiful I’ve ever seen. White plaster with lovely designs. The 6th Earl of Harewood, 88 years old, is the son of Princess Mary, daughter of King George V and sister to Bertie, George VI. One room had Chinese wallpaper from the 1700s.

We then took the bus to Fountains Abbey, which was destroyed by Henry VIII. It is huge. One has to walk one-half mile down hill to get to it. It took a lot of effort and time to walk back up.
I saw the remains of the warming room where the brothers warmed themselves before bed; the only room with a fireplace. I was disappointed that there were no signs explaining what we were seeing. It was in a beautiful valley. I’m sure it was a glorious abbey.

We ate at a pizza place for supper. My back hasn’t hurt these past two days and I’m very grateful.

As we travel through the country we see hedges (hedgerows) that separate fields instead of fences. Saw very few fences; once I saw stone fences.

Saturday, June 4
Traffic lights, in London and elsewhere, show red, yellow, green, yellow, red, etc. Yarrow grows by the side of the road in the country.

We visited Haddon Hall. It was started in Norman times, finished about 1600. It is an old home and was abandoned for 200 years so it was not modernized. There was a channel just outside the chapel. We were told that rain water would run down the channel to a garderobe or toilet, on the other side of the wall. When it didn’t rain, someone had to clean out the toilet. There were bats living in the old chapel and since they are an endangered species, they can’t get rid of them. The large doors were open with streamers hanging down to keep out the swallows. The most beautiful flowers were at Haddon Hall. The outside of one of the walls was covered in climbing roses in red, white, yellow and pink. There was also a lot of clematis and lovely flowers in the garden. I bought a book to be able to remember this place; my favorite.

We then went to Chatsworth, a huge, magnificent home. Really too over the top, so ornate. It is situated in a huge park. It had a very long water cascade, 24 steps, in the park.. As we were driving through one of the towns, we saw a tower that was twisted; it looked like a wizard’s hat.

Sunday, June 5
I did my laundry at 6:30 a.m. when no one else wanted to. There are only two washers and two dryers for the whole hostel.

Our Eddie Brown but took us to Hardwick Hall, home of Bess of Hardwick, the 2nd most wealthy and important woman after Queen Elizabeth I who was her friend. She had four husbands, the first was a Barlow, 2nd Cavendish, father of her children, 3rd Talbot, 4th Earl of Shrewbury. Her old home was near by and is now a ruin. She built Hardwick Hall and it is a most remarkable building. Many glass windows, the theme was “more glass than walls” and she had very wide stairs built making it a very light and spacious building. Her initials ES are all over the building, Elizabeth Shrewsbury. ER was Elizabeth I’s initials, Elizabeth Regina. We had a lady give us a lecture before visiting the house which was very well done and interesting.

My lunch was soup, bread and scone with clotted cream and jam. The cream is consistency of butter but with a sweet taste.

In the afternoon we visited Keddleston Manor, another grand and magnificent home. One of the later owners was viceroy of India and held a Durbar in 1903. There were many Indian artifacts on display along with the gown his wife wore, the peacock gown. It was made with gold and silver threads made to look like peacock feathers with jewels. It weighed 10 lbs. and was made by Worth of Paris. She had to have help to put it on.

For supper we went to an Indian restaurant. It had Dankin (?) very good but only medium hot.

Monday, June 6
We traveled by Eddie Brown bus again to Whitby, a fishing town on the North Sea. Alan and I walked to where we could see the sea. It was great. Afterwards we traveled to Robin Hood’s Bay. One had to walk down a steep trail to the little village and I opted out. I spent the time visiting with a nice little lady from Lincoln.

We then visited Castle Howard, which Leon and I had visited 25 years ago. Another grand and glorious home. The movie “Brideshead Revisited” was filmed here and there were lots of pictures from the early version and a later one.

We travel by freeways sometimes but mostly by two-lane highways going through little villages and towns. Terrain very hilly and steep roads today. England is like a huge park, so green!

All the group was treated to a Spanish Restaurant in York. I had tapas for the first time. We also had paella and sundry dishes. I walked home early as I was tired. My ankles are swollen, as lately they are after every day.

Tuesday, June 7
I decided not to go to Edinburgh, though I had wanted to; my ankles are too swollen. Peggy and Will went but Alan also opted to stay in York. By myself, I walked to the Shambles, a very narrow street, visited York Minster again. One of the highlights of the Minster is a screen of statues of all the kings of England from William the Conqueror to Henry VI. They are divided with eight on one side and eight on the other; very impressive. I then visited Yorkshire Museum which had a great Roman Britain exhibit. Walked back to the hostel and ate a cheese panini from the bar. Relaxed, read and took a nap. Then Alan and I went to an Italian restaurant for supper.

Was able to call Sylvia and talk to her; it was great. I finally was able to figure out how to use the phone and international telephone card. My Wells Fargo Credit Card can’t be used to get money because it wouldn’t recognize my pin number but the Chase one worked.

