So to finally update this blog that I have neglected my days with mom and dad at the end of break were pretty great. First we were in Florence were I got to introduce them to Florence from the perspective of someone who lives there. In Piazza Michelangelo we got to see a special display of Carrara Marble which brought our trip full circle after having been to Carrara only a few days earlier. We also got to see Santa Croce and San Lorenzo and the leather market in Florence. To much time has passed now to remember if did anything else. Then we headed to Rome and it was wonderful. Because they had already been there they were pretty great city guides. Our hotel was in a great location. We were in between the Vatican and the roman ruins. We were able to get to the Vatican museum on the first afternoon in Rome. It is large. Do not try to stop and see everything unless you are a PHD student in Renaissance art or have 2 weeks to go through. We had 3 hours and still we were flying through some of the rooms. Dad got the audio guide which proved to be almost useless until we got to the Sistine Chapel. It was then able to explain the placement and meaning of many of the frescos. Dad was also able to give some of the history of Michelangelo’s Ceiling and Last Judgment. The Vatican museum was incredible and an exhausting afternoon. That night we saw lots of Rome. We went all over the city trying to find a place to eat dinner. On our wandering we saw many things we weren’t sure we would get to. We saw the Pantheon at night and Piazza Navona. In Piazza Navona we heard a fantastic opera singer and got to enjoy his concert for a while. The main attraction of the night was the Trevi Fountain. I threw my coin in over my shoulder to ensure that I would be back but I knew already I would. I will just have to do it again on the 9th of December. The fountain was beautiful and majestic. We then went and enjoyed dinner at a restaurant we had seen earlier that night. That next morning we went to mass with the Pope. It was amazing to see the leader of our faith in the person. It was also amazing to take communion in Saint Petersburg Cathedral. After mass we went to the square and got a blessing from the Pope when he came to his apartment window. From there I needed to head back to Florence because I had school the next morning and they were heading back to the states. Through the day we were able to stumble upon some pretty amazing things. We went to the ruins of Rome. We saw Monumento Vittorio Emanuele due. We walked from there to the Colosseo and we also got to see the Pantheon during the day and we got to go in for free for some reason. We then were on a path toward the train station and got to see Saint Peter in Chains and Saint Maria Maggiore. Inside Saint Peter in Chains we got to see Michelangelo’s statue that was meant to be the tomb of Pope Julius. It was impressive in size and done with great skill. It is hard to imagine what Michelangelo could have done had he actually wanted to do the statue. After a veggie pizza diner I headed back to Florence on a train and mom and dad went back to their hotel for their last night in Europe.
Mom and dad might have to correct me if I got anything wrong and they have all the pictures because my camera died. Post about Paris and Austria to come this week before I head off for London and then Rome again and back home.
