St. Peter's Basilica etc

We met a sweet couple from Worcester, England today as we were making our way to St. Peter's Piazza. Heather and Philip Langford are in their 80's and on a cruise of the Mediterranean.

Heather and Philip were also going to St. Peter's, so we took them in the easiest direction. They had tickets to the museum so we parted company and wished them a great cruise.

The queue at St. Peter's - just like almost everywhere else - was lengthy so we didn't bother to join the throng and instead made our way across town to the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain. Huge

numbers of people at the bottom of the Spanish Steps which were closed due to renovations.

Onwards to the Trevi Fountain which we discovered was being reopened this evening after a 17 month, 2.2 million euro restoration.

Finished in 1762 and standing 26.3 metres (86 ft) high and 49.15 metres (161.3 ft) wide, it is the largest fountain in the city and one of the most famous in the world.

Hundreds of tourists and Romans watched on and took pictures as water began flowing once again. The restoration was paid for by the Rome-based Fendi fashion house. Tourists still had access during the restoration, giving a close-up view of the sculpture of Oceanus in a shell chariot.

The Fountain is fed from a natural water source that follows the original Aqua Virgo aqueduct built during the reign of Augustus in 19 BCE. Falling into disrepair during the dark ages, it was rebuilt in 1453 and renamed Aqua Vergine. It still flows taking water from it's source, 20 km away, and feeds dozens of fountains in the center of Rome. In the 20 km journey, there is only a 4 meter drop in height.

Versace and Valentino were aperto today but I decided not to join their queues because Johnny rang the bell at the door of another jewellery shop this morning and I made a purchase or three there.

We paid a second visit tonight to the 4 star I San Pietrini Restaurant and the bottom of our road. I had porchetta and Johnny had pasta. Era squisito! Ciao and Buonanotte!