Visiting Veblena in Rome February 14-18

I think our trip to Rome holds the record for the most great pictures taken in a four day period.  We got on a plane in Seville at 7 in the morning and we were at my sister’s house on Lake Bracciano just north of Rome in time for a late breakfast.  We spent our first day with Veb just exploring the villages around the lake.  One village just happens to include the castle that Tom Cruise got married at.  The castle looks like it was taken straight off the pages of a children’s story book.  That evening, we got a chance to see Mauro’s parents and brother- there are some pictures of us all in Veb and Mauro’s apartment.   On Sunday we went to a medieval village in Umbria called Ovierto.  There are pictures of the church that is in the center of the village.  The façade on the front is incredible, with reliefs carved up and down and very interesting columns.  The church was worth the trip itself, but then we explored underneath the city.  There are man-made caves dating back from the Etruscan period throughout the city.  On the drive home, we stopped at another medieval-turned funky village with art galleries and Chelsea-like bars.  Monday and Tuesday were spent exploring Rome and visiting the school where Veblena teaches.  Her school is within the city limits of Rome but you feel you are out in the country because it is surrounded by open fields.  And of course, we had lots of great food and great wine- it is Italy after all! 

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