Alright, if you're thinking "yaaaaaay. Other people's vacation photos," feel free to skip on down to the next post. Those are 30th birthday bash photos, and I'm sure you'll find some humor in at least six of them (you may even be in some of them, if you're lucky) ;) For those that are interested in our Roman escapade, read on my friends...
Our flights were great; it isn't often that you get 10 hours of down time when you have two little kids. So we watched movies, and I even knocked out an 845 page book (11/22/63, if you must know) :) When we got in, the first thing we learned to do is wear your seatbelt. Tightly. The roads are a free-for-all. If you are a pedestrian, and want to cross the road before the next renaissance period, you commit. It doesn't matter if there are three tour buses, four cabs and a chick in heels on a moped with a cigarette in her left hand; you go. And miraculously, they stop. So after arriving to the hotel, sweating profusely and slightly carsick, we checked in, and headed to eat. Our first meal of many that included lots of bread, cheese, olive oil and wine. And it was fantastic. From there, we explored the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, some of the many Piazzas and alleyways. We were awestruck by the interwoven periods of history. The sheer magnitude of these buildings is incredible, given the fact that they obviously didn't have modern construction technology available. You don't have to be an art historian to appreciate what went into each and every block of marble. That night, we had our late anniversary dinner, at an outdoor ristorante. The next day, we had our 'Angels and Demons' tour. If you are a fan of Dan Brown, you know what I mean. And you would be sorely disappointed, as much of the book was debunked :( But the real history is actually just as intriguing as the fiction, and we learned a good deal about the family history and Papacy throughout the generations. This was the first day that we were able to see Vatican City, and it was unbelievable. We saw many of the landmarks that appeared in the book (The Ecstasy of St. Teresa, which was housed in a small, non-descript basilica that was stunning inside, the obelisks, several of Bernini's fountains, Piazza Navona, and Castel Sant Angelo, among others), before heading to lunch. Another great meal in a back alleyway, where we could see into antique shops and watch sculptors at work. That night, we had dinner at a tiny local restaurant that looked like someone's dining room, and where no one spoke English. That was an experience! The following day, we got up later than we wanted, and headed to St. Peter's Square for Mass. We can't even be to church on time when the POPE is conducting, for crying out loud! After that, we headed to the Vatican Museum and were able to see the Sistine Chapel, which is so beautiful. We then went to the Spanish Steps, did our first of two trips to the Colosseum, and the Baths of Diocletian (that our hotel was actually built over). Thursday, we went to Palatine Hill (where the Emperor's Palaces were built), the Forum, back to St. Peter's to actually go inside the Basilica, had a fantastic lunch (best meal of the trip), and a forgettable dinner (but how often do you sit at an outdoor table with the floodlit Colosseum as your backdrop?). At 10pm, we were able to take part in a special tour of the Colosseum with about 10 other Americans, led by an art historian. The building is breathtaking by day, but at night, you can almost feel the history. We were able to walk through the archway where they transported the deceased Gladiators to the morgue, and even go onto the bottom floor where they kept the animals. It was definitely one of our favorite moments of the trip! Friday brought my actual birthday, and we intended to go to Florence, but after taking our sweet old time getting up and getting ready, we decided to just do some shopping. We headed to the much talked-about Trastevere area for dinner, but didn't care for it, and headed back to the other side of the river. I dragged Nick to Alfredo's (where the dish was created; and yes, dragged. Nick hates eating at places like that!), and it turned out to have the best wine and the second-best meal of the trip! The waiter kept telling me that I looked like the Marlboro Country girl that appeared in an Italian commercial, so at the end of the meal, he had me sign this book that all of the famous diners sign when they eat there. After flipping through a few pages of this year's version, I saw that my name is now amongst the CEO of Tupperware (how does that even come up in conversation?), the Princess of Jordan, and the Italian Prime Minister :) Saturday, we began our long trek home, and were thrilled to see our little ones (who were spoiled by grandparents, and didn't care much that we were home!) It was definitely a trip of a lifetime, and I hope that I get the chance to do it again someday!
Trevi Fountain
The Pantheon
The Oculus of the Pantheon. We just missed it raining :(
The Tomb of Raphael inside the Pantheon
Piazza Navona, and one of Bernini's Fountains
Our hotel
Across the Piazza from our hotel
Anniversary Dinner
Piazza del Popolo
St. Peter's Square
'The Ecstasy of St. Teresa'
A lunch spot
From our hotel room
The Pope was giving mass (he is sitting under that canopy on the steps)
A Matisse in the Vatican Museum (not old history, or even Roman, but I love Matisse)
The Spanish Steps
The Colosseum
An Irish Pub. Yes, we went to an Irish Pub that was playing American music in Italy.
Palatine Hill
So they made me put my jacket around my knees in St. Peter's. Even though my dress was knee-length, and there were about a hundred older women and 200 men in shorts. :)
Inside the Colosseum at night. Wish these photos were better!
My birthday dinner at Alfredo's
