RANDOM UNO

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=50 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="0ab0ce82egerdp.png"> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=95 BGCOLOR="#CC99CC" TEXT="#080000" background="0aa265f1ezuady.png"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>Hynda and Nolan's  Rome and Other Adventures</B></FONT><B>  </B><B> </B><B>|   </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hynda and Nolans Rome and Other Adventu"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id452.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="ROME/BERLIN FALL 2017"><U>ROME/BERLIN FALL 2017</U></A>   |   <B>RANDOM UNO</B>   |   <A HREF="id454.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="RANDOM DUE"><U>RANDOM DUE</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id455.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BERLIN"><U>BERLIN</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id456.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="RANDOM TRE"><U>RANDOM TRE</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=385 colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#FFFF33" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>RANDOM UNO</I></div> <bR> <div> <B>150 Flavors and 20 Are Chocolate</B></div> <bR> <div> Diane who is an old friend of the Queen was visitingRome with her friend Joyce. After dinner we took them to the gelato place that has 150 flavors. We took the standard photo in front of the sign for the store.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="276344b30.jpg" border=0 width="580" height="435" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> We have discovered a new sign that reflects the new tourist. There is no more Kodak Photo Point... it is now the Selfie Point. This was located inside Del Palma, the gelato store we visited. If you stand there and take the photo you will get yourself and the expanse of gelato behind you.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="276544050.jpg" border=0 width="580" height="773" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>The Botticella Pens</B></div> <bR> <div> On the second night in Rome we took Diane and Joyce to Trastevere for dinner. We went to one of our favorite restaurants - La Botticella. On our last visit we had given the owner, Julia,  100 pens with the name, address and phone number of the restaurant. She was very appreciative and asked if I could bring 500 next time and she would pay for it. She wanted to give out the pens to customers instead of a free bottle of wine that she often does. I told her I would bring them but did not want any money.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="276744b30.jpg" border=0 width="580" height="435" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> We showed up with them and gave her the pens as we finished dinner. The waiter had given us the check by that time and she came over and asked how much the pens were. I told her it was a gift. She got upset and said she would be offended if I did not take the $$$. I had already left the money on the table for the bill which she picked up and handed back to me. When she left I put the money back on the table under the empty bottle of water and we got up to leave. I was waiting outside for Diane who went to the bathroom when Julia came out with the money which she shoved in my pocket. </div> <bR> <div> <B>Armani</B></div> <bR> <div> NOT!!! It appears that Armani has abandoned this advertising location after 13 years. It is now Apple and TIM, one of the phone companies here.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="276944b30.jpg" border=0 width="580" height="435" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>Inappropriate</B></div> <bR> <div> This was being sold in a children's section of a market. I know I am somewhat old fashioned but I take offense at this.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="276b44b30.jpg" border=0 width="580" height="435" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>The Aquarium - NOT!!</B></div> <bR> <div> This building where we stopped in a little park for a drink and snack while on a walk was supposed to be an Aquarium. It was built in 1887 and is quite impressive inside and out. It was never used as an aquarium and now houses conferences and exhibits. There are carvings of sea animals on the columns inside the building but no other form of sea life.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="276d44b30.jpg" border=0 width="580" height="435" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> This guard was positioned right in the center of this art installation and I just walked over to her and asked if I could take a picture with her.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="276f44050.jpg" border=0 width="580" height="773" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div>  <B>Bike Path North</B></div> <bR> <div> This was a very hot summer in Rome with the temperature staying above 100 degrees for several days in a row. Then there was torrential rain which flooded parts of Rome. The weather has been absolutely gorgeous since we got here. For our first bike ride we headed north on the bike path. There were the usual herds of sheep after about fifteen minutes of biking. Those little white dots in the background on the grass are sheep.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="277144b30.jpg" border=0 width="580" height="435" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> The path is not being taken care of and it completely overgrown in places.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="277344b30.jpg" border=0 width="580" height="435" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> I am not sure what they make the path out of but there are cracks all over the place.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="277544b30.jpg" border=0 width="580" height="435" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Some of the cracks are deep enough for a wheel to go in over an inch. If you hit is just right you will fall.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="277744b30.jpg" border=0 width="580" height="435" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> On our way back we take a break in Villa Borghese.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="277944b30.jpg" border=0 width="580" height="435" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>