One last time...

On Tuesday, we (me, the kids and Grandma) went to Rome, one last time. Pat hadn't seen the Vatican yet and I was more than happy to go. So off we went, using our train shortcut, beating the heat and the tourists...if feels good to be in the know for a change...

Gwendolyn and her chariot...

We found the Metro (the boys favorite) and then made our way to Piazza del Popolo (the people's square)...

With it's obelisk with hieroglyphics...just pretend it is a vertical pic...

On to the Trevi Fountian...you have to remember to throw in a coin...that way you will return to Rome...or as the legend goes. The boys relished this and even a sleeping Gwen (with mommy's help) managed to get one in...

And a fun, but hot train ride home...

I have to be honest, as far as things that tourists see, there is not much left in Rome that I haven't gotten to. Being so close and having a local train has been a highlight of our time here. Rome has been hot, gritty, and crowded at times, but we also have been able to see so much more of it! How people live here, what they like to do, and almost, be treated as a local. What an amazing experience that I am very thankful for.

Have a wonderful and cool day!

Ciao a tutti!

Rome, again...

On Saturday, we (me, the kids and Tobin) went to Rome. Tobin had been there only once and we had seen the Ancient Roman sites...so back we went to catch a few sights before our departure...which is quickly approaching. Once again, we take the train into Rome. This is my fourth time on the train and it was shockingly empty. I could actually see the sign that showed which stops were next.

A side note: The train station in Rome is called Roma Termini...this is because all the trains come into it from one direction and stop...end of the line. Well, our train comes in from the north and circles the city on the west side and swoops into the termini (this means that the train is actually heading north or back to Montalto...the train then has to back out of the station). Well, as the train circles the city there are a number of stops in the various neighborhoods of Rome. Usually we take the train to Termini and then walk or take the Metro to where ever we are going.

So, back to Saturday...we are headed to the Vatican...long train ride, a long walk to the Metro, and a Metro ride to the right spot, then another walk...I notice the next stop is Roma San Pietro. Could that be St. Peter's Square? I break out my handy maps and Tobin found the station and we jump off the train. It was a quick 4 block walk to St. Peter's! It only took 4 trips, but what a short cut! I felt like a local! We got there before all the tourists, in the cool part of the day, there was NO line!!!! Go us!

St. Peter's Basilica...notice the line as we are leaving the square...

Walking along the same route as I went with the kids, here is Ponte San Angelo and Castel San' Angelo...

The Four Rivers Fountain in Piazza Navona...

The Pantheon...

Sorry for the duplicate pictures, but some of them were better than the last time I went through. Here is something new...more Roman ruins...

This is the Victor Emmanuel Monument...like the tomb of the unknown soldier...

Trajan's column and some churches...

Trajan's Market...

A quick Metro ride...

And we find ourselves at St. Paul's Basilica...Tobin's favorite so far (you have to ask him why)...

The inside of said Basilica...

And because we are such cool locals we walked through one of the neighborhoods and found another train station to go home on...and Rome's only pyramid...

So there you have it, another crazy adventure through Rome! We even got home in time to make dinner! It is kind of nice to finally start to feel like we know enough to be even more adventurous in our exploring...beyond the 'normal' tourist stuff. I think I will make it to Rome one last time...Pat hasn't seen the Vatican yet...but now I know the short cut!

Ciao a tutti!

Vatican...

Last Thursday, I had a wonderful opportunity to hang out with just my 2 boys. Shannon wanted to go to the Vatican Museums (which I had already seen, pics here...) and I went along for the ride with Case and Clayton (Grandma was watching Gwen)...

First, we went to St. Peter's Square and Basilica, and regardless of what one might think of the Catholic Church, it was absolutely amazing. The Basilica...

You step inside the door and two things happen...you breath a sigh of relief to get out of the heat and your breath is taken away by the shear enormity of the Nave...

