Our week is slipping away so fast!  Even though we’d seen them before, we couldn’t imagine missing the big three—Pantheon, Trevi fountain and Piazza Navona, so that was our morning goal.

We passed through this, the Oratorio del Crocifisso with so many detailed features.

First we hit the Trevi.  It is really clean!  Gleaming white and stunning, we got a good spot from which to gawk and watch the guys working on it.

Walking I got a kick out of this store where they sell fashion for the clergy.  Next to this colorful display, there were a few different Birkentocks in the window:

On to the Pantheon, Ken’s favorite.  Last time we were there, in 2012, there were maybe 20 others.  Now there is a fast moving line to get in.  Inside you really feel the people; they are not quiet but they do have the very center roped off.  Everything is changing.  You can’t go home again.

I loved this Roman spot in the center.  It’s nothing famous…I think???

Piazza Navona was our last stop.  On the way, we popped into the Church of Saint Louis of France.  I wish I had known what to look for because now I know there is some reknown art in there.  We just observed the general oppulence in awe.

The piazza was decidedly un crowded.  While we were appreciating our little moment it began to rain.  So, we scurried home.  Luckily, it was just a light rain and my lame umbrella worked fine.

We had about an hour to rest at home before our very important date to meet a Slow Trav, now Face Book, friend Yvonne from Australia.  We met at the Mercato Central Roma, a new food hall connected to the Termini train station.  I had imagined we would each be able to get what we liked from one of the stalls but it was busy and noisy so we opted to go upstairs to the “real” restaurant, Oliver Glowig  (pretty strange name, huh, but he is a Michelin star chef).  The food was great but not as wonderful as the company.  How nice to finally meet after many years of being kindred travel spirits.

After lunch we visited 2 TIM stores.  Realizing our plan gives us tons of data but I can’t text or call the U.S. so we added on €10 for that purpose.  It’s complicated.

In between TIM visits, we went into the Santa Maria Magiore church.  Interesting because we observed at least 4 different services going on in the side chapels.  I think they were each in a different language—at least, one was in English.  The confessionals had various languages listed on the outside.

We came home, played cards with some wine and had a nice supper.