Buon Anno

Too tired to say much now, but Rome was fantastic. I had been before but it was Gretchen's first time, and she had the same reaction I had the first time I went: it far exceeded expectations. Despite copious amounts of rain (what is it about us and rain in Italy?) and deafening noise from a New Year's Eve rock concert at Piazza della Repubblica a half-block from our hotel, it was a lot of fun--lots of history and eating and walking and shopping (for Gretchen's first maternity clothes--yikes!). There's just a lot to love about Italy in general, even if aspects of it can be maddening at times. Anyway, more later...