Italian Holiday: Rome, Day Two

Day Two found us at The Vatican.

Which, honestly, what is this place?!!!

Remarkable, unimaginable, astounding, a little (or a lot) unrighteous.

Magnificent, majestic, marvelous.

I don't know if the dictionary features a single word that most accurately depicts all that is The Vatican.

And then there was St. Peter's Basilica.

Easily the most opulent and spectacular sight my little blue eyes have ever had the pleasure experiencing.

Now let's all take a moment and appreciate Mr. Michelangelo's Pieta. 

Can one take too many pictures of ceilings?

Let's go with no.  At least not while in Italy.

Above all else, know this: It's good to be Pope.

...Also, it's good to be me.

The National Monument to Victor Emmanuel II, was one of our favorites.  However, the Italians hate this building and call it The Wedding Cake.

Weirdos.

The Forums were super cool.  

My mind is simply incapable of comprehending the detail and ingenuity.  

Also, I spy Allen and Brian, above.

I mean, am I the only one that thinks of pre-Jesus as strictly camels, dirt and tents?  

Certainly not all this.

My mind was blown.  On repeat.

And then, Trevi Fountain.  Under construction.  Which was unfortunate.

The gelato across the street, however, completely fantastic.

We ended our evening at Piazza Navona.  Which won my heart and quickly became my favorite of the Piazza's.

And then, then came the VERYMOSTBESTOFTHEBESTHOLYCRAPGOOD gelato.  

And that is how you end a day.

We woke up the next day bright and early to catch our morning flight.  Only to discover it had been canceled.  And so, we were gifted a few extra precious hours of exploring.

We spent the morning aimlessly wandering, then ended our stroll at St. Peter in Chains.

Because, Michelangelo and Moses.

 And the chains that held St. Peter.  Maybe.  Probably.  Actually, doubt it.

And then we were done.  

This trip in this country with these people was a dream. 

I would do every ounce of it again, with zero hesitation.

Ciao Bella.

Italian Holiday: Rome, Day One

Rome is the most indescribably amazing place on the planet.

We packed in as much exploring of this glorious city as one may in 48 hours.

Stop one: The Spanish steps.

Let us all be grateful this is not our easy way of getting to church.

(although, it felt quite reminiscent of the only way to get to BYU from south of campus).

Really fell hard for the symmetry and the Obelisk at Piazza del Popolo.

Those Romans.

Marveled at this view from Gianicolo Hill.

My mind was completely blown by The Pantheon.

Humans are amazing.

Most obligatory and entirely jaw-dropping is the Colosseum.

The Catacombs of Saint Sebastian were eerie and weird and awesome and ingenious.  

And that Bernini bust of Christ was stunning.

And now all I really want is to see Circus Maximus restored to it's original magnificent gigantic grandeur.

Not pictured but certainly enjoyed was the Crypt of the Cappaccin Monks.  That business was crazy and super cool.  Bone art.  Dead people bones everywhere.  I dug it.

We went to bed dog tired.  But so excited to do it again.

  In every corner, every nook, the layers of Rome show themselves off like a beauty queen, and she's breathtaking.

The unimaginable was everywhere.  

And I craved more.