Feelin' A Little More Holy!

Sunday was our day for the self tour of the Vatican. After getting a good nights sleep Kate and I were off and running to catch the tram heading to St. Peter's square. Every Sunday the Pope does a blessing over the square and on Wednesday's he does a Mass for the people. Being the good student that I am, I won't be skipping class to attend Mass. Maybe when I am finished with them in just three weeks!

Hard to believe I have already been here a week! Time sure is flying! Ok back on track trying to finish up the weekend adventures! We really aren't very far from the Vatican city here in Trastevere, by bus/tram. As we came around the corner it gave me goosebumps to see the people gathering for the blessing. It is such a surreal feeling being in St. Peter's square let alone in the presence of the Pope! We got there just in time to hear him speaking the English prayer. It was somewhat hard to understand but evidently there is a group of people from South Dakota that he mentioned! My thought after hearing this..."That's my neck of the woods!" Well sort of! So many people here are from the East coast or the South. So when there is someone different than that its great!

After listening to the blessing we decided to walk around. We knew that we most likely weren't going to make it in for Mass because the lines were so long, but we still we thought we would try! After walking the wrong direction in a huge crowd (I felt like a fish trying to swim up stream!) we realized we couldn't get in that entrance!

Even the outside of the Basilica is breathtaking! Like every other major monumental structure we have seen so far, I felt like I was the size of an ant! It's huge! We were going to try and get into the museums after this, because on the last Sunday of every month they are free entry! A good tip to know but get there early because they close earlier on Sundays! As we were headed in the direction of the museum I saw some fellow Montana people. Not sure they were so good though...One of them had a GRIZ shirt on!! Go CATS!!! Trying to explain the rivalry to my friends was a lost cause! They just looked at me like I was crazy! Anyways, it really is true that one can find a Cat/Griz rivalry anywhere in the world!

While walking around the outside of the main square we found two Swiss guards at the a more hidden entrance.  It was definitely time for a photo opp! They spoke English and were very nice! Not too shabby on the eyes either, aside from their crazy outfits! Ha ha

We made our way back to the square and came upon an entrance dedicated to Pope John Paul. His beatification was on May 1st. It was a great display to walk through! He truly was an amazing man! This tour was as close as we got to entering inside of the Basilica for Sunday. It was just a sneak peak of whats to come on Thursday! The official tour we signed up for is happening on the national holiday. Anyone know what the national holiday is on Thursday??

After we finished our adventure of walking around we found a sign for the Hardrock cafe!! Don't get me wrong here...the food is AMAZING! But its good to switch things up every now and then! Kate and I decided we would wait to go visit the Hardrock until all of the roommates were with us and we really wanted American food!

On our walk back we stopped in Campo dei Fiori for some lunch. A big salad with a glass of white wine hit the spot. It has been fun getting to know my roommates over these long meals! The Italians love to just sit and chat during meals! Taking time out of the day to relax and enjoy a meal is a great custom that we are all fully embracing!

After a late lunch we headed back to Trastevere for a nap and some homework! On Saturday when we were at St. Ignatious' Basilica they had a sign that the Notre Dame University choir would be performing. It was beautiful! Of course it was...It's Notre Dame!!

I'm off to do some laundry now! Should be an interesting experience! Ciao!

Our first view of the St. Peter's Square.

The blessing! 

Getting closer and closer....

This is outside of the Basilica. 

Swiss guards! 

Apparently he was a skier? And avid outdoorsman! 

His canoe! 

The poste from the Vatican! 

This was the exit from the exhibit (say that 10 times fast!) It's amazing! 

American food!

St. Ignatious Basilica at night

This picture turned out blurry! Oops! 

Church choir! 

We made a quick stop on our way home! 

What a way to end the great evening! 

When in Rome...On a Friday Night!

What a crazy few days it has been!! I can't even begin to describe how amazing they have been all at the same time! It seems like around every corner there is something new or different that I have read about in history books or heard from other people. It seems like I am living in a dream!

After sitting through class on Friday, we were all anxious to get the weekend started. Some of the roommates were tired, but Kate and I figured it was the first weekend in Rome so why not? When in Rome, right?! We started our evening off again at Camp d'Fiori and headed out exploring from there. Our walking took us to places we had no idea we would even be close to last night. We stopped at the supposedly well known club Anima (thank you Lonely Planet) in the Piazza Novano. There weren't very many people, and the two Italian guys that showed us the way skipped out on us when it was time to order drinks! It was hilarious!

