Veni, Vedi, Veci

Not many friendships withstand the test of time, but Heather and I must be an exception!  Heather has been my bestie since 5th grade.  I was thrilled when she wanted to come out and spend a week in Europe with me.  We met Heather in Rome on a Friday and headed straight for the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and Roman Forum. 

Nos morituri te salutant!=We, who are about to die, salute you!  It was hot and very crowded, but we survived. 

 

 

We loved the statues surrounding the House of the Vestel Virgins in the Roman Forum. 

 

Outside the Flavian Amphitheatre AKA Colosseum. 

After sight seeing and a little bit of shopping we headed back to the hotel to "freshen up" for dinner.  We had great recommendations from Chris' Italian co-workers for dinner. 

 

 

 

After a fantastic meal at a Renato e Luisa we walked to the beautiful Fontana di Trevi.  I think this was my favorite night in Rome.  I could have sat and people watched forever!  So relaxing and such good gelati! 

The next morning we headed to the Roman Pantheon now a Catholic church. 

We walked to Piazza Navona (my favorite piazza) for some lunch and some Bernini.  We had lunch just off of the piazza and then some gelati. 

While waiting for our tour of the Colosseum to start, we ran into a great tour guide for Vatican for the next afternoon.     
 

From Piazza Navona we enjoyed a beautiful walk along the river and some shopping along the way to Vatican City.  We loved every minute of the tour which focused on the art and artifacts of the Vatican Museums.  Sean, our tour guide, has a Masters in Historical Theology which made for a very intriguing visit to the Vatican and its history.

 

 

 

The School of Athens, by Raphael.  Oh, and Chris...

 

 

 

 Inside St. Peter's Basilica.  Honestly, nothing like it in the world! 

What a fantastic day!  List of everyone's favorites:

Michelle: gigantic imperial bathtub made from Egyptian red porphyry marble (more valuable than gold per ounce), Raphael rooms, Sistine Chapel, and watching Heather fall asleep on some steps. 


 

 Chris: Also liked the bathtub, the map room, and watching a couple take dumb "action" pictures outside of St. Peter's for 30 minutes. 

Heather: Sistine Chapel, all the naked male statues, and the bathtub.

 

I think we all dreamed about getting into that big bathtub to soak our aching feet!

 

 

 

The Swiss Guard:  Protecting the Pope since 1506. 

 

 

Spanish Steps at dusk.  Before another great dinner. 

On our third day in Rome we traveled to Piazza del Popolo to see the "twin churches" of Santa Maria dei Miracoli and Santa Maria in Montesanto and to travel down Via del Corso for some SHOPPING!

We took a taxi out to San Callisto Catacombs along the Appian Way. We respected the dead and didn't take any pictures. It was a "nice" way to cool off 50 feet below! We road the bus back into the city and stopped at San Giovanni in Laterano Basilica (where only the Pope can have Mass). We then had gelati...again...

 

Scala Sancta (near San Giovanni and Pope's Palace) which according to tradition are the marble steps that Jesus took to receive his death sentence by Pontius Pilate.  Brought to Rome by St. Helena in AD 400. They are covered by wood to protect the sanctity and the condition of them.  Really cool experience, but didn't know how much it would hurt our knees or how uncomfortable it would be.  Makes you think doesn't it?


 

Two of my favorite people who aren't mad when I make them take the wrong metro. 

 

 

This fountain's water was freezing cold!  Wasn't expecting that!

On our last night we went to Hard Rock Cafe.  Chris and I continuously crave hamburgers and milkshakes. 

Now on to Venice!