Wednesday, June 8
The last day in York. I visited the Jorvick Viking Museum, pronounce Yorvick. It was very interesting. It had a ride like at Disneyland and it went around a Viking village with houses and models of working people such as a blacksmith, baker and shoemaker. A dig was covered over with glass and you could walk over it and see bones, coins, and pieces of pottery.

I visited another museum. Had a lunch of mushroom soup and bread, very good then visited the museum It had a Victorian street which was quite extensive showing shops, school, bank, etc. Then there were display of various eras of kitchens and parlors. They had a fridge like the one we had in Buenos Aires, with the motor on top.

All four of us ate at the same Italian restaurant. Will is traveling with some of the students back to London and Heathrow airport this evening to spend the night. He’ll fly home tomorrow.

Thursday, June 9
I visited the church across the street from the hostel. There had been a church at that site since 900 A.D. Students are going home today.

Alan, Peggy and I walked to the train station and took two different trains to East Midland Airport. RyanAir only allows one checked bag, 15 kilos. and one carryon, 10 kilos that includes purse, book, everything. My bags were o.k. but Alan and Peggy’s were too heavy and they had to buy another bag and paid $80 (pounds) for a second checked bag. This airline really rips you off. Flying over England was delightful; I could see all the little patchwork fields and little red brick spots that there villages.

We arrived in Venice about 8:30 p.m. and took a taxi to the hotel. Hotel Titian. Very nice! I have a little separate bedroom.


Friday, June 10
They had a great breakfast with cakes, cereal, lots of fresh fruit, milk (that tastes like canned). We took a bus into Venice as we were a few miles outside the city. We waked to the train station and checked our luggage and walked! We crossed the Rialto bridge and went to a beautiful old church “Glorious St. Mary of the Friars). Every once in a while we would see a stone well now coverded over but in the past each neighborhood had its own well. We ate a sidewalk café and I had vegetable soup. Hard to get enough vegetables and fruit. I shopped for glass ware, finally found something I liked. I hope it makes it home.

We walked to St. Marks’ Square. The ATM wouldn’t take my Chase card, which worked in England; had to use my Wells Fargo debit card. We went inside St. Mark’s, very old, 11th century. We took a Vaporetto (a boat that you travel on around Venice) all along the Grand Canal to the train station. Alan bought us pizza to eat and we traveled to Verona. Once again I have my own room. I have a very bad , red rash on both legs.

Saturday, June 11
Our hotel is Hotel Bologna. After another good breakfast, Peggy and I went walking, and we went through the Porta Borsani, a Roman Gate. We wandered around and saw the Arena, and old buildings, Piazza Erbe. The ruling family had other families tear down their towers so they would be the only ones with a tower. We visited Sta. Anastacia church, the largest in Verona. The organ was playing, mostly familiar tunes. Very enjoyable. After lunch, I rested, to let swollen ankles go down.

Alan, Peggy and I walked to a park by the arena and sat on a bench and enjoyed the good weather. We watched a little girl chase the pigeons. We ate dinner at a restaurant; both lunch and dinner were expensive.

Sunday, June 12
We took the train from Venice to Florence. We are at Hotel Olympia on the 4th floor but they have an elevator! We are all together in the room again. There is a bed and breakfast on the 2nd floor and a dentist’s office on the 1st floor. The hotel is across the Piazza della Repubblica, a great location. We can walk to everything. Rash almost gone.

I waited in line for an hour for the Uffizi Gallery but it didn’t hardly move so decided to just look at the David replica in the piazza. I wandered on my own. I visited the Pallazzo Vecchio,I had taken Leon’s picture in the entrance by the fountain 25 years ago. I visited the market and bought bracelets for the girls. After lunch, I went back to the hotel to rest, ankles very swollen.

We all then went to the Bargello Museum. Michelangelo’s statue of Bacchus and the Winged Mercury statue are there. It is great to see originals. We then went to Santa Croce church. Very big church and lovely. Michelangelo, Rossini, Dante and Galileo are buried there. Walked back to the hotel to rest and Alan and Peggy went to do laundry, some of mine too. After eating we stopped by a church and heard the organ play.


Monday, June 13
This hotel’s breakfast is so so. We walked to the Palazzo Davanzati. One of my favorite places. It is built around an open courtyard. several stories high. On the courtyard side of the building there is a well that can be reached from each floor. One can let down a pitcher and bring up water so easily. In two of the bedrooms, a little room is set off with a toilet. Quite modern for a 14th century medieval home.

We saw the courtyard of the Strozzi family, also the Medici’s. They were very large and impressive. We walked by the Duomo, (Cathedral) and the Baptistry and Bell Tower. Then visited the Museum of the Duomo which houses the original doors “Gates of Paradise”. The baptistry has replicas. We weren’t able to see the originals as they were being restored. In the museum I saw Michelangelo’s statue, another Pieta, which is of Nicodemus helping to lower Jesus’ body from the cross. Michelangelo used his face for Nicodemus. Another familiar work of art viewed in person. The courtyard in the building is where he fashioned the David.

