Italy

After the Vatican we took a city bus to lunch. I’m glad someone else was leading us because I was confused. And exhausted and hungry.

We had lunch at an adorable cafe and everything was yummy, of course!! You know me and pictures of food.

Oh bruschetta, I love you in all your forms and varieties.

I don’t know what this was called but it was baked goodness with pasta and cheese…what more do I need?

After lunch, our guide took us on a walking tour of a few piazzas and we got to go back to the Pantheon. 🙂

Trevi Fountain…amazing!

Yep I threw in a coin…I’ll be back. 

And like I’ve mentioned, there were just a few people in Rome. (this is why I don’t have a picture from the front of the fountain)

Panorama of Trevi from my iPhone.

It’s everywhere, but I did not eat there….why would you, it’s Italy?!?!?

More waving at me from above…

So many beautiful building and windows…

I was surprised to see palm trees in Italy, this is the the Piazza di Spagna (square at the bottom of the Spanish Steps).

 Spanish Steps….we’re going up. Just as soon as we can find a clear path.

This side looks better.

About a 1/3 of the way up.
We stopped about halfway to sit, enjoy the scenery and people watch.
Laura

Angie

Me

Trinità dei Monti at the top of the steps.

The view from the top. 

My first gelato…I was so excited my picture is blurry, forgive me. Our treat for climbing the Spanish Steps.

A little rest before dinner and then we walked to an little outdoor cafe a few blocks away. It was pretty awesome and there was some Roman ruins across the street. Wish I would have taken more pictures of the evening, but I think I was just exhausted.

Amazing pizza and wine.

Up next, Spoleto. That place stole a piece of my heart!!!

Day Two in Rome – Vatican City

Rome was very hectic the two days we were there. Filled with the regular tourists, but also filled with Italians from other parts of the country. Rome was on holiday. People were everywhere. Even Italians were in the lines at the Vatican. It was like being at Disneyland and finding out that day set a record for visitors (that happened to our family once).

Rome is beautiful. Regal. Steeped in history that boggles my mind. I kept thinking about the fact that the Roman Era overlaps the time of Jesus. And that just fills me which awe and wonder.

I would like to read more about history of Italy. Maybe I need to find some good historical fiction rooted in Italy so I can have a dose of history and a good story. Or maybe I’ll reread the Eat portion of Eat, Pray, Love. I relate to Ms. Gilbert’s desire to immerse herself in the culture and language of Italy.

I am inspired by the regal self-assurance of this city, so grounded and rounded, so amused and monumental, knowing she is held securely in the palm of history. I would like to be like Rome when I am an old lady.
― Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love

I really I like Italian hotel breakfasts…a little bit of this and that. Nothing too heavy, but plenty to eat.

And ah the cappucino!!!

First view of St. Peter’s Square.

Our lovely group leaders, Giuliana and Laura, posing with some Go Learn Swag while we are waiting to go into St. Peter’s. 

I’m not catholic, but I love all the statuary and beauty dedicated to God. I think it’s all pretty amazing. And I’m a sucker for Cherubs.

Even the ceilings are beautiful. I think he was waving at me saying “hey, Thauna welcome…enjoy and remember God is magnificent”

Here’s another one waving at me, Laura took this picture. 

When we first arrived this is as close as we could get to Michelangelo’s Pieta. I was so disappointed to be so far away, but luckily they moved the barriers before we left and I was able to get the one below. It’s a challenge to get a good picture of something behind glass with lots of reflections and people pushing in to get a good spot. I had really wanted a “moment” with the Pieta to just look at it, ponder it, and cry. I warned the group that I may just sit on the floor in front of it and cry. But elbowing my way in to get as close as I can kind of took my “moment.”

I’ll have my moment looking at the picture. I have an art crush on Michelangelo. Just amazing isn’t it?!

More statuary …

 Travel buddies Casey and Bonnie. (I traveled with some amazing people and we had so much fun)

More of the ceilings……..

Swiss Guards…I couldn’t get a good picture over the crowds. 

Walking around the side of St. Peter’s Square on our way to the Vatican Museum.

A little street scene on the way.

Oh just me again….outside the Vatican museum.

I can’t remember the name of this painting or the artist (I need to find it) but I’d heard about it, seen it on TV, read about it and was very excited to see it. There are several prominent people from the Renaissance depicted. 
And here is my “crush” included in the painting with his famous boots.  The tapestries are amazing….
Ceiling covered in art… 

Cappella Sistina (the Sistine Chapel) is the last stop on the tour of the Vatican Museum. No pictures are allowed. 🙁 Being the Michelangelo fan that I am, I was disappointment that I couldn’t take pictures. But more than that it was crowded, over crowded really. The guards are yelling and SHHHHing the whole time “no photos”, “no talking” and clapping their hands to keep people’s attention….add to that the crowd and I was a nervous wreck when we walked out of there.  I did find tiny spot on a bench and sat there by myself in a sea of what felt like 1,000’s and tried to experience the beauty of the ceiling and think about Michelangelo. 

I don’t know how we ended up in this corridor that was empty, but I had a momentarily breath of spaciousness. 

Day 2 – to be continued. This is all before noon.