Made it to Rome... But then we got lost. :-)

Rome is such an amazing city it's hard to explain. We've been here only 10 hours but already I can see that 7 days will not be long enough. We walked around tonight for 5 hours after eating a late lunch/early dinner. We found the Plazza del Fiore which was THE race course for Rome... Think Ben Hur here. Then we continued to the Pantheon. It's hard to believe that people without a real crane or any current machines could accomplish such an amazing architectural feat. It is HUGE and the design copied for the Duomo in Florence, the capital in Wash D.C., and many many more domes across the world. We just stood in amazement in the dark. The connections to today are clear!
On the way back to the apartment we got lost.... Again! But eventually found our way home with help from the Carbinieri and shop owners. Ahhhhh, a bottle of local red wine, bread, cheese bought in the local market around the corner along with eggs, yogurt, and tomorrow the big outdoor market in Campo de Fiore.

Latest Stop: Firenze! That's Florence for most in America

Flew in from Munich/Bavaria and family via AirBerlin yesterday. Got I about 3:45 took a cab from the airport. Very nice cabbie, 20E +1 for our bags. Good thing we did, would NOT have found the Il Bargello B&B on our own.
My MINI would feel right at home! But I'd have to thin the paint down as the streets are soooo narrow you need thin paint to negotiate!
The place we're staying is 4 flights up....NO elevator. Just fine but its a workout! The building is from the 1400's!
Walked around to get out bearings and scout out a perfect place for dinner. Found a little grocery for snacks and wine for the terrace later.
There is a little pizzeria JUST ARIUND THE CORNER (Leo's) - WOOD FIRED so its awesome! Talked to the guy running the oven about my oven. How cool!
We climbed the VERY narrow steps to the roof terrace, opened the bottle of prosecco and did our homework for today that will begin shortly with buying our Firenza Card which will give us 72 hour access to 50 museums and all the public transportation our hearts can handle.
First one will be the Accadimea which houses David and a few other oddly assorted artworks :-)! Then on to the Duomo which if it all works out...we will climb to the top for awesome pictures.

Kuchlbauer Tower and a brewery tour

See the pics? This is probably the most beautiful brewery in the world. Hundertwasser was probably the first "back to nature" architect/artist beginning in the 50's. He HATED straight lines thinking them an affront to nature and natural man. He faced all his buildings with colored plaster and tile telling a story in the process. I will be taking some of this direction when it comes time to tile and decorate the wood oven this fall/winter/spring.
And, yes.... They make and pour some awesome beer there too!