ROMA

Just arrived in Venice after a whirlwind tour of Rome. So much history to explore...so little time. Our hotel (Hotel Maikol B & B) was located on the Piazza Vittorio Emanuele just a few blocks from the Termini Train Station, one block from a Metro Station, and within walking distance of many sites and restaurants. The neighborhoods in Rome all seem to surround Piazzas or central squares. Some of the piazzas look more parklike, some just have fountains, some are associated with a church...but all provide an informal public gathering place. There seems to be a church on at least every other block. We visited the Vatican yesterday. Defected from our tour group within the first 10 minutes and had a great time on our own. Walking through Saint Peter's Square and into the Basilica where Saint Peter's tomb and Michaelangelo's Pieta was a surreal experience. St. Peter's is the largest church in the world ... and we knew that going in ... but the interior size is simply huge. The Sistine Chapel is a sensory overload. Every square inch of the interior is covered by beautiful paintings and sculptures. To think about how Michaelangelo worked on his back for that many months to paint the ceiling that is beautiful beyond words is just mindboggling. The Vatican museum has so many works of art, many by the great masters like Michaelangelo, Raphael, and Bernini that it's difficult to appreciate it all.

After our tour of the Vatican we visited Ancient Rome (the Colosseum, Forum, and Church of Saint Peter in Chains). We can't even begin to wrap our minds around the fact that the same cobblestone streets and marble steps that we were walking on had been walked on 2500 years ago! At that time, before the birth of Christ, one million Romans were shopping and conducting business at the Forum and being entertained at the Colosseum. Saint Peter in Chains Church houses Michaelangelo's statue of Moses and the actual chains that held Saint Peter captive in both Rome and Jerusalem.

We were also able to visit the Trevi fountain (a very happening place in the evening), Monumento of Vittorio Emanuele II, and ride through the Borghese Gardens. We ate pizza and pasta at sidewalk cafes and travelled by plane and train (to Rome), and metro and bus (in Rome)...and a lot of hoofing up hills and steps.

Overall impressions of Rome ... historic structures and buildings are everywhere, life is lived loudly and boisterously, stop signs mean nothing, and food is prepared fresh and tastes fantastic!

Some technical difficulties on uploading the photos (maybe just user error)... but will send the photos later.

Caio ... for now.