Arrivederci

What a trip.

We left Florence this morning, stopping again at the viewpoint where we took pictures the evening before. The piazza was closed as there were setting up fireworks for St. John the Baptist Day. We had to take in the views (and photos) from a far, but it was still amazing.

From there, we made a quick stop at a cemetery for U.S. soldiers.

The phrase "Freedom Isn't Free" can come off quite cliche, but standing in a cemetery with over 4,000 graves knowing that this was only thirty-nine percent of the Americans who fought and died in this region of Italy. (The other sixty-one percent were taken back to the States and buried there.) The families of the thirty-nine percent chose to have their loved ones buried in Italy. It's a sobering thought. I am not a war-monger, but this world would be a very different place if the Axis powers would have won the war. I am grateful, indeed.

Next, we made our last stop in Siena. The town was preparing for the il Palio, a crazy horse race that happens twice a year.

Tim standing at the edge of what will become the horse track.

After Siena, we headed to Rome, where it all started. It's hard to believe that just seventeen days ago, we met twenty-five complete strangers. It was a bitter sweet farewell after such a whirlwind of a tour. We've gotten to know each other fairly well (some better than others).  I will treasure the experiences, places, and people.

Robin, David, me, Tim, Lyn, Deborah, and Beldon

Danillo, me, Dina, and Tim

 Tomorrow, we head to the airport for a long flight home. See everyone soon!