It was made in the 1400’s and it just really touched me when I saw it in a book back home. I really enjoyed the rest of the pictures and you can definitely see from the pictures I took. Not all of them are great, but I think you can kind of get the picture. Let me just say that if you haven’t been there you need to go ASAP!!! We also went to St. Peters. I’m not a big church person, not that they aren’t beautiful, but its more of the architecture and the piazza outside that amazed me. I didn’t realize the size of what was accomplished in such a small area and with their resources. I still just sit in amazement at what they were able to accomplish, but somehow our house still took over 6 months to finish and they still didn’t do everything right. How times have changed.
After this and the museum we were all pretty pooped but we had dinner together at the hotel. Most of the girls had gotten in that night and no one really went out to do anything. Once our heads hit the pillow we were all out. The next morning we all got together and went to church in Rome. I was so filled with the spirit that these saints had as well as their love and care of us. They were very welcoming and comforting. I think that they knew what a hard time we would have with it and were more than happy to listen to our broken Italian testimonies or completely English ones (I think that you guys can guess which one I went for). The women in Relief Society were probably some of the sweetest women I have ever met in my entire life. I ended up having one of the elders translate for me and after the sweetest woman came up to me and kissed me until I cried all over again. They were so amazing!!! It really is a testament to the truthfulness of the gospel no matter where you are in the world, you can always find a congregation. Turns out we see missionaries all the time in Italy. It’s like every other day. It’s actually pretty cool.
After church we met up for lunch again at the hotel. And then went on a tour of some of the famous fountains of Rome. They still shock me. How did they know how to make things like that? I mean art now is so different. Not that I don’t appreciate it, but WOW!!! The talent that these men had and the creative vision, I wish I could have imagination and talent like that. I like to think that making clothes is something that Shelby and I can do to try to express ourselves as these men once did. Now if I could only get me Mom to start arting, (wait is that a word???) lets see um…painting, drawing really anything. If you didn’t know she is quite AMAZING.
The fountains that we went to were Piazza Narvona, Fontana do Quattro Fiumi, St. Luigi dei Francesi, Stat. Maria sopra Minerva, Il GEsu, St. Ignazio and piazza and of course to finish off the night the Trevi Fountain. We also made our way to the Pantheon. IT was one the way. I think that of all that we saw the Trevi and the Pantheon were my favorite. Trevi is just beautiful. It’s almost too much to handle. It’s hard to be able to see it all. You have to stand at the back and there is never a time when people are not there. It is always crowded. While we were there a bride and groom were actually taking picture there. Could you imagine, taking your wedding picture in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. I mean the Trevi Fountain. I wonder if they realize how great they have it. The Pantheon is just something that you can’t even begin to comprehend. They made that in 100 AD they did the dome and everything. I just couldn’t even imagine living in Rome at that time. It must have been incredible to watch that all be built.
After our walking tour we all were supposed to make our way back to the hotel separately and grab dinner on the way. I ended up going with Julia, Marie, Elizabeth, Laren, Makia and Brooke. During our adventure to try to find a restaurant we came upon some wine shops and the managers were dancing to the makarena…I know..crazy… Anyway we all jumped in and started dancing along. It was a blast. You wouldn’t ever really find anything like that in the states. We just let loose and had a blast. There were tourists and everything videotaping us and I think we even grabbed some pictures of it. I’ll post them if I can find anyone with some. After our dancing experience we made our way back to the street and found a restaurant.
It was really fun to have our first real restaurant experience in Italy. I had the lamb and it was SO GOOD. I couldn’t believe it was less expensive than I thought it would be. I really enjoyed the ambiance. It’s just a more relaxed way of doing things. You don’t get rushed out but it really is an event to go out and eat. I love it. I have always thought of it this way…now I can do it without making anyone angry.
After dinner we made out way to the Spanish Steps and grabbed some gelato. Lets just say some memories were made on those steps. Those girls are awesome!! We finally started to head back to our hotel around 1 went to bed to grab some shut eye.
The next morning we had to get up a little early to travel to the Coloseeum. Well we didn’t really have yo travel too far, just a short metro ride away. I seriously LOVE public transportation. I hate having to drive anywhwere. So we arrived at the coloseeum and it was more incredible than I could have imagined. I loved the feeling and the abiance of the area. You cpould just imagine what went on there. I mean Gladiator was great, but it doesn’t do it justice. The massiveness of the building just blows my mind. I never really thought that I would be so interested in it, but I really enjoyed seeing where so many great events took place. I am so into sports now I think that I would have definitely had a season ticket to the Coloseeum. For those of you who know me, you can understand the statement.
I spent a lot of time with most of the girls and we just went a little picture crazy. I loved it. I have really gotten into taking pictures I will make sure to put some up. After the COloseem I went outside and got a few people to take pictures with some gladiators dressed up outside. It was really fun and I got a kiss for only 5 Euro. HE asked for it….LITERALLY. I can’t say I didn’t enjoy it though.
We had free time until we went to the Catacombs. We decided to take pictures at the Mouth of Truth, a request from my mother. It was pretty cool but the line was a lot longer than I expected, but it was worth it. Then we took the bus out to the Catacombs and waited for a while.
The Catacombs were pretty cool and it really got me interested in Archeology. I had always thought that it would be gross down there, but it was surprisingly cold and calming. There is a reverence that exists there. We went to the only one that is owned by the Catholic church, most others are owned by private investors and families. I would love to do an internship with the Vatican and spend time out here. I learned where the Anchor came from. It represents the trinity and the stability that it provides in your life.
That night was pretty uneventful, but on Tuesday we went to Borghese gardens and a tour of some other churches in Italy. The churches were pretty cool, but I am sad to admit that I was a little sick of looking up at ceilings after a while. One church that I really enjoyed was “Chiesa Immacolata Concezione”the one made entirely out of bones. It was a little creepy and had a weird smell.
Borghese was beautiful and I have decided that I want a house like that. It kind of reminded me of the house in Sound of Music. I loved the grounds and the height of the ceilings. I mean the art wasn’t bad either. Hehe. The sculptures were my favorite part. I still am amazed at the intricate parts. I mean they didn’t even have like power tools. HOW DID THEY DO THAT???? CRAZY
Our last night in Rome we decided to grab some gelato and hit up the Spanish steps again. That was a really great send off to that part of the trip. It was really great, but to sit and take in the people moving around the city. We also went to Campo di Fiore. We had dinner there and did some bargaining with the local merchants. We had some more gelato and took a look in a bookstore. I got one of my first souvenirs, a book for the future children. I was so tired by the end that I went back to the hotel, but not before some awesome shots of the view from the roof. The next morning we had to be ready for the bus at 6:30 so the night was pretty much done for me.
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