Rome, Italy

6/21

We are in Roma!  Delirious, but we are both here.  I'm so thankful that Tom triple checked our flight because we thought we left the airport at 8, however, we arrived at 8 instead.  To be at the airport an hour and a half early we had to catch a 3:30am bus that was a 20 minute walk from our hostal.  This is one particular morning that I personally was not a morning person.  Little Addy Burnett would have been accurate in asking, "Did you have a good nap?" Because that is what last night was.  Thank you Lord for the area being a safe place to walk at that hour.  I'm most looking forward to Italy, but a nap is most definitely on the agenda before being too ambitious and seeing the city.

We like Italy.  This opinion could be a result of some really great oven baked authentic pizza or amazing gelato, the friendly Italians, or the really cool history of the city.  We had just enough in us to walk the Colosseum and see some major historical buildings before we were ready to head back to our little guesthouse.  The Colosseum was really cool.  It seats 75,000 people and was built in 80 AD.  It truly was the first football field, but much more gruesome.  I can't imagine what the life of a gladiator must have been like.  People stormed in with pieces of clay pots that had an assigned seat number to watch exotic animals and humans fight to the death.  YIKES.  I prefer football.

It was really hot today and the guesthouse does not have AC, I guess these guys are not used to the Texas heat.  By the way, most people love running into Texans :)  We must have a welcoming presence (I hope anyway).  Oh and final side note before tomorrow: We went into a McDonalds for a Coke and they sell pasta.  Is that not hilarious?  Kids Meal pizza was also on the menu.  There is no way I could get McDonalds pasta in a place like this, but Ronald is trying.  We are  excited about Vatican city and St. Peter's Basilica tomorrow.  Also, the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps at night.  The sights just keep coming and I have a hard time not running them together.  I pray I can enjoy and take it the people and culture during the whole trip without taking it for granted.

6/22

Vatacan City was the start to the day.  We were fortunate to skip the lines with our printed reservation.  The best part, in my opinion, was The Sistine Chapel.  Michelangelo was a talented painter, architect, and sculpture.  Thanks to Rick Steve's free audio tour I was able to appreciate a complete depiction of the Bible in this ornate chapel.  Literally, one end started with creation and then at the altar end was a painting of The Last Judgement.  It was a picture of Christ as Just and people either being resurrected to the right of the painting, or cast into hell on the left.  There was no sugar coating, but a definite thankfulness and realization of our need for Christ when viewing the painting.  Tom did note that Michelangelo was the least intelligent of the Ninja Turtles so that was his one knock haha. The rest of Vatican City was ok, but crowded and parts of St. Peter's Basilica were hard to look past.  Church leaders funded the church by charging people forgiveness for sins.  This is not Ok and against God's Word.  It is so hard to share Christ's goodness when people have been abused by the church.  

Back to ninja turtles, we went back to the same amazing Italian Pizzeria for lunch and had pizza (ninja turtle style).  The Italian owner was loud, friendly, and met all Italian stereotypes.  We had Margarita Pizza and a Big Salad which I was craving.  Some of the freshest veggies and pure oil and vinegar...Mmmm. 

We have come to the conclusion that two things that can't be found in Rome are fans and fountain drinks and we spent the next part of the afternoon looking for both.  Finally, we found a McDonald's with fountain drinks and got ice added (it was 4.90!!).  We didn't know the menu price, but we truly appreciate Texas for cheap sodas, free public restrooms, and free ketchup.  Oh and fans.  We looked at every supermarket and finally found a cheap desk fan to keep by our bed in an electronic store.  My husband's face lit up at the fact that he'd be able to sleep with some cool breeze and the sound of a fan.  Sometimes it is the little things in life.

The rest of the afternoon we checked out a park, took a nap, and cleaned up for a nice night on the town.  We had a wonderful Italian meal with some authentic wine and ate gelato (I really have had this everyday, I am not worrying about the lbs I'll be working off upon arrival in TX haha) as we took in the lit up Trevi Fountain, cute Italian streets, and Spanish steps.  

Tomorrow there is the annual gelato festival going on and with the purchase of the gelato card we can see free cooking schools and try at least 5 types.  Dangerous, but awesome.  More on this experience and the Pantheon tomorrow.  Nighty Night.6/24

The last day in Roma consisted of a morning jog to an old italian neighborhood, a clean shower, and coffee.  It was great to have some normal routine.  Fairly normal I guess. I had a cafe latte, but Tom, after ordering a cafe, had a petite, but bitter and disgusting espresso with a croissant.  Not quite this eggs and bacon eating mans choice, but he did find that he likes some of the pastries and crepes.  Normal only lasted until we came across a Gelato Festival sign explaining how the last day of the festival was today.  WHEN IN ROME, you go to the gelato festival.  We went to an area outside the metro we had been using and found ourselves on a freeway outside of town.  No worries though, the festival was just a small hike from the tram.  

For 12 euro, we got a gelato bag, 5 tastes of gelato flavors, and a gelato cocktail.  We tasted gelato made by some of the best Italian gelato makers who were in a competition to win the best flavor. Upon arrival and during taste one (AKA: a full scoop of gelato) we said, "This is the best festival ever!" I had a chocolate pistachio and Tom had cinnamon.  After taste two, we said, "I don't know if I'll get to finish all five."  After the cocktail and half of taste three, "ugh, I don't want gelato for a long time."  We're so glad to have this "When in Rome" memory, but the moral to the story is that some of the finest treats are best enjoyed in small portions and this comes from a girl who LOVES ice cream.

Next, we bought our morning train tickets to La Spezia (up the coast) and took a tour, using Rick Steve's audio, through the Pantheon.  I've liked the Roman history, but I've seen about all the white marble I can for a city.  

Finally, night life led us to the Trestevere neighborhood where we ate dinner and found the cutest, Pinterest-vintage style shops and booths along the Tiber River.  I found some vintage earrings and decided earrings could easily fit into a backpack as a souvenir. Rome has been fun, but we are ready to say, Ciao and head to the next stop.  The Cinque Terre and La Spezia is the one I personally am looking the most forward to!