We were out at 7 this morning to beat the line at St. Peter’s.  There was no line!!!  The church was basically empty!  We stopped off for Mass and prayers at the tomb of St.Pope John XXIII.  Not sure how to refer to him.  Then we went to the Sacristy to arrange a Mass to be said for my dear neighbor who died last week.  Being in there was very interesting.  Dozens of priests and altar boys were getting dressed in their vestments for celebrating Mass.  

We left there and came home until it was time to catch the bus.  Last night when we went to Vince’s salad place, we met his friend, Tammy who is in Europe for a year and she is from Amarillo.  She called just as we were leaving and wanted to join us today.  We caught the bus and went to Piazza Bologna.  Found a ‘Dollar Store’ type of place and found some zip lock bags!  The Zip Lock company is missing a sales opportunity here in Rome.  The ones we found are not quite the real deal, but they do zip and will suffice.  Then we went to eat MEXICAN Food!  And have margaritas.  Oh my, was it good!  Can’t wait to go again.  Then, we hopped on the bus and headed back towards home, getting off near Piazza Navona and finding the Cloisters of Bramante where the Marc Chagall exhibit is showing.  Wonderful pen and ink drawings and then ones in color.  It was a lovely show…very well done.  

After that, we stopped for a cappuccino and then headed to Vince’s for another Caesar salad with porchetta.  Said goodbye to Tammy as she leaves tomorrow for a trip to Budapest.  Hope we will get to ‘play together’ when she returns.  She has been a wealth of information to us, and I think she learned a thing or two from us.  A beautiful, warm and sunny day today. Expecting rain tomorrow.  Going to see the Pope in St. Peter’s Square tomorrow.  God willin’ and the creek don’t rise… 

Stopped by an antique store where I bought a rhinoceros last week for a Christmas gift…perfect gift for the intended friend.  The owner taught me the Italian word rinoceronte….kind of a mouthful for me, so I stop by to repeat it to her when I pass by and she laughs…as do I.  Tonight I stopped in to introduce myself and visit.  Francesca is her name and she is lovely…and speaks slowly so I can follow her.    Good night!