Random Memories of Germany-Trips to Italy Part 2

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

In 1970, Fred and I were able to take in the Oberammergau Passion Play (please see my previous posts – Oberammergau – November 25, 2012, Wiesbaden – Part 3 – February 7, 2021, and Wiesbaden – Part 4 – Italy)   According to my pictures, we did not go to Pompeii on that trip.  However, we did take a bus trip from Heidelberg in 1982 to Italy with our girls, and we did make it to Pompeii then.  Here are some pictures from that time in Pompeii.  Mt. Vesuvius is quite present in some of the pictures.

Karen and Janet, ruins of Pompeii, with Mt. Vesuvius in the background

And, of course, we spent time in Rome.  WOW!!  What a place!  I believe we were told that a lot of Rome had been covered over with centuries of dirt, and was not discovered until someone began digging for a foundation for a new building.  What to their surprise did they find….RUINS!  That stopped the building, and the excavation began.

Seems like I remember we didn’t take the car on our trip in 1968, so we got around Rome with either a bus or train in the city.  I remember a bus tour that took us to the Roman Forum ruins.

But I remember just walking around the city, as well.  Perhaps it was an on-and-off tour.  In any case, I remember when we found the Trevi Fountain, we were a bit disappointed that it was literally surrounded by buildings!  In order for Fred to get this picture, he had to stand in a shop doorway across the street in order to try to get the entire fountain in – and even that wasn’t too successful!  Remember the old movie, Three Coins in a Fountain in 1954?  I fell in love with that movie, and so insisted that we find that fountain!

While in Rome, we found the obelisk by St. Mary Major Church,

we saw the Pantheon, 

we saw St. Paul Outside the Wall church, 

we saw St. Peter’s Square and Basilica, 

and we saw the Victor Emmanuel Monument, that we were told the Roman’s call “The Wedding Cake” which amused us.

When we made our Thanksgiving bus trip to Italy in 1982 with our girls, we covered Rome in more detail than Fred and I had done earlier.  We not only took in St. Peter’s Square, but we actually sat in on an “audience” with the Pope.  The Roman people loved him so much – I remember so many of them standing and shouting “Papa!!” just trying to get his attention.  That is nearly impossible, as there were thousands in attendance in the room.  We were waaayyy back , and this is the best picture we could get of that event.

Here’s a picture of the Swiss Guards that guard St. Peter’s and the Pope.

We also joined a group that toured the Vatican – the parts we were allowed to see.  We saw some gardens, and some of the inside.

This sign was before we went inside, and unfortunately, I don’t remember what it was of – whether it was some ceilings or something else of importance to the Vatican.  And, I don’t speak or read Italian, so am not sure just what it tells.

~~~~~~~~~~To Be Continued~~~~~~~~~~

Judy is living in Central Florida with her retired U.S. Air Force husband of 50+ years. Born in Dallas, Texas, she grew up in the Southwestern United States.She met her husband at their church, where he was attending the university in her town. After college and seminary, he entered the Air Force, and their adventures began.They lived in eight of our United States, and spent six years in Europe, where their oldest daughter was born. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years .

  Judy has always been involved with music, both playing the piano and singing. Always interested in exercise, she was an aerobic dancing instructor, as well as a piano teacher for many years, and continues to faithfully exercise at home.

After moving to Central Florida, she served as a church secretary for nearly nine years.Her main hobby at this point in time is scanning pictures and 35mm slides into the computer. She also enjoys scrapbooking.She and her husband have two married daughters and four grandchildren, including grandtwins as well as a great-grandson. She and her husband enjoy the Disney parks as often as possible.

Tags: Memories of Germany and Italy, Military Life, Travel