We walked to the San Lorenzo church; outside is very rough, not finished. The inside is spacious and simple; ordered built by the Medici. We had lunch and then I walked back to the hotel by myself to rest.

Later we walked to the Ponte Vecchio and saw where the secret passage ran. It ran from near the Vatican, across the river to the Pitti Palace enabling the pope to escape in times of trouble. We ate at a very nice restaurant and while returning, went by the Palazzo Vecchio and saw two couples swinging from ropes from the top floor doing aerial tricks. It was fun to watch them; The bells were ringing as they were swinging out in space. We then returned to our hotel.

Tuesday, June 14
We took a bus, similar to a Greyhound bus, to Siena. We are staying at the Albergo Cannon d’Oro. It is very old; until 1262 A.D. it was a former palace. The man at the desk is from Peru so I enjoyed speaking to him in Spanish.

We ate lunch and then walked to see the Campo, where the Palio races are held every year. We visited the Baptistry, a very beautiful building with an elaborate font with bronze panels by Donatello and Ghiberti. I couldn’t take pictures inside and there were no postcard pictures; I was disappointed. Walking, we came by a building and Alan tells me is the world’s oldest bank, dates from late 1400s.

We climbed many steps and visited the crypt of the Duomo. Inside the church, all the columns are striped black and white. Saw some beautiful illuminated music manuscripts and beautiful frescoes. We next visited the museum that had early statues by Pisano; they used to be out-of-doors but are now inside. He lived about 1270 AD. I bought a pretty bowl at a shop.

Was able to talk to Sylvia and learn all well at home.

Wednesday, June 15
Today I am 80!!!
After breakfast, I walked down to the Campo for one last look. Alan and Peggy took a longer walk.

We took a train to Chiusi (Clusium in my “Eagle of the Ninth Book”) then transferred to another train to Rome. We took a taxi to our Hotel Adler; they also had an elevator. We took a taxi to the Roman Forum. I had not visited it before so it was a real treat. It is much larger than what I had imagined. Loved being there and seeing all the ruins and thinking of all that took place there.

Alan and Peggy treated me to supper for my birthday; we went to a very good pizzeria. While we were eating, on the sidewalk under umbrellas, two street musicians, a violin and guitar, came by and started playing. I immediately recognized the introduction to a song, it was “Alma Llanera” from Venezuela. I was thrilled. They then sang “Jalisco” another favorite from my childhood. I spoke to them and found out they were from Peru. They then sang “Malagueña” a beautiful song and then I requested “Flor de la Canela” from Peru. A favorite of my Dad’s and sister Nancy’s. We gave them 5 Euros. It was such a treat, the frosting on the cake! They both sang and played very well. What a way to celebrate my birthday. The man at the hotel desk kissed my hand for my birthday!

Thursday, June 16
Last full day in Rome. We took a taxi to St. Peter’s Square. We take lots of taxis as some places are too far to walk to. It is always a surprise to see how large the square is; enormous. St. Peter’s is still huge and grand with lots of people. We saw various other churches, the Fountain of Trevi, and was able to buy prints as gifts for the boys. We visited Piazza Navona and I was happy to see it as I had not seen it before. I had a good cream of tomato soup at the piazza.

After resting, I treated Alan and Peggy to dinner as a thank you; they took very good care of me. It was a very nice restaurant;; Peggy remembered just where it was located. She always knew where things were located and how to get there. The food was very good and Alan and Peggy had two different desserts and they were the best of the whole trip. I got to taste them and they were delicious.

Friday, June 17
We left the hotel about 8:15 a.m. and found out it was a little cheaper to take a taxi to the airport rather than taxi to train station and train to the airport. I enjoyed seeing more of Rome from the taxi window.

Our flight left about 11 a.m. and we flew to Charlotte, NC, a very long day. We had to go through security two different times which surprised me. Alan flew on to SLC to shoot a wedding and Peggy and I flew to Kansas City. Sam and Will picked us up and it was about 2:00 a.m. Rome time for us. We met Lauren at a Mall and I went with her to her home and Peggy and boys drove on to Manhattan.

I had told Lauren that I would be happy to sleep on the couch as their spare bedroom had company; her sister-in-law and husband. But Lauren and Ross gave me their bed, it was so soft and nice. I had their bathroom as well, no sharing like the past four weeks. So kind of them!

Saturday, June 18
Lauren drove me to the KC airport about 8:15 a.m. for a 10:00 am flight. I checked both bags, bless Southwest Airlines, and we flew first to Dallas. I ate lunch at the airport then flew on the Austin.
Alan and Tricia met me and we drove to their home. It is wonderful being back in familiar places. Alex and Russell and his two kids are there. Jillian is in Florida for a Volleyball tournament. Alex has put in miles of sprinkler pipes, 15 stations throughout their yard. Talked to Syl and Gina. Still on Rome time so very sleepy and went to bed at 8:00 p.m.