Last Stop: A Visit To the Pope.

A Year Ago Today...

March 25, 2009

Itinerary:

Wednesday, 3/25 Rome/London

-8:00 breakfast at hotel.

-24 hr. Rome Metro: €4,00.

-Circus Maximus.

-Bocca della Verita: Mouth of Truth.

-Vatican City.

-Vatican Museum €14,00.

-St. Peter's Basilica.

-Get gelato €3,00

-People watch at Spanish Steps: sunshine and gelato.

-Train to Rome Airport €12,00.

-Rome Fiumicino (Terminal B) To London Gatwick(South) dep. Wed 25 Mar 20:55 arr. Wed 25 Mar 22:30 ($58.98 each).

-Shuttle to Hotel.
Lodging: London: Skylane Hotel

March 25th was our last day to see a few more sites and our last day to add another European country to our list. We began the day by heading to see the Circus Maximus where the ancient Romans had their chariot races. There is not much to see here today, but you can faintly make out the chariot marks in the grass.

Our next order of business was to visit the Bocca della Verita. If you have ever seen Roman Holiday, you will recognize it from the movie. I love it because the shot they used in the movie was actually just Gregory Peck messing around with Audrey Hepburn so her response to him is completely natural. If you've never seen the film, I suggest that you stop what you are doing and go watch it right now!

The story goes that this little ancient guy is a lie detector. If you put your had in its mouth while telling a lie, it will bite it off!

After our morning jaunts in Rome, we headed out to Vatican City. It is its own city-state so we added another country to our list by stopping here.

The Swiss Guard in their fancy clothes have been the traditional military of the Papal city-state.

We toured the Vatican Museum while we were there. I had no idea it was full of so many artifacts--tons of artwork and sculptures and mummies to boot!

And of course we saw the Sistine Chapel where Michelangelo spent years painting the ceiling.

This photo reminds me of a Where's Waldo or something of the like:

After the museum, we went into St. Peter's Basilica. It was the largest church I have ever seen--actually I think it is the largest in the world, but you definitely notice the mass of it when you are inside.

Getting close with the Pope.

After spending a few hours in Vatican City, we headed back to Rome to take in the Roman life. The storm from the night before had blown over and it was a gorgeous day! Harmony and I spent our last few hours back on the Spanish Steps with guess what: more gelato! It was an enjoyable time of people watching and soaking in the sun before the conclusion of our journey. We had done all the site-seeing we were going to do, and all that was left was the flights back home so it was nice to be able to rest and reflect on our amazing journey!

That night we flew back to London and stayed in a quaint little hotel near the airport. Our stop was just long enough to get some sleep before our flight home in the morning.

And I can't forget to mention what else happened a year ago on March 25th, 2009. My niece, Greta Grace was born! She didn't quite wait for her aunty to return home to arrive, but it was a great welcome home to see her on my way home from the airport. Happy 1st birthday today, Greta!