We woke up, went for one last pastry at Bar Sensi, and walked down to visit the Basilica one last time (David to the lower one, I to the upper one–I like to visit the Giottos).  I notice that in the yard there were workmen setting up a nativity and that they had surrounded the St. Francis on the horse statue with trees that would provide a background for the stable.  I would like to have seen this set up, but we only have a short time left in Assisi and life will go on here without us.

Typically we have walked the three miles to the train station, but today with all of our suitcases and bags we decided to hail a cab.  The driver asked us where we were from and reacted so happily when we told him the US–he loves American basketball.  He even named his son after Michael Jordan.  When David paid him the required fee, and gave him a Euro tip, he said, “I love Americans!”

The rain from the night before followed us to Rome, and it was a relatively miserable day.  After our arrival at the Termeni Train Station, we schlepped our bags along the wet cobblestone streets to the St. Elizabeth Suiore Convent.  This another Rick Steves’ recommendation–he says that it is a slice of heaven in a busy city.  He was right.  The room was simple, clean and quiet.  Our protestant minds struggled with the extra large crucifix hanging over our beds as we slept.  But in the dark, we couldn’t see it.  I had hoped we could walk to the Vatican so David could see the pieta (Michelangelo), but wasn’t in the mood to get any wetter.  So we asked the nuns where to go eat, and through a combination of Polish (similar to Russian) and Italian we figured out a close place to eat!  We had both lunch and dinner at the Due Colones–just a block away.  We had intended on eating dinner at the same place we ate with the kids in October, but it was several blocks away and it was still raining.  We spent our last day in Rome reading the latest John Grisham book while the rain fell on the streets!

A decision was made earlier that day that we would hire a cab for just a few Euro more than taking the train to the airport, and there would be no more schlepping the bags (rain or shine)!  The nuns called the cab, and arranged for us to have an early breakfast.  After a peaceful night’s sleep, and breakfast in an incredibly beautiful frescoed room, the cab arrived at 7:00 am.  We drove around the Colosseum and on to Leonardo da Vinci Airport.

There seemed to be many people who knew each other getting ready to board our plan, and we eventually figured out what was happening.  The Pope had appointed new Cardinals the weekend before, and one of these new Cardinals was flying on our flight.  As we boarded and walked past several flight attendants huddled in their little cubical, one was giving instructions to address him as “his holiness” at all times.  A little extra flight insurance to have a Cardinal on board!