Buongiorno di Roma!
None of us speak any Italian, but it's been fine, since the Italians all speak with their hands :) they even speak with their hands while they are on the phone. It's ridiculous!
We did a whirlwind tour, since Chad and Chet were here just last year. Basically the whole city is full of ruins. Vast marble columns laying in random squares throughout the city. It's crazy how much history lies here. We wonder whether the Romans appreciate it or are totally jaded. If you grew up here, would you still be fascinated by the art and history?
Did you know that the Sistine Chapel was Michaelangelo's first painting? He is a sculptor by trade. He had unbelievable talent. What ever happened to the skill of marble carving?
I always forget how hot it gets! So we went to the supermarket and got ice cream. One euro per tub of yumminess is better than four euro for a small cone on the street.
Despite the extensive history and copious amount of art, marble, columns and statues, we weren't incredibly thrilled with Rome. Granted, we greatly appreciated it. But it was such a touristy city. Every monument was crowded with tourists. The streets were lined with hawkers trying to sell knock-off goods at ridiculous prices to gullible passersby. Even in the squares, people would come over with a bouquet of roses and stick them into my hands. And then they ask for payment. They don't respect "no". Once I accidentally dropped three roses on the ground because he had stuck them in hand and let go of them before I could get away :-P
Even despite all the tourists, we still enjoyed incredible pizza, pasta and pesto, and gelati.
My favorite part was that we could cross the street whenever we wanted. Most crosswalks had no lights. Once we stepped in the crosswalk, the cars would just stop. It was slightly terrifying but also super fun. And we were completely awestruck by the Vatican Museum and all it's sculpture and frescos.
We're off to see the rest of Florence, then Padua, Venice and into Croatia :)
"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." - Psalm 37
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