April 3, 2011 Sunday and last day in Italy

We had yet another new hotel breakfast - so far we have stayed in 5 hotels and 7 different rooms.  A bit crazy considering Rick does not like to do too much and definitely does not like to move around so this was supposed to be the relaxing vacation.  I can't take all the credit for the moves though because this is the eighth day that I have no voice so Rick has to do all the talking.  I cannot believe I have had laryngytis this long.  I have never heard of such a thing. 

We went and got on a hop on bus - the Green Line.  Supposed to have 12 stops but once on the bus they tell you only 5 stops on sunday (and only 7 stops other days-the 12 is the summer)  They did not explain much, I learned a lot more on the bus we took with the sisters.  But I did learn a couple of new things.  For example at the Marie Maggiore church they have the oldest creche in existence-they put it out at Christmas.  It actually has some of the wood from the original manger Jesus was born in.  Now I dont know who paid for that but I have snow in Alaska to sell them.  I am pretty sure the whole stable thing is a crock and most scholars of the bible are aware of that, so who are they trying to impress.  Do people pay more money to that church to protect the wood?  I just cannot believe the gullability of some people.  I also learned of several more things that Michelangelo had a hand in building like the Santa Marie degli Angeli church where the sculpture of St Theresa being pierced by the arrow of an angel resides.  That is another crazy story.  She tells how an angel came to her in a dream and pierced her heart right to her bowels and she was in such pain, the fire within her was ecstasy and she was writhing up and down and the good lord was so pleased with her.  So they made her a saint. I suspect a priest visited her in the night.  I also walked up to the Porta Pia, designed by Michelangelo.

After the bus tour, we complained about the five stops and we got a partial refund.  The we found another Thai massage place and had Oil massages.  They gave us each these little paper disposable panties to wear but they didn't give one a feeling of modesty.  The massage was really nice though.  Then we bought Rick a donair and me a gelato and that was pretty much our day. 

We checked trains times at the station and plan to catch the 7:20am so that will be our earliest morning yet.  And we will have to do it two days in a row.  I hope we get settled in Paris quickly so we have some time to look around tomorrow.

Door and Obelisk from Maria Maggiore church