........This is the AMERICAN EMBASSY (one of the 2 buildings that comprise it, from what we could see), located on VIA VENETO, one of the most luxury shopping boulevards in Rome, similar to Rodeo Drive in Hollywood. Sonia is enjoying some ice cream from the ice cream parlor across the street ($5.00 per small cup), and Italy is known for having good "gelato" but frankly, I can't see the difference between their ice cream and many American brands!!

One last look at a few of my favorite fountains also, the first being only a partial view of the fountain on Via Veneto, (it is really much larger), ....the second being in Piazza della Republica, but it's not fully operating here --the water on the sides is not coming out. .... And the 3rd fountain is --- you guessed it, the Trevi Fountain, again! You'll find a lovely fountain in pretty much every major piazza in Rome. You'll also find quite frequently what Italians call "fontanelli" (drinking fountains) which are just basically fancy faucets with running water and a small hole on top so you can block the water coming out with your finger; this way it comes out the hole on top instead, which is much easier for drinking and you stay drier. Dogs are known for drinking out of the bottom of the faucet anyway, so you might want to avoid doing it "doggy-style".