PHOTOS BY HOWARD DU BOSE:DAY 1 & 2

Here are our guys, sitting in the airport, anxiously awaiting our flying chariot that will wisk us off to the trip of a lifetime, Rome and Athens (and parts inbetween!)



Part of one of the ancient Roman walls is 1000 feet from our hotel. this piece is shown with the ultra-modern Rome Central Train Terminal in the background.



I cannot resist cats. this is called "Cat on a hot piece of ancient Roman Wall".



We are eating out first dinner in Rome in this photo. My sister Edith from Germany has joined us, and Evan is hiding from the camera, for some reason.



Here is our whole bus-load, the Durham lot, the Charlotte lot, and the Ohio lot, in front of a local area church where there was a Cardinal investiture this afternoon.