Just to the right inside the door is Michealangelo's Pieta...a peita is a sculpture of Mary holding the body of Christ after the cruxifition...

This is the main alter that is over St. Peter's Tomb...

Here is the dome...the picture was uploaded the wrong way...tilt your head to the left to get an idea of the dome. The dome was Michealangelos last work and is the biggest anywhere. In fact, Rome has no modern skyline, due to the fact that no building can be built that is taller than St. Peter's....

Dove window (stained glass window with dove in center...I couldn't get a pic that showed the dove:( ) and St. Peter's throne...

St. Peter's Square...apparently the Pope was having some kind of something on Sunday, so there were hundreds of chairs and most of the square was blocked off...

Then we had a bite to eat and Shannon was off to the museums...and I was alone in the streets of Rome with the two boys...the adventure continues...

Ciao a tutti!

Opportunity of a Lifetime...

I am not sure if you all know this about me, but I LOVE to go to museums...art, history, science...I just really enjoy them. Out of all museums, I love ART museums...I was almost an Art major in college...I love the use of color, texture, composition, etc. On Wednesday, I was able to go to one of THE most important museums in Europe...maybe the world...The Vatican Museum. What an amazing opportunity! The kids got to spend time with their Aunt Carolyn and Jamie and I went to the museum...Amazing!

Thanks to my guide book, I bought our tickets online...well worth the extra money to pre-register for your tickets...we bipassed ALL of the lines! Went through security, got our tickets and were on our way before we even new it...we called my ticket voucher 'the magic paper'...

As with just about everything lately, it was not what I was expecting...at all! It was very crowded (apparently the Catholics celebrate the Assumption of Mary on May 14th so there were tons of people there), hot, narrow, you end up in a maze of corridors, stairways, and passageways as you loop through the museum. That being said...it was absolutely amazing!

It almost seemed as if the museum itself was more beautiful than the actual works of art. The decoration of each of the rooms, were absolutely spectacular! The ceilings are ornately decorated, the floors are exquisite, and the amount of marble used is just staggering!

Of course, the art is spectacular...though it is hard to know how wonderful it is...they certainly are not big on signs or telling you what you are looking at! What these artist could do with marble is just staggering!

One of my favorite parts was the flooring (I know it sounds weird), but the tile work is just amazing! They are so detailed and the tiles are so tiny...amazing! Here is a close up of that floor above...

This is from the map room...the ceiling is just amazing...so intricately detailed in everyway!

Now on to the art...again, while I certainly enjoyed the museum, I wasn't too sure what exactly we were looking at! But the parts I did know, were spectular...this pic is from the Raphael rooms...the sheer size is staggering! No wonder people were artists for a lifetime! This is a fresco...the colors were just amazing...

As with everything, even the ceilings are decorated in the Raphael rooms...

Then when you think that you have seen it all, you walk into the Sistine Chapel...honestly, it is breath-taking! And utterly fascinating...I took a picture before I realized I wasn't supposed to...oops! The painting style is very interesting...forget historical...Rome was the center of the world so all the biblical stories are set in a medditeranean landscape, wearing clothing for that time and place...fascinating!

Of course, I have tons of pictures. The ancient egyptian items were awesome...the sculptures amazingly intricate...the tapestries were enormous...the frescos were awesome (I am certainly glad they underwent the renovation of the Sistine Chapel...the colors were so vibrant). Everything is so old and ornate and Catholic!

We didn't make it into St. Peter's Square or Basilica...the kids will enjoy that! If anyone has any specific questions...I would love to answer them if I can!

This weekend is pretty busy...apparently, the 8th annual Asparagus Festival is going on here in Montalto...Yes, I said asparagus! There is supposed to be a Mercantino...a market of antiques, arts and crafts, and other stuff! Now, if it would just stop raining...it should be alot of fun! Then on Sunday we have to turn in our rental car for another...goodbye 'sports car' :(

I hope that you have a wonderful day and weekend!

Ciao a tutti!