Teeny Tiny's Travel Tuesdays: Last Day in Rome

Teeny Tiny spent three days in Rome, which was not nearly enough time, but until he buys his teeny tiny flat in Florence, he can only spend limited amounts of time in each of the amazing Italian cities he likes to visit. This post will be full of pictures from throughout the three days to chronicle the sights he saw that weren't limited to the Vatican and the ancient and classical ruins. From multitudes of Etruscan heads to more churches than you can count, he crammed in as much art and culture as he could.

He spent his nights in a lovely little hotel right off of the Piazza del Popolo, just down from the Spanish Steps and Villa Borghese. Hotel Okapi was tiny, with a lot of spirally stairs, but it was perfect for resting and putting the little guy in the mood to explore the wonders of Rome.

He was happy to share stories with his buddy Ernie Little after long days as a tourist.

The very first Roman sight to explore was one of the oldest: the Pantheon, where Raphael Santo lies and where the ancient and modern stand in stark juxtaposition. The evening we were there to explore the ancient temple to the Pagan gods, we had to wait for mass to end and the German oompah band to finish performing.

We then stopped into Santa Maria sopra Minerva, another church built on top of something ancient. Inside, under the brilliant blue vault, Michelangelo's Jesus of the Cross stands prudishly covered with a loincloth. Outside is Bernini's elephant and obelisk, the Pulcino della Minerva.

Teeny Tiny also pushed his way through the throngs to make his wish by tossing a teeny tiny coin into the Trevi Fountain.

He visited Lord Byron and stood proudly before the ruthless Florentine Dominican Savonarola in the beautiful grounds around the Villa Borghese.

He even paused to play a game or two.

On the bridge of Bernini's angels, a Frenchwoman recognized him: "Ernie!"

At the Piazza Navona, he enjoyed the Fountain of the Four Rivers.

Before he left Rome, he made a point to stop by the hotel he stayed at more years ago than he cares to admit.