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For some reason my blog last night did not publish, so I will do a quick recap of Rome. In two days we have seen the big tourist highlights of the city. Yesterday we started at the Spanish Steps; we did not walk up them. Instead, we walked around them looking for an old chapel a friend told us to visit. The Cappuchin (sp?) Chapel was strange and fascinating. If you are unfamiliar, as we were, google it. It will freak you out a bit. After the chapel we went to the Pantheon. It was quite interesting; I do wish more of the writings were translated into English. I am sure some of the stuff we saw would have been more fascinating if we knew what we were looking at exactly.
Our last stop yesterday was the Colloseum, Roman Forum, and Palantine Hill. Our guide, Alfredo, yes, that is his name, must have specialized in Roman history. By the time we finished, we were on information overload, but I felt like I had learned a lot. Although I minored in history during my undergrad, I have not kept up with the reading I once enjoyed. Visiting Rome has really brought back the passion to read and learn about the merging and re-emerging of civilizations and cultures. I am really fascinated by the pagan beliefs and how easily rulers changed everything to a Christian philosophy and also because it was beneficial for political reasons. For example, I had no idea people viewed the peacock as a religious symbol of fertility. Anyway, I am clearly off track.
Obviously we had a great time.
Today was started at the Vatican Museums. We arrived 45 minutes before our tour was to begin and could not believe the line that early in the morning. If I had to decided one tour to pay for, and obviously we paid for more, it would be the tour we took today. Our guide was an art history major at university, and was incredibly well versed in Catholicism. We really enjoyed everything she talked about and appreicated getting the highlights in our three hours.
If we had not taken a tour, we would have been lost in the nine miles of museums. Nine miles! We would have never found the Sistine Chapel. The art and galleries in the museums were incredible. It is hard to believe all of it was once the private collection of the popes. Fortunately, we were able to video and taking photos everywhere except the Sistine, so we have lots to share. The amount of people inside the Sistine was overwhelming. It was difficult to walk, so we basically stood in one spot and tried to take in as much as possible. It is not possible to see it all. I also found it confusing; it could be the fact we had 15 minutes in it, but the events in the life of Christ that were depicted seemed out of order. Many people oohed and ahhed over it, but personally, I was a bit disappointed. The fact that one man painted all of it is amazing, but I enjoyed the architecture and the histoy of the city much more. I did love St. Peter's. That took my breath a bit.
The whole thing is so huge and beautiful. Although there were so many people there, you could feel that it was holy. We were reminded of the horrible death St. Peter had and how that horrible event birthed the church Christ promised to build. It was humbling. Obviously I am not Catholic, and I do not claim to understand many of their beliefs, but I am really glad I can say I have visited this holy place.
The Pope is on his summer holiday out of Vatican City, so Ben missed his blessing. He claims he and the Pope had a meeting set up so he could be blessed, but somehow we missed him. I did however take a picture of his closed bedroom curtains that signify he is not home. Maybe next time we can get in with the Queen and the Pope! :)
We fly out at 11:00 in the morning. By the time we get to Knoxville, our bodies' clocks will read 1:30 am. I think we will crash after loving on Bear for a while.
We hope you have enjoyed following our adventure and sharing this experience with us. Next stop, home!
- comments
Vicki Safe travels! And welcome back to the good ol' USA!
Martha Thanks so much for taking the time and typing on your tiny iPod to include all of us in your travels! Hope that you and Rebecca will plan a get-together to show us all your photos and tell us your tales! Let us know when you get home. Continued blessings to both of you on your trip home!