Happy New Year!

Welcome to 2006! We celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary last night, along with the New Year, so this time of year is always extra special for us. We had dinner with our German friends, Karin und Werner, at a ristorante near the Spanish Steps. We then walked up Via del Corso to the Piazza del Popola (I'm certain that I spelled it wrong, but Wendy has it all in her blog at http://www.pensandpixels.com/wendysworld), and then up to th etop of the hill behind it for a view of the city. Everywhere all over the city people were setting off fireworks, and by midnite, the entire city was enshrouded in a fog of smoke. it was beautiful to see the dome of the Vatican from the top of the hill.

Here is a picture of a tree near to the ill that I found quite interesting as the smoke blew across the city.

I know, it's quite dark, I'll be plaing with it later to make it a little more visible...

I have to say, the architecture here is just incredible, and being around places that have been populated for so many thousands of years where the buildings are still evident is truly amazing. It brings a whole new awareness of time into focus.

Today we will be visiting the colleseum, and the ruins that are nearby before we meet with our friends again for a snack at Giolittis (famous Roman stop for coffee and gilotti...)

More later, but here is a parting shot with a bit of visible fireworks.


Ciao!
Stephen