Bob Bookend had the good or ill fortune of having traveled most parts of the world before he met his wife Emmy. He called her Emmy because he said she was his award for living long enough to find her, her real name was Emerald and Bob considered her his most precious gem with mesmerizing glimmering green eyes. Bob had this deep desire to show her all the places from his memory that many people only knew from books or media.

Generally whenever the Bookends did anything later as time went on it was a mutually discussed and a planned happening, especially if it meant traveling even just overnight, it never mattered who had the original thought because they so enjoyed just being together anyway, anywhere. But Bob had planned their Honeymoon all by himself and surprised her with it telling her he wanted the memories to be of her in everyplace he had been. Also he wanted to give her all these wonderful memories of places all around the world, this trip would be the beginning of that. Emmy had smiled at her husband to be, gotten that a special gleam in her eyes and hugged him tight before kissing him for long moments and telling him she loved him so much.

A month later two days after their wedding celebration they boarded the jet at Atlanta International for Gatwick just outside London, England then a plane change and on to Milan. Like most international flights anymore there were few seats vacant and the flight was longer than Emmy had been on before but they didn’t seem to mind both were reading novels and holding hands, ever so often one or the other would stop reading for a moment lean over and they would share a tender kiss. Emmy had the window seat and would look outside and gaze at the clouds below them with patches of sea showing in the spaces between as the plane flew ever closer their destination.

When they landed in Milan at Malpensa Airport, collected their luggage and picked up the rental car Bob drove them first to Bulcari Hotel where  he had booked their rooms so they could check in and take a short rest before venturing out and about the city. It was mid afternoon by the time they were in their room he and Emmy put their clothes away, They would be here two days. Before driving to Florence.

Emmy stood at the window overlooking the city she was gazing at a large dimed cathedral when Bob came up behind her placing his arms around his wife as she leaned back into his body.

“That is the Milan Cathedral in the piazza del Duomo, sweetheart” Bob told heras his hands cupped in front of her and then held her tenderly his thumbs moving in concentric tiny circles.

Emmy leaned more into him sighing deep inside and said. “It is beautiful baby, are we going there?”

“Tomorrow my darling and there we are allowed to walk on the roof, there is a beautiful view from it.” Bob answered as he tilted his neck slightly and kissed the side of her neck at the artery there.

“Mmm my husband that and this sounds so wonderful.” Emmy replied as she placed her feminine hands over his holding them there.

After a short nap the two stood up and redressed, shedding the clothes they had flown in that morning. Once down the stairs and out in their car Bob drove them around the city pointing out buildings like the Velasca Tower a modern building that looks like the tower at a local castle and homes of interest in the not so muggy evening air. He parked the car near one of the canals and they walked nearby to an outdoor sidewalk café for dinner. After dinner was over he drove them to Sepone Park Where they walked hand in hand until he could show Emmy the Arch Of Peace with its large statues of Charioteers on its flat top. After walking around hand in hand as the evening turned to deep dark and sitting on a bench for about an hour looking at the stars that came out Bob’s arm around Emmy and two sharing a few kisses from time to time they went back to their car and to the Bulcari for the night.

The next morning after a continental breakfast downstairs of the hotel they started out for a day of sightseeing. They drove past many trams on the street and Emmy remarked they reminded her of San Francisco. First they stopped at Sforzesco Castle and Emmy remarked of it’s tower and the beautifully manicured gardens and lawns. Then they went over to the Duomo and a walk on the roof admiring the city and the Cathedrals many spires. They stopped for lunch at a different sidewalk café along another canal then Bob drove them to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuelle II, a shopping plaza with high glass roofs connecting the buildings in high arches. Emmy enjoyed strolling around and listening to all the passers by there were people from all over speaking German, Chinese, Greek, all manner of languages but especially Italian. Bob remarked sometimes it was like being near the tower of Babel and Emmy laughed wit that gleaming smile she had.

That night Bob took her to a performance at the La Scalla Opera House with its six story interior inside and floral gardens outside. They enjoyed the performance and the acoustics so attuned that they heard every whisper from every actor on stage. The comfort of their box made Emmy feel like royalty she said and Bob reminded her she was his Princess wife.