After deciding that we didn't want to stay at Anima, we went exploring again. Weaving our way through the streets was like walking through a maze. There were so many little restaurants and cafes open with lots of local people enjoying their Friday night. It definitely felt like we were in Italy. The cobblestone streets are hard to follow sometimes because the people who are driving seem to have a bit of craziness in them! They are just crazy drivers over here in general. Anyways, after trying to figure out where we were based on the river, were ready to head home. Nope, that wasn't going to be in the cards for this adventure! We came around a corner and there was the Castle di S. Angelo! It was amazing! At first we weren't really sure what exactly we were looking at, but then another landmark was in the distance. Oh wait...that was S. Pietro's Basilica! What an amazing site all lit up at night! No that wasn't meant to rhyme! :)

For those of you who are feeling like you want to experience a little more of where this walk took us check out Google maps. We live in the Trastevere district, and the Castle is quite the walk! After taking some pictures, we tried again to follow the river home. Next thing we knew we were in the Piazza del Popolo! A kind lady chuckled when we asked for directions towards home! We were still a long ways away.

After taking some more pictures we finally made it back to where we needed to be safe and sound! What a crazy adventure for just thinking we were going out for the Friday night!

We found this church on our walk...not sure what it is!

The Castle

The river and view towards S. Pietro

Statues along the bridge over to the castle

Oops...I think we are a little ways from home! 

Further down or possibly up the river!

One of the twin churches

Saturday's Adventure


We decided earlier this week that we would spend this weekend doing the Rome experience. We booked a tour for Thursday because we didn't want to miss out on that, but good thing we did some exploring today! Now we won't be so distracted on the tour!

Today we covered a good amount of ground as well. We had plans to wake up early, but after last nights adventure sleeping in sounded better. It wasn't too late though. We were out walking by 9:15. A quick stop at the cafe downstairs for some coffee and we were off!

Our first stop was to the Colosseum! We decided to make that our first stop because it was the only one I knew how to get to on the bus! That was by accident as well if you remember from the first day. Each time you see this amazing structure it literally takes your breath away! I felt like I was such a small person near a such a HUGE structure! There were definitely lots of people down there and the lines were sort of long. We walked around it for a while then followed the road up towards some of the more archeological sites. At which point we found our first chiesa (church). It was the Basilica di S. Francesco! We walked in quietly, but did not realize it was in the middle of a wedding mass! What an experience that would be!

After walking around there we were off again on the bus and figuring out where the road would take us. Today we covered the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Piazza del Novano, the Pantheon, and everything in between! Literally walking for 9 hours will get the best of you!

Enjoy the pictures! It is such a great experience to be here and know that there is no time pressure to be anywhere! I will say getting lost in a city with this much history is amazing!

Standing in front of the Pantheon!

The entrance at the Pantheon. 

Let there be light!

The alter at the Pantheon...I really wasn't trying to get this kid in there!

Kate and I at the alter. They hold Mass here as well! 

There are so many people it's hard to take good pictures of the  artwork and statues!

Standing in the light!

We might go see this! It would be very cool! But more importantly , this is  S. Ignazio's Basilica and the artwork is gorgeous! Pictures don't even begin to do it justice!

This is the ceiling.

Standing at the back of the church looking forward. 

Another shot of the ceiling. 

Around the outside there are separate chapels that are just as full of artwork. They are overwhelming!

This was  hanging on a street corner! 

Piazza di Trevi!

It is much better here than in Vegas! 

Making a wish and throwing some money in!

Scalinata della Trinità dei Monti in Piazza di Spagna. How is your Italian?!

Up on the second level...

The view from up top over the city! 

Looking down in the square over Via di Condotti! I wish my shopping buddies were here to see this! 

Its a great shopping district!

Gretch-This one is for you! They had multiple stores along the street! But this was the first one we came upon!

Pantheon again! 

Piazza de Novano. 

The fountain at the Piazza de Novano. 

S. Agostino 

Came across this while we were on a bus! Any guess anyone?!

The arch at the Colosseum!

S. Francesco's Basilica the ceiling!

Oops...there is a wedding mass going on!

Colosseum! 

Architecture around the Colosseum! 

The first view of the Colosseum when we got off the bus!

Standing in front of the arches. 

Up some stairs near the Colosseum! 

My toes after a long day of walking! And those of you who know about it! My toenail finally did fall off! Didn't hurt too bad just looks kinda gnarly! 

We are headed to the Vatican today! There will be lots of pictures this evening or tomorrow morning! Happy Memorial day weekend from Italia! They don't have that here, but you are all in my thoughts often!!