Every year about this time, I think of the trip to Rome where I finally figured out where the Temple of Divine Julius stood, poked around what had been the base of the eternal flame in front - and found (to me, amazingly) that there were floral tributes covering the base, as if Caesar was still being mourned.

I hope I never find out that this is a normal expense of the Roman government!

In any event, about this time in 44 BC, I suspect Caesar's time was taken up utterly in final planning for his departure to meet the army at Apollonia. Still gives me chills, even after the breathtaking re-enactment of his assassination in the ROME mini-series (I've never seen Caesar die so - painfully.)