It’s time to pack up and head south to meet up with our Road Scholar tour. We were able to squeeze in a quick visit to the Basilica San Clemente, a church from the 12th century. San Clemente is cool because it’s built on top of a 4th century basilica and then that 4th century basilica was built on top of house and clandestine church. This should give you an idea of what it looks like (all pictures borrowed – no pictures allowed):
The 4th century Basilica had frescoes with gorgeous colors:
But the real reason we went to San Clemente Basilica is that – about 3 years ago – Ron told me he would make me a needlepoint of any picture in the world. I looked at hundreds of images and somehow fell in love with the interior of San Clemente – I loved the floors, the rich colors on the walls, and the golden dome up front. And, ever since then, Ron has been working on this masterpiece for me – the biggest, most complicated and most tedious needlepoint he has ever undertaken.
Here he is – right in front of the picture he’s been making me for 3 years! The project is 250,000 stitches and he has another 2 years to go:
I’ll talk to you in a couple of days from Lecce – 375 miles south of Rome.
Travels with Valerie 
Val:
I was scared off this one because it was above “Keep the Pace.”
When you’re back, please give me your opinion regarding the difficultly vis à vis someone who uses a cane. Molte grazie!
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I absolutely will! We’re headed south to Lecce is a few hours – very excited!
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I could not be more impressed with Ron’s needlepoint expertise but he is making you a picture of one of my three favorite places in the world-San Clemente. When we visited San Clemente years ago, we self toured all the way down to the cells and preChristian altars. What an astohnding place. I have never forgotten that amazing journey into the truly distant past. And we were the only two people there. Spooky almost……looking forward to the next installment!
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San Clemente was excellent! I was so happy to get him there since he’s working so hard on my needlepoint. The stitches are so small that he had to buy a new light to shine direct and strong light onto the project so he could see what he’s doing. I also loved the sewer system and water flow we got to see in there. I loved Rome so much – I feel like this is the first time I really clicked with the city!!!
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