After a full breakfast the next morning in the Bulcari Hotel Bob and Emmy loaded their car and left the city behind for the road to Florence(Firenze here) to the south in Tuscany. They traveled down the main highway in this region of rolling hills, mountains, vast vinyards and farms dotted everywhere until they finally reached Firenze known to Americans as Florence.

They entered the city through one of the old Roman gateway arches that remained from long gone walls. Bob drove directly to the Hotel Palazzo Magnani Feroni and checked in. He and Emmy put their clothes in the closet and then lay on the bed to snuggle together and take a nap. When they went out they drove across the Arno River Bridge looked at the Varsari Corridor, the Vesscio Bridge and the Ponte alla Carraia.

Over the next couple of days they visited; the Uffizi Gallery with is cupid costumed white makeuped mimes, Pitti Palace with its large sculptures and walks in its beautiful gardens, Chiesa di Sainta Croce with the tomb of MichaelangeloSanta, Maria del Fiore the Duomo II cathedral, San Lorenzo with its grey brick façade and fine market (where they had Gelati ice cream), Baboli Gardens withits high walls and tall hedges, the Piazza della Signoria and Fontana de Nattorio(Neptune) , Galleria pen Accadamia with the copy of the statue of David. On the last afternoon they drove out to the Fiesole where there was the ancient Roman outdoor theater from the first century where they sat in the top seats and could hear a person on the stage far below whisper. The morning they left they drove through the Chianti region of vineyards and rolling hills on their way to Rome.

The Eternal City “Rome” was what Emmy had always dreamed it would be as she stood at their room’s window in the Hotel de Petris looking out into the june afternoon. The view was breath taking and she stood there in awe still amazed that she was really here.

“My husband, I still cannot believe we are here. I know Milan, Florence, the beautiful Italian countryside but you have brought me to Rome and we are here.” You could hear the deep appreciation and love in her voice as Emmy spoke.

“My Baby, we will see many such places over the years.” Bob said to his wife as he came up beside her and took her hand.

Emmy turned to her new husband and he felt her so he turned as well. Then Emmy started to speak. “Bob my darling do we need to leave very soon today?” She said as she moved closer and put her arms around his neck.

“No, we have no schedule to keep if my bride wishes to stay in a while.” Bob replied with a mischievous smile on his face.

“She wishes” was all Emmy said as they tilted their heads together and embraced in a long passionate kiss. Arms held tight as they walked in step to the edge of their bed started undressing each other as they kissed and touched as articles started falling to the floor. Both stifled a smile laugh at times in between sighs until there were no more clothes to fall on the floor. Then Bob gently laid them both back onto the bed and they spent a very long time relaxing together. In fact it was actually early evening when they came down for dinner in the Hotel restaurant. Both were all aglow while they ate and scarcely took their eyes off one other throughout the meal, then they went out and just walked the streets each holding the others hands.

The next morning after breakfast they drove straight to the Papal city to visit the Vatican. While standing in the plaza outside looking at the statues of saints atop the circle of arched hallways Bob made a remark to which Emmy gave a smiling chide.

“Isn’t it rather funny that here in the middle of this plaza surrounded by saints and leading into the Vatican is this large obelisk that was stolen from Egypt hundreds of years ago.”

“Bob!” was all Emmy said as she took his hand and they started for the huge ornate doors that led inside.

They walked the famed chapel and then around the outer walls and into the museum where they among so much visited the Sistine Chapel that everyone knows. After several hours they came out and had a let lunch at a sidewalk café across the street. Then Bob drove them across the Tiber and they visited the Pax Romana, tomb of the Caesars, and the Pantheon by then it was dark and Bob led Emmy a couple of blocks to a huge plaza surrounded by sidewalk cafes and three large band stands with large areas to dance, where there were hundreds of people, many sailors in various countries uniforms. After eating a fine meal with music playing they danced until they could dance no more in each other’s arms.

Over the next three days they visited: the Coliseum, ancient city ruins, catacombs at the cities edge, many museums of world note, art galleries, took a ride on the Tiber at night, and in general took in every site that anyone could in three days on the fourth morning they checked out of the Hotel and continued south toward Naples but about halfway there Bob pulled into the town of Fondi along the coast and after meeting with a real estate agent as scheduled obtained the keys for a small two bedroom villa he had rented for the night in the small seaside village. After unloading their bags for the night they visited the bell tower of Saint Marys and then Castello Baronate before spending some time on the beautiful beach, walking along the sand holding hands with one hand and carrying their shoes in their other. That night while lying in their bed gazing at the stars on a clear night Bob leaned across to kiss Emmy. They became totally enthralled in their love of each other and this so wonderful night together.

