Hello!

I told you guys I’d be back with more Europe posts, and I am not one to disappoint! As I was sitting here thinking about the rest of the time Joni and I spent in Roma, a vision of dozens of posts swarmed before my eyes. You see, we fit in so much, and saw so many things, that it would take me forever to write it all up. So, I’m going to do something a little different. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so here we go:

The Colosseum was an incredible experience, and when I asked Joni later, she said it was one of her favorite things that we did. Why? Because it’s some of the coolest history we have. (Side note, you can click on any of the pictures in groups to make them larger).

There’s nothing like visiting these ancient buildings and trying to wrap your mind around the fact that people, real people, lived and fought and died here 2500 years ago.

Along with the Colosseum, we went to the Vatican Museum, where we saw the Sistine Chapel and rubbed shoulders with thousands of other awed visitors.

We also found out that the Sistine Chapel, where no photos are allowed, is actually enormous, and the most famous panel within it is actually quite small:

We visited St. Peter’s Basilica, listened to audio guides about a thousand dead popes, and got to see some of the best religious art in the world.

We walked through the Roman Forum, an entire city’s worth of ruins that culminate in a palace overlooking the Circus Maximus (where the old chariot races were held).

We went to the Trevi Fountain and the top of the Piazza Venezia, which the Romans hate because it’s made of white marble, but looks just as beautiful to us:

We ate more gelato than any person has a right to- though the best was the one separately recommended to us by two different tour guides.

We made real, Italian pasta in a class taught by a real, Italian chef. And then we ate every last bite.

We drank bottles of wine and climbed the entire city and when people asked us if we were tired, we stared.

Because this is what Rome is about. It’s life. It’s the past and the present and the art, all mashed together into one teeming, thriving city.

And it’s beautiful.

-Carissa