We enjoyed hosting our good friends, Jill and Rick Cleaver for eight full days in Italy. Their timing was perfect coming just after transfers which enabled me to slip away from the office on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Jill and Rick with San Giovanni in the background.
April 9 - Saturday - Open Market and Service
Brother Guidara's olive orchard. 
Jill hauling pruned olive branches into piles for burning. 
Rick pruning olive tree. 
Coming up from the orchard for pranzo (lunch). 
Authentic Italian food in a four course dinner with the extended family members.
Saying good-bye to the Guidara's and her parents.
April 10 - Sunday - Over looking the temple site. 
Posing in our office.
Preparing Sunday dinner.
April 11 - Rome - Buying bus tickets at the Tabacco Shop. 
Pantheon
Two pizzas split 3 ways. Jill looks scared of this 4 cheese pizza but she loved it.
Bernini fountain in Piazza Navona.
St. Peters
Castle Sant' Angelo
Gelato!
Grogery shopping at the mall near our apartment.
April 12 - Tuesday - On there own at the Vatican Museums and climbing the stairs to the top of St. Peter's.April 13 - Wednesday - Jill's birthday!
Spanish Steps
Met 16 missionaries on their Preparation Day at Villa Borghese Gallery (free tickets because of Cultural Week!)
Rick with missionaries.
After touring the museum....
the Assistants on Segways....
Rick and Jill, Sister Kelly and I on Rickshaws through Borghese Park. 
April 14 - Thursday - On their own at the Coloseum, Palentine Hill and the Forum... 
Piazza Venezia / Tomb of the unknown soldier
April 15 - Friday - Jeff left the office at noon and we headed north to Siena. 
Duomo
Beautiful olive wood products.
Jill feeding the birds in the piazza.Walking out of the old walled city.
Driving to Volterra the scenes were so beautiful...
Seminario Vescovile di Sant'Andrea where we spent the night.
Jill pointing to Seminario "seminary" and Rick pointing to Vescovo "bishop" (she teaches seminary and he is a Bishop).
Map of Volterra
The large piazza and clock tower.
The oldest standing Etruscan gate in Italy leads into Volterra (4th century B.C.)
Night scenes.
Eating late like the locals.
Kabob - yummy!
Back to the Seminary and up the stairs to find our rooms...
Long, vast hallways...
A game of hearts and six card.
Next Stop - Pisa!
The Baptistry
Jill looking into the font and the statue of John the Baptist.
Driving north to the mountains of Cararra - Michelangelo's Marble - what you see on the mountain is marble, not snow. Marble shipyards along the roadside.
Rick and Jill inside the Marble Mine.
Driving further north to Cinque Terra (Five Lands) along the coast. 
On the "Walk of Love" lock your heart and throw the key in the sea.
Beautiful scenes from Cinque Terra.
A dolce before our 5 hour drive home.
We felt blessed to have Rick and Jill all to ourselves. At home we share them with their 7 children, 25 grandchildren and the entire Kingston Ward! 
.... thanks for coming to Rome. We will treasure the memories.
Driving to Volterra the scenes were so beautiful...
Seminario Vescovile di Sant'Andrea where we spent the night.
Jill pointing to Seminario "seminary" and Rick pointing to Vescovo "bishop" (she teaches seminary and he is a Bishop). 
Map of Volterra
The large piazza and clock tower.
The oldest standing Etruscan gate in Italy leads into Volterra (4th century B.C.)
Night scenes.
Eating late like the locals.
Kabob - yummy!
Back to the Seminary and up the stairs to find our rooms...
Long, vast hallways...
A game of hearts and six card.
April 16 - Saturday - Pisa - Cararra - Cinque Terra
"Can I ship this home to use on the farm?"
Next Stop - Pisa!
The Baptistry
Jill looking into the font and the statue of John the Baptist.
Driving north to the mountains of Cararra - Michelangelo's Marble - what you see on the mountain is marble, not snow. Marble shipyards along the roadside.Rick and Jill inside the Marble Mine.
Driving further north to Cinque Terra (Five Lands) along the coast. 
On the "Walk of Love" lock your heart and throw the key in the sea.
Beautiful scenes from Cinque Terra.
A dolce before our 5 hour drive home.
We felt blessed to have Rick and Jill all to ourselves. At home we share them with their 7 children, 25 grandchildren and the entire Kingston Ward! 
.... thanks for coming to Rome. We will treasure the memories.
Looks like everyone had a great time! Jill is coming by to drop stuff off this evening and the kids are already telling each other not to break the new snow globe!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great birthday present for Jill! Wish I could have been there :)
ReplyDeleteWow, you sure know how to show folks a good time. Too bad we can't come.
ReplyDeleteOH I am so glad they came to see you both..can't wait to ask them how much they loved the trip..loved seeing where you all went.;) happy Easter..;)
ReplyDeleteYou did a great job showing Rick and Jill all around. I wish you had been there when we went to Italy. You helped them see and do a lot more than we were able to do. What a nice time for all of you.
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