No such thing as a free beach

Today it was hot again but Leona wanted to go to St Paul's outside the Walls a magnificent church built over the tomb of St Paul. Every pope in history, going back to St Peter, is portrayed around the the church wall. I noticed there is only room for seven more popes - I wonder what that means for the Church in the future!!!!

The tomb of St Paul

Some of the amazing bronze doors... the conversion ot St Paul

The beheading of St Paul

The crucifixion of St Peter

From there we carried on to Ostia Antica the place where St Monica died. In ancient times Ostia used to bethe main port for Rome and where and the Tiber met the Meditarrenean Sea. We went around the archeological site which is very extensive and well preserved and we found it strange that there was no mention of Monica. By the time Christianity became established Ostia was in decline and so there is not much evidence of it there that we could find.
 

Archaeology continues!

We then carried on to Ostia for a swim in the Meditarrenean from Italy. It was nothing like our beaches. The bus dropped us at a 'free' beach as opposed to a private one. Well the sights were something to behold!! Leona was determined to have a swim and most people seemed to be at most knee deep in water and then there was a wall of rocks preventing anyone from going further into the water. Leona managed to get to top of thigh depth where she could swim. Steve gave up and when his turn came after minding our things he paddled... there is no such thing as a free beach!