Today, we went back to the Protestant Cemetery.  What a beautiful and peaceful place.  Flowers in bloom all over, camellias, peonies, iris, violets, calla lilies, wisteria, cyclamen and redbud trees.  Shelly and Keats, the poets are both buried here, but the most stunning grave is guarded by the Angel of Grief.  It was carved as the last sculpture by a man for his wife’s grave.  You can see pictures of the Angel on Google.  We spent a couple of hours wandering the paths between the graves, reading the headstones.  Most of the people died in Rome, but there are some plaques as memorials for people who loved Rome and spent time here.  Hint, hint.  Poets, writers, musicians, politicians, royalty and just folks.  Many children are buried here.  Part of the cemetery overlooks the Pyramid and the grounds that encircle it.  The Pyramid was built in 18-12 BC for Caius Cestius during the time so many Romans were enamored with all things Egyptian.  When the tomb was rediscovered and opened, Cestius’ body was missing.  Those old grave robbers again!  It has recently been restored and cleaned and it is shiny with white tavertine.  We found out that there is a volunteer group that feeds and cares for the cats who live in the cemetery.  They all look fat and healthy.  Today they were all asleep in the sunshine.  At the visitor center, there is a window with a cat basket in the indentation, and the cat’s picture is taped to the sill.  Wonder if that specific cat is the only one allowed in the basket?  As I like to say, ‘How do it know?’  We headed back toward home and Andy went to Trastevere to run some errands.  I came home and finished off a porchetta sandwich I had purchased earlier.  I had never tried porchetta until a few weeks ago and sorry I waited so long.  It is smoked and seasoned pork and it is good!  Finished with the wash and tried to clean some dead vines off our little balcony.  We have two planter boxes that are in dire need of beautification.  Will work on that next week.  We can get plants at the market to spruce them up.  Getting my quilting projects ready for tomorrow’s quilting group.  Will be good to see the ladies again after being off for two weeks due to Easter break.  And, I’m going for Mexican food for lunch before quilting group.  Will close for tonight.  Putting on my nice clean gown, getting in my nice clean bed and reading til it’s time to sleep… So til domani….