Sue and John took a trip to Italy from June 15-23, 2009 to celebrate their birthdays. They stayed in a monastery in Rome dating back to the 1300s and visited many iconic locations such as the Pantheon, Colosseum, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica. They also traveled to Florence where they saw landmarks like the Duomo and climbed Brunelleschi's dome. The trip provided them with beautiful views and experiences that enriched and changed them.

1. Sue and John’s Trip to Italy
June 15-June 23, 2009

2. The curtain behind our window that
Looked out to the Piazza Farnese…
We stayed with the Bridgine Sisters…in
Their monastery that dates from the
1300’s…...

3. A Bridgine Sister
Walking home….

4. Our view….

5. Another View: French
Embassy with
architecture by
Michelangelo (the
roof projection)

6. Michelangelo’s Roof Projection

7. John looking out from our
room at the Brigidine
monastery,… Roma!!!

8. The sisters would
Sing like angels
And the bell would
Sound at
7am….
..the day begins!

9. ,,,content…

10. Our Beautiful Terrace

11. Bernini…..

12. An Italian artist
exploring Piazza
Navona…..

13. Ancient Rome with
new Rome
wrapped around….

14. View from
the table of
our first
lunch in
Italy….

15. John and
Bernini….

16. Dinner on Piazza Navona….
In front of the Bernini ‘Four Rivers’ fountain

17. Four Rivers….

20. This picture doesn’t do it
justice but….I was thrilled to
find this obelisk,…brought
over from Egypt by
Augustus after he
conquered Mark Antony
and Cleopatra….. ….I
touched the obelisk…
and….now I am a little part
of the story….

21. Morning of
John’s 60th
Birthday…St.
Peter’s
Basilica,
Vatican City

22. Sue wears a
dress for John’s
BD!!!

23. With his holiness……

24. John received a BD blessing…

25. An Italian artist
on a mission from
God…..to the
Sistine Chapel….

26. Some BD dreams do come true……

27. Yoga in the
Vatican
Museum……

29. John was inspired to take communion at St.
Peter’s….on his BD…..

30. A taxi ride to the train station…

31. Our Terrace in Florence…..

32. Piazza del
Duomo….

33. Climbing
Brunelleschi’s
incredible
…..Dome

34. John looking off
‘del
Duomo’….onto
the beautiful
city of Florence

35. ‘Contra Posta’ in
the Pallazo
Vecchio…

36. Contemplating in
Florence….@
the ‘Orto de
Medici’ Hotel…
beautiful…

37. Farmacia Santa
Novella….

38. Back to Rome…..

41. Back to our beloved Brigidine home…

42. On our last
day….it rained at
the Pantheon!!!!!
Another dream-
come-true…

43. Rain in the
Pantheon

44. In the Pantheon,…in the rain….

45. Forum Pillars….

46. Italiano!!!!

47. Colosseum…..

48. The remnants of a
temple built by
Augustus Caesar
for his sister
Octavia…..

49. Last
sunset….
In Roma.

50. Last evening….. on our beloved Piazza
Farnese, sipping espresso and sambuca…..

51. John at FCO airport……

52. Arrivederci Roma! Lo amiamo!

53. Our journey was a little piece of magic.
We met many, very special people.
We were enriched.
We were blessed.
We are changed for the better.
Music by Sergio Franchi and
Lucia Battista
Photoshop, PowerPoint and commentary by
Susan …
Journey inspired by John’s 60th Birthday and….
Sue’s 50th!