When in Rome ...... Take lots of pictures?

The Colosseum was probably Gracie's favorite part of our trip to Rome, but for me, it was all about the plastic sword photo op.....

UUUUUUGH !

Would you mess with this?  I didn't think so.

The Colosseum was a pretty surreal place to visit.

 

Our next stop was the coolest place in the entire universe, the Vatican Museum.  We should have spent three years there, instead of three hours.

The building itself is amazing, and then it houses some of the most incredible things.

There was so much to see, I almost felt like I was desensitized after a certain point.  It was hard to take it all in.  Almost everywhere you looked there was some sculpture or artifact that ordinarily would have warranted it's own exhibit in any museum back home, but here they were unceremoniously propped up in corners and tacked to walls at ankle height; there's just too much to display.

The ceiling in one of my favorite rooms.

Part of a really intricate table.

There was a section of the museum with very large tapestries, and many of them depicted some pretty strange things.

The Massacre of the Innocents was a whole tapestry of Roman soldiers stabbing babies.

Chain bra?

And tell me this doesn't look like a politician wave.

This one is probably worth clicking to see full size... the ceiling art was so detailed, there should be a new word invented just to describe it.

Another amazing ceiling.

Mom and Grace patiently waiting once again, while I take 478 photos.

View from atop the Monument to Vittorio Emanuelle II

No trip to Rome would be complete without a trip to Trevi Fountain.

We each threw a coin into the fountain, which superstition says will ensure your return to the eternal city... our aim must have been to good, we came back to Rome sooner than expected.  The volcano disruption that was happening at the time of our train caused us to go to the train station expecting to depart back to Milan, only to find that trains were sold out until the next day, and for most of the rest of the week.  Yikes!  We (amazingly) found seats on a train leaving the following day, but thanks to the fountain, we did enjoy an extra day in Rome....

Our extra night in town gave us the opportunity to take a night time tour, which was absolutely breathtaking.

What a fantastic adventure!  I couldn't have asked for better companions, or a more amazing experience.  Everything was beautiful, and I absolutely can't wait to go back.  :)  

Thanks for reading,

Love,  Beth