A Visit to the Vatican by Margot Justes

I booked a tour to the Vatican, for my next visit I will buy tickets ahead of time and go on my own. Spend time at my leisure and not worry about tour.

We had 10 minutes in the Sistine Chapel, that was just about enough time to walk across the rectangular Chapel, try not to bump anyone in the process and barely see the ceiling, much less the walls.

That being said, the Chapel is stunning. As I looked up at the magnificent ceiling I wondered how Michelangelo could survive such an ordeal, to create those stunning images laying on his back for hours on end. The nine frames on the ceiling tell the story of creation , Adam and Eve and Noah. The altar wall depicts the Last Judgment, filled with fire and brimstone. The Chapel simply takes your breath away.

St. Peter's Basilica is enormous, everything is made from marble, it is magnificent and filled with unbelievable treasures, chief among them is Michelangelo's deeply moving Pieta. Now hidden behind glass and high enough to keep people from getting too close.

My first view of the Pieta was many, many years ago and back then you could get close, within touching range, but an idiot took a hammer to the Pieta and caused quite a bit of damage. Now it is protected from harm and humanity.

Vatican is a living, breathing museum and very little can be seen in five hours, when you take into account the enormous size of the place and the multitude of visitors, and let's not forget the tour group you're with.

What I should have done was stay on my own after the tour ended, but I didn't think of it until after I got back. By the time I got back to the hotel it was almost three in the afternoon, I was tired and hungry- heaven forbid I should miss a meal-so I went up to the terrace restaurant and had a delicious late lunch.

Till next time,
Margot Justes
A Hotel in Paris
www.mjustes.com

More Travel by Margot Justes

The second day in Rome started with a scrumptious breakfast at the Sofitel. Just the selection of coffee was impressive, from an espresso, to cappuccino, a French Press or settle for the American brew. I started with the French Press, got my own pot and steaming hot milk...day was off to great start.

Next came the bread selection, from flaky croissants, to baguettes and everything in between, to puff pastry sweet rolls. I was in heaven. Let's not forget the cheeses, from a triple cream Brie to goat and pecorino selections. Let's just say I was going to have to walk a lot. They even had dates and figs, along with eggs, omelets, sausages, fruit, and the usual gamut of buffet selections. I ended my meal with a cappuccino and a sweet roll with ricotta cheese. I did finish the pot of coffee first...it did not go to waste.

Next on the agenda, was a tour to the Vatican. To save time, I booked the tour with American Express while still at home. The bus arrived promptly and off we were to the Vatican, or so I thought.

Instead we were deposited at the offices of the tour company and waited while they figured out how many buses they would need. Buses and tourists were everywhere, sort of like the United Nations-many languages were heard and it was fun trying to identify them. I even followed a couple who spoke French. I tend to do that whenever I hear the language, besides not much was going on.

About twenty minutes later we were assigned a bus number that was supposed to be for English speaking tourists. We headed toward the bus, the number matched but the language did not-Spanish-read the big sign. We stopped in front of the bus and waited.

A little debate ensued between the tour guides, signs were switched and we boarded the bus, a bit apprehensive we hoped it was the right one. When the guide spoke in English we heaved a sigh of relief; we were on the right bus and finally on the way to the Vatican.

Even with a tour group, there was a delay in getting in. We first had to stop and get our headsets, make sure they all worked; when you have a bus full of people it takes a bit of time. Not to mention there were many tour groups.

Once we were all set, we followed the guide and headed toward the entrance, always making sure her red umbrella held high could be seen. You do not want to be separated from your guide, and believe me, it is easy to do.

The winding double line moved slowly, but no one seemed to mind. The tour guide stated that 25,000 tourists visit the Vatican daily. I can understand why, it is an amazing place and impossible to see in one day, much less 5 hours.

Till next time,
Margot Justes
A Hotel in Paris
www.mjuste

Travel by Margot Justes

I haven't posted a blog for a while, thought I'd be able to do it while on vacation...I was wrong.

The flight to Rome left on time, the plane was half full, or empty depending on how you see it, and we landed on time, eight in the morning. Italian customs process not a breeze, long lines that moved at a snail's pace, but it was expected and the process seemed exciting, because Roma was waiting for me.

I arranged for a driver before leaving home and was happy to see him. I recognized him immediately, he was holding a plaque with my name plastered on it...even for me it was hard to miss. Things were good.

The hotel room was not ready, but they promised a lovely room and stored the baggage. I was free to spend my first day in Rome, and since the hotel was within walking distance of practically everything, especially the Spanish Steps, I headed there first, but not before stopping for an espresso.

Did you know that Italians stand at a counter and gulp their espresso. I found out that if you stand the price is cheaper than if you sit down at a table. It was the quick inhale of the brew that had me amazed, like a shot. I savored mine.

I made it down the Spanish steps, many, many steps, walked around all the lovely little cobble stone streets. Amazingly enough the locals wore heels and the cobblestones had big gaps between them. I watched how well they maneuvered to miss what looked like pot holes. Most tourists knew better and wore comfortable shoes.

Stopped at a lovely outdoor cafe and had lunch, was serenaded by a couple of tenors, after they passed a hat and demanded a tip, they moved on to the next cafe.

