I have to separate this into parts. Probably three. I’ve picked only the most interesting pictures, but I took 500 pictures so I’ve had to narrow it down. I’m trying to convey the experience. This is the hotel we stayed at in Rome. It wasn’t that nice. None of the hotels were, until the last one. It was strictly functional and centrally located.
A view from the street of our hotel.
I liked how the plants grew up around the car. I wonder how long it’s been there? Years.
We had pizza the first afternoon there. Sunday lunch. It was very full of cheese. The crust was lacking in oomph, but overall we enjoyed it. Our waiter didn’t speak English and didn’t really want to mess with us.
We “weren’t allowed” to take pictures in the Catacombs, but I snuck a few sans flash. You can see the graves on the right. We went to a Catacombs location that was in the city, lesser known and not as touristy. No one else in our group spoke English. Well one guy did, but he was translating.
Josh kept asking me to come down hallways where the tour guide wasn’t going. We found many bones using the light of his iPhone. One of the graves was absolutely full of bones. Harmless things. Arm bones or something, small and light.
In this picture you can see some of the artwork that they painted around the graves. You could see it better in person, obviously.
This was at the end when I was bold and used flash.
One of the prettiest things about Rome was the abundance of umbrella pine trees. I loved how authentic they made the city feel.
Outside the Vatican. Look how high the wall! On the day we arrived, Sunday, the line to get inside went on for blocks, including this area. On Monday morning, not quite so bad.
Everything about the Vatican, except the Sistine Chapel, was kind of boring. A lot of rich stuff, a lot of gardens. Here’s my favorite picture. The ceilings were so nice to look at.
St. Peter’s Basilica. Was. Huge. I threw together a rather crappy compilation of three images I took below. (Hey, who has the time!) You can see on the far right where Michelangelo’s Pieta was. Click to embiggen.
The Pieta. Really beautiful.
It was horribly crowded inside. I just wanted to get out the whole time. Most of the places we visited had crowds like these. Ugh.
Next, other landmarks in Rome!
Heather H.
You weren't the only one surreptitiously snapping photos--love the look of the lady in front of you being all inconspicuous with her camera, lol. Looks like you had fun. And THANK YOU so much for my postcard. It is beautiful. I've never been to the Vatican or to Rome at all (I've been in the north of Italy, but never made it south, alas),. I've seen art in the national museums in DC, and it's amazing how much more you see in person. I fell in love with de la Tour in DC. Incredible light. Thanks for sharing the pics--looking forward to the next one.
Laura
my guess is that's fresh mozzarella which is super thick and gooey. Looks yummy! Thank you for the postcard, it came today. Beautiful! I do love that ceiling. How amazing would it be to have it to ourselves, just us and a laptop and time to write. That's a great blurry pic of your bro among the graves. It's staggering to me, the history in Europe. We're such babies on this side of the pond! The sculptures are my favorite thing. I just don't see how they turned a lump of marble or stone into something so intricate, so lifelike. I love the pics! Keep 'em coming.
Laura
Oh! And the pic of the street from your hotel is right out of a movie somehow. Love how quaint it looks.
Michelle A.
Oh my gosh, lovely! I only got to visit Venice, Florence, and Verona. I really wanted to visit Rome, but it was too far south for our tour. It's wonderful to see these pictures! I wonder if there's ever a time that there aren't crowds like that. I hated all the crowds. :(
Charity
Oh my word, you're in ITALY! That is so awesome! I lose contact with your blog for a few weeks, and you're in Europe. Agh, Heather took the words right out of my mouth - hilarious that you caught another woman trying to be stealthy with her camera in the catacombs. We got busted by an usher in London, taking pics in one of the theatres. In the background of the photo you can see her coming towards us. haha. I hope you enjoy your European holiday - sometimes, the memories and photos can be better than the actual experience. Traveling can be tiring and tourist crowds are not enjoyable - but those fade in memory. Saw your earlier posts - I can identify somewhat. Maybe more with Laura's response, about cyclical depression. I was struggling pretty badly this Feb.-March or so. Right now the stress of finals gives my life meaning, but it's so frustrating knowing that it could come back and I'd sink right back into it. But... certain things definitely do not help, and I try to keep track of what my mind can and can't handle. Like depressing books (ahem, about the Holocaust maybe?). Seriously, reading 'Th1rteen R3asons Why' kickstarted my funk, in a way. *shrug* I started reading a book called 'Grace for the Good Girl' that's helped a lot (I struggle with guilt when I get low - I can actually tell I'm doing it, too, I just can't stop the thoughts). I'm going to post a huge quote that was sooooooooooo reassuring to me when I read it: (Freeman quoting Dan Stone and Greg Smith from 'The Rest of the Gospel') "Our soul fluctuates between thoughts and feelings we don't like and thoughts and feelings we do like, and we don't like those fluctuations...we try to stop that swing, because our soul's fluctuations are unpleasant to us and it seems as if God wants us to stop them. We think that Christian maturity is getting that swing under control...God designed us on the soul level to be capable of feeling and thinking things that are contrary to spirit reality. Why? Because that is the only way we can learn to live by faith out of who we really are and who He really is, rather than out of appearances." Freeman (the author) writes, "Our fluctuating humanness is there on purpose, to remind us of our need and draw us to the One who can meet it. We don't have to figure out the whys and the origins of every swinging emotion. But it is so important that we admit they are there. To embrace the color and fullness of our emotional, un-fine state is to open wide enough to receive compassion and grace. Only then will we be able to offer that same compassion and grace to others in honest and authentic ways." Loved that perspective, because it's so true - if we were able to experience perfection on earth, or be perfection, then the Bible is untrue. Savor your Italian experiences - and keep posting pictures!
Jaimie
Yep, that's why I got braver -- she was doing it too!
Jaimie
Yeah, fresh mozzarella. So good.
Jaimie
Probably only in the off-season, and who wants to go in the winter? I went to Ireland in the winter... it wasn't crowded, but I got the sense it wasn't as beautiful either.
Jaimie
Thanks for the quotes. I could have a whole conversation about them. Maybe next time we talk on the phone. I'm in the middle of reading a book on the Holocaust... umm...
Charity
Haha - I KNOW. 'Night' is not a book to read on vacation! :P
Meadow
Hooray pictures! Looks like such fun. :-) I had the same feelings about the Vatican as you. I was mostly amused by all the fig leaves on the statues. But the Sistine chapel totally lived up to the hype.
crystal
I'M SO JEALOUS. you took some good shots. I like them. And I like your narrative. Aaaaand, I miss your voice. Let's talk soon. ;-)
Troy
Love it! Esp the ceiling and Pieta, and the grass/car mileau
Kacie
that's the problem, crowds, and tourism weariness. I liked the British Museum for an hour, and then I left the rest of Isaac's family and waited outside at a coffee shop. Watching the crowds go by and eating chestnuts roasted on an open fire by a street vendor.... was awesome.