Pete's Quicky

Last weekend we had a whirlwind visit from our friend Pete. We have both known Pete since our Bowdoin days. He was one of the ushers at our wedding. We have kept in touch through our AD connections and using Facebook. However, as far as any of us can remember, we haven’t seen him in person since my surprise 30^th birthday party when he came down to Cary, NC. He was looking to build up some frequent flyer miles and we had invited him to visit, so he arranged to come. I picked him up at the airport on Friday morning. We spent the afternoon reconnecting and seeing the city of Viterbo followed by pizza at Il Monastero.

On Saturday we spent a rainy morning in Civita di Bagnoreggio. There Pete charmed some of the locals,

took in the foggy scenery

and dined at a local hot spot complete with wine cellar in an Etruscan cave. He thanked us for arranging a private tour of the city and for the private lunch with the owner of the restaurant. In truth, a cold, rainy December Saturday doesn’t bring out the Italians.

On Sunday we took an early train to Rome to check out the sites. We started at the Vatican, where we ran into the Pope. Well, not really, but he did go past in a car while we were standing there. We visited the top of the dome

and then paused for a rest stop on the roof of the church.

We scurried about to Piazza Novona, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps before having lunch at one of our favorite places, Orso '80.

After lunch it was down to the Colosseum and then a drink in a nearby bar before finishing our day in the underground at San Clemente.

We arrived home some 14 hours later, exhausted but content. Monday morning saw us up and out by 6 am for the ride back to the airport and his trip home. It was Pete's first of what we hope will be many trips to Rome and Italy. Come back soon. Arrivederci!