Rome

After a long train ride from Venice and a mile walk pulling my bag downhill, I arrived at the pension where we Earthwatch participants would spend two weeks. My co-workers were interesting women, the Principal Investigator was an enthusiastic, devoted scholar who delighted in showing us the old 15th C. botanicas to work with, and we all got engrossed in the analysis of the herbals’ language. I, of course, got pushed into computer work. 

Our days were spent at the National Library but after hours, Margaret, my English roommate, and I explored Rome, wandering around the Roman forum and just enjoying its ambience near the end of the day, locating the fountains from the Spanish Steps back to our hotel. The group met for dinner, often ending the evening with a scoop of marron glace or tangerine gelati from Gelatone.