The next morning they drove on and then down the steep mountain coast roads that led them into Naples. Once in the city they drove and checked into the Grande Hotel Oriente and stood on their balcony looking at the scenery dominated by Mount Vesuvius. The next day they visited; the Royal Palace, the outdoor theater ruins, Castle dell Ovo, Via Chiaia (with its shops and period buildings),Duomo Santa Chiara, Castle Nuovo and Orto Botanico gardens. That night they slept together cuddled so close as they always did.

In the morning they went down to the docks to board the airfoil for the ride to the Isle of Capri. It was an all day trip out in the morning then back in mid to late afternoon. While there they rode the inverted standing rail to the top of the mountain to visit Villa Jovis where the Emperor Tiberius once ruled the Roman Empire from. Tiberius was said to throw he disliked over the cliffs into the sea below. As they got off the rail Bob took Emmy directly across the street to a small sidewalk café where he promptly order a hotdog to Emmy’s amazement then asked if she wanted anything.

“A hot dog here dear one?”She asked?

“Oh yes I am so tired of pasta baby.” Bob told her. “And this is the first place in Italy I know where I can get one.”

“You are so funny my baby, only you would know where to find a hot dog in Italy.” She said with a smile. They walked the gardens and shops and then came down from the top so they could visit the Blue Grotto before going to where the airfoil would take them back to Naples.

The next morning after a continental breakfast they left Naples for the other side of Mt. Vesuvius to visit Pompeii. Here they walked the streets of the once volcanic ash covered roman city. They walked into the buildings; with still beautiful frescos, wine jars still sitting on tables at shops, saw the grotesque casts of people who died in the eruption, houses of pleasure with phallic symbols above their entry doors (here Bob and Emmy shared a passionate kiss and a little more for the fun of it)and training quarters of athletes. When they had walked everywhere they wished they left and headed for Potenza where they would spend the night and dine at the Ristorante Al Nord.

Potenza sat in the Basilicata region and over looked Baseito Valley. Bob and Emmy enjoyed sitting on their small balcony looking at the valley. Then went inside to enjoy the night and continue what they had played at in the house of pleasure earlier that day. The next morning they visited the church of San Francesco and the roman ruins before leaving for Brindisi on the Adriatic coast.

The next morning they took in the Paplo Castle and walked the sea shore that bordered the city where ferries and ships left for ports such as Greece, Crete, Sicily, Turkey and more ports of call in the Greek Isles. They ate ay sidewalk cafes for lunch and dinner in the warm June evening with the sea breeze keeping all pleasant instead of muggy.

The following day they left and drove back to Rome where they would stay the night in the Hotel de Petris again before boarding their plane that would take them back to Atlanta and home. That night they returned to plaza near the Pantheon so they could listen to music and dance in the Plaza a few more times before a night’s sleep and then the plane ride home in the morning. Once back in their room they could not help but consummate their marriage one last time in the Eternal City, they could sleep on the Plane.

The flight home was somewhat longer since they flew against the trade winds rather than with them across the Atlantic. Once they had their luggage and Bob retrieved their car from long term parking he loaded up and they headed home. Once there they unpacked and kissed lightly a couple of times as they did ,telling one another how good it was to be home…their home.

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It is now December and about a week before Christmas and an unusually warm evening, so Bob and Emmy are sitting outside on their patio just enjoying this nights quiet, soon it will be too cold to do this. Bob has been quiet for a while just looking around.

“Baby what are you so quiet about?” Emmy asked looking at her husband.

“Oh I was just remembering our honeymoon my darling, such sweet memories too.” He answered.

“You are such a dear man, my man. I think of that trip often with lots of smiles.” She replied.

“After the holidays are over baby I think we should take off to someplace warm for a couple of weeks, what do you think?” Bob asked.

“Bob Bookend, you just want to avoid some of the cold. But that sounds fine, where would you like to go?” Emmy asked a mischievous grin on her face.

“Oh we can talk about that after New Years Eve baby, it will give you time to think of where would please you.” He said.

“Well K baby, right now lets go inside” Emmy said standing to go in the house.

So in they went arms around each other’s waists.