SPERLONGA

Probably the best part of the trip with Catherine was spending a few days in Sperlonga.
We rented a car and headed south, Not quite as far as Napoli. What a beautiful resort town. We stayed right on the beach. Nice accommodations. We got there in the afternoon and quickly changed into our bathing suites. We layed by the beach reading and sleeping. Not many people there because it's still not high season. We were good with that as we had the beach practically to ourselves.

 The water was a bit cool this time of year. I'm writing this in August, but we were there the end of May. The weather, however, was perfect, hot and sunny.

In the evening we walked the hilltop town. I bought a great pair of shoes and some leather goods.
The next day, we rented a boat and had a tour along the whole shore. Once again, we were the only ones on the boat. The rest of the day was spent on the beach again. I did go for a swim in the big pool.
We had dinner by the water and had a nice fish dinner. Expensive, but nice. We headed back to Rome that night. getting in quite late.

EATING AND SHOPPING WITH CATHERINE

If you can't spend your own money shopping, the next best thing is watching others shop. Catherine did her best to support the Italian economy! While shopping, we discovered Queen's Chips. A great place that sells only french fries in a huge cone and you have your choice of sauces. So good!

DOWTOWN ROME WITH CATHERINE

May 12
 I took Catherine downtown to all the sights. We had great weather and so much fun trying to fit as much as we could in a night. Even though she would be here for two weeks, there is just so much to see that I wanted her to see as much as possible. I was more worried than she was. She was just enjoying all the sights and sounds.
I would work till 3 and then met with Catherine and head off. We never got home before 11pm Exhausted but fun.

Victorio Emanuele Monument

Roman Forum

Hail Ceaser

The boys sent me flowers for Mother's Day

MAY TRANSFERS

Anziano Romano and I in our matching shirts

Tryng to be serious

All such good guys!

Anziano Bethkie and Jones

Anziani Bethkie, Romano and Kiser

Anziano Graham

I met Sister Mary Pinkston at the MTC. We hit it off right away. Later in the mission, she was transferred to Rome and she lived one floor below me. We became good friends. This is one missionary I will keep in touch when we go home.She has been transferred to Napoli.

Elder Busdicker's family came to pick him up. Here he is coming back from his travels before heading home. Elder  Line is next to him.

CATHERINE'S VISIT -San Giovanni and The Holy Stairs

The guy looking out with a cap is self portrait of Rafael

Catherine Jones came to Rome  and was suppose to stay a few days but, ended up spending the whole two weeks with me. I was so happy to have her here the whole time. I went to the office everyday during the week and we met around 3:00 to go sight seeing. We covered a lot of ground. She arrived on a Sunday afternoon. Early the next morning I got a call that I could have two free tickets for a tour of the Vatican and St. Peters. I woke Catherine up and we quickly headed to the Metro. A lovely nun, named Berni handed us over to a guide and we were able to skip all the long line ups. We went through the back way, passed the residence of the Pope. Both tours were very good and detailed. The tours took all day. I wasn't prepared to spend the whole day, so my feet were killing me by the end of the day. But, so glad we had the chance to do it. Catherine sure lucked out. First full day, was great!

One of these windows is the Pope's bedroom

In front of the Jubilee doors.

Catherine touching St. Peter's bronze foot

Stairs leading up to the Vatican

Medieval legends claim that the Holy Stairs were brought from Jerusalem to Rome about 327 by Helena, mother of Constantine the Great.

Statues of the apostles in San Giovanni