....MORE HOT days in Rome

So a few nights ago we went out to view the city at the night time. We saw the Spanish steps (hangout for lots of young teenagers and tourists), Trevi Fountain, various ruins, Triton Fountain, and attempted to find the Four Rivers Fountain (never quite figured that one out). We also got to see the street life of Rome which was quite fun. Amanda and I were pulled into one store b/c of 5 euro dresses. We were getting there about half an hour before they closed and by the time we were ready to check out the line was probably like 40 people long. I stood there for a solid half hour. Eric was a good sport :)

We also found many piazzas which are like little squares within the city that normally have a monument or somethign cool. At the one with the Pantheon Church in it there was a live opera singer singing for tips. It was fun to see.

The next day we decided to leave Italy and go to Vatican City. Vatican City is not a part of Italy. It is it's own state b/c Italy wanted to seperate itself from church and state. But this territory is completely within the city of Rome. Just in case you didn't know.

We decided to do a tour for this because we figured since none of us are Catholics, or anything close to experts on the Vatican and it's history. Since it was a Wednesday there was an added bonus (free :)). We got to go to the papal audience. So basically you get herded like cattle through this huge mass of people attempting to go through security. Our tour guide told us that we need to now act like Italians...apparently they don't get at the end of the line, they simply just merge into the line. Quite interesting lol. So we got in and were way at the back but all three of us did get a glimpse of the Pope and was able to hear his blessing. We only stayed for about 15 minutes. It was fun to do though.

Then we started our tour of the Vatican. What a huge place! The museum's exhibits are four miles long. Our tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable so that was really good. We saw huge tapestry's (there used to be gold threaded in them until there was a period of time when apparently the Vatican was strapped for cash so they stripped them out). There were also many important, well known statues. Apparently most of the Roman statues are replicas of Greek bronze statues. We then went through the Raphael Room's. There are three of them, but only two were painted by Raphael. The third was painted after he died but they still include all three of the rooms as his since the last one was painted by student's from the Raphael School. Apparently he always paints himself in his art and is the only person in the painting that is looking straight at you. This is so he can watch everyone take in his artwork.

We also saw the Sistine Chapel. It was really neat and huge! I was entertained a lot by the guards in the place. Apparently you can't have your shoulders or knees showing, you have to be silent, and there is no photography allowed. It was fun watchign people try to sneak through, a surprising number of them completely oblivious to the rules. The guards spent the entire time shushing the people. I think that it would be much more effective if instead of doing that inside teh chapel, tell people as they are walking INTO the Chapel the rules. oh well. it was fun to watch. If anyone would have a camera out the guards were look at them and wag their finger and say no no. lol it reminded me of what you would say to a four year old.

After that we head to St. Peters Basilica. Which is huuuuge. Definitely the biggest we have seen so far. Maybe the biggest ever? we aren't sure. Our tour ended at the Vatican so that's my excuse for not knowing ;). We walked around there for awhile and then went down and saw the Crypt that holds all the Pope's bodies/tombs.

Then we came back and siesta'ed it up. Then we went and ventured off to find the Pantheon in the daylight. We easily found it and did the quick look around that we do at all churches. Then we walked around and saw the Victor Emmanuel Monument. Which is a huge monument, like the size of a building, that is dedicated to just one guy. He must have done something real great.

Today we started off a little slow. We had to go to the post office (bust) and then to the train station to reserve our tickets to go to Pompei the next day (disaster). First of all the line took about 45 minutes to just get to the ticket guy. Once we got there we learned that the train people will be on strike the day we wanted to go to Pompei. So it was a no go. We had learned that the bus and metro wouldn't be running that day b/c they would be on strike but we hadn't heard that the trains would be too. So no Pompei for us. We were a little bummed.

From there we went and saw Circus Maximus which is where the old Caesars would have watched Charriot Races. Then we went to the Caracalla Baths. This is basically a pimped out YMCA. Ok well really it was where all the Romans would go to bathe. It could hold up to 6,000 at one time. It took 9,000 people per day for 5 years to build this gianormous complex. It basically was just huuuge pools that people would bathe in. It also had gyms on the sides where people could exercise as well as athletic areas where people would come to watch people compete in games. So pretty interesting overall. Huge doesn't even begin to explain how big it was. The pools were sourced by natural aqueducts.

We then decided to go find the Appian Way. This was the first and widest highway in the Roman Empire. Since expansion was important to them a good transportation system was necessary. We decided to conquer our fears of buses and took one about four miles outside of the city. We walked along the road stopping at a few tombs and catacombs. Then we came back and hit up a local restaurant. More pizza and pasta. Man I looove Italy.

We are on siesta right now and then will be headed to the crpyts and Borghese Gardens. Generally you do the Borghese Museum first and then hit up the Gardens, however, we have decided to veto almost all Art Museums for the last two weeks of our trip :)

Amanda wants to team tag the next blog, write in third person, and then make everyone guess who wrote which section. I was a little leary at first but it sounds like fun. Plus...I figure it's time for some audience participation. Until then!

Mollie!

OHH Btw...its been like 95 degree's here. ICK.