The Sofitel delivered as promised-we has a suite, absolutely gorgeous with a balcony and a fantastic view of Rome, and there was a Nespresso machine in the room, so I could enjoy delicious coffee at will. The stay at the Sofitel was simply amazing, I would recommend the hotel without any reservations on my part-you need to make reservations to actually stay there.

What a terrific start to the vacation...more next week

Till next time,
Margot Justes
A Hotel in Paris
www.mjustes.com

Voices by Margot Justes

People often ask where do writers get their ideas? It seems intriguing to come up with a scene, develop characters, plot out the story, bleed repeatedly over every page and finally have a final product.

As the saying goes-truth is stranger than fiction-how many times do we hear a news story and say "I never would have thought of that, or seriously, someone did what?" Talk about suspending your disbelief-just pick up the paper or listen to the news, fiction has nothing on real life.

I don't think I'm the only writer out there in fiction-land that hears voices in my head, and listens as characters hold their own conversations, and clamor for their own stories.

I find it entertaining, and at the same time somewhat of a challenge, because at the most inopportune times they pop in and hold a conversation. That is how a premise for my new novella came about. The secondary characters from A Fire Within demanded their own story, and they will get it.

I don't even have a working title yet, but there have been so many stories about art recently that I won't have a problem selecting what kind of fraud, theft, or forgery I want to write about. The best part, it may be another joint venture with Amy Alessio and Mary Welk, set around Halloween 2012.

I wonder how many of us hear those voices that refuse to remain silent, and wind up in a story.

Till next time,
Margot Justes
A Hotel in Paris
www.mjustes.com

Tidbits by Margot Justes

We often complain how time 'flies' it doesn't really...it just seems as if it does.

Take today for instance, I drank a pot of coffee-nothing unusual there-happens most weekends if I'm home, made some mushroom barley soup, did laundry, all the mundane everyday things that aren't done during the week, and are saved for the weekend.

I sat down at the computer and realized half the day is gone. I don't know where it went, and have very little to show for it, (except of course for the clean laundry and huge pot of soup)but it seems to have flown.

In the meantime, new writing projects are not 'flying', in fact they seem not to be moving forward at all, except the three pages I added to Hotel in Venice and a page to Memories of a Country Long Ago, and the continuous editing of existing projects.

Time has been spent polishing Blood Art and A Hotel in Bath. I regained my rights to A Hotel in Paris and I'm editing that too, as well as writing a new end to A Fire Within.

All in all I can pretty much figure out where the time went, it did fly, but at least I know the destination...my manuscript pages.

I have some good news-Amy Alessio, Mary Welk and I will release our 3 novellas in time for Valentine's Day, tentative date is January 1, 2012. This is an old project that has been resurrected, and I'm absolutely delighted at the prospect of working together with Amy and Mary.


Till next time,
Margot Justes
A Hotel in Paris
www.mjustes.com

Operation Paperback by Margot Justes

I’ve mentioned Operation Paperback before.

To use their words, “Operation Paperback is a non-profit organization that collects gently used books nationwide and sends them to American troops deployed overseas.” Since 1999, the organization shipped over 1.3 million books to our soldiers.

We collect books at work and to date have shipped 1,026 books. We accept donations from our employees and a few libraries have given us their ‘withdrawals’.

I love books and for me there is no greater pleasure, than to see someone else enjoy the escape from reality that a book provides. I assume that is especially true for our soldiers. If anyone needs an escape from a brutal reality, it most certainly would be a soldier in the middle of a war.

There is a VA Medical Center that needs books, and it’s not difficult or expensive to send a box. The US Postal Service provides free shipping supplies, and there is a special flat rate for the boxes earmarked for the military.

Joining the organization is easy, just go to: www.operationpaperback.org

I was asked not to provide the name of the facility, however if you e-mail me at mjustes@earthlink.net, I will be able to give you the name of the medical center, or if you prefer to send the books to me, I will give you my shipping address. I’ll make sure the center receives them.

For just a little bit of an effort, you can make a difference in a soldier’s life, make it a bit more palatable for them and let them know you care.

Margot Justes
www.mjustes.com
A Hotel in Paris

Chicago North RWA Spring Fling by Margot Justes

The Chicago North RWA Spring Fling is a huge event for our chapter. It is also a tremendous amount of work to put on a conference of this caliber.

I mention this now, because our registration opened up September 1st; but it takes about two years to plan the event-a lot of work is involved.

This year we have a committee of very dedicated members who are doing an amazing job. They lined up bestselling authors and fantastic editors and agents.

The SF Ladies-as I like to call them-signed a great contract with the Marriott, keeping in mind the current difficult economic times.

The publicity, the registration, arranging the panels, picking up our guests at the airport, and all the tiny details that are so important to make the conference a success are being done.

There are a multitude of e-mails, meetings, ideas being tossed back and forth, all of that takes a tremendous amount of time.

I am not a member of the committee, but as chapter president I am privileged to read all the e-mails going back and forth, and I am truly amazed and in awe at the dedication of the SF Ladies.

This promises to be an amazing conference, and if you're a writer, a reader, a fan, you will enjoy the time spent with the CN RWA Spring Fling...Cool City, Hot Romance is our motto.

Here is the link to register : http://www.chicagospringfling.com/registration_form.php

Hope to see you April 27-28 at the Chicago Marriott NW in Hoffman Estates.

SF Ladies, thank you for an inspiring job.

Till next time,
Margot Justes
A Hotel in Paris
www.mjustes.com