Rome

Beautiful sunflower fields everywhere!

We had about a 3 hour drive that turned into 4 1/2 because we couldn't find the car rental return spot. But the kids did well, the air conditioned car was better than the heat outside!

                           

We finally arrived at our apartment and were pleasantly surprised.  Our last few have not been that grand.  And this one was in a great location, just a few minutes walk to the Colosseum. Of course it was a process to get there.  We finally got the car inside of a parking garage (on the 6th level!) that Mike had to squeeze through to fit the van and we barely made it a few times.  Turned it in to the rental company then lugged all the bags, stroller, and kids through the garage into the train station to try to find them something to eat.  It took us a few tries to finally figure out how to get inside the station, we found the actual trains but didn't need that!  It was HOT!  Have I mentioned that??  And where do we end up? Good ole Mickey D's!  Ugh...really getting tired of that place!  PLEASE chick fila can't you come over here?!?!  So, 5th country so far that we have eaten at McDonalds and it was by far the worst.  Not really the meal I was hoping for when I got to Rome!  Grabbed two cabs (because we can never again fit in one!) and made it to the apartment...ahhh, time to rest.  Of course there is no air conditioning in the apartment but there were at least a couple fans....HOT!

Colosseum
1st century AD

We had two private tours while in Rome.  That is just the best way for us because it is easier with the kids than if we are in a big group.  No one has to wait on us and that makes it less stressful.  We had Silvia for 3 hours Sunday & Monday.  She was great and so informative.  I only wish I could remember a third of what she told us, too hard when I am also wrangling kids.  Our first session was of the Colosseum and Forum.

A picture of what the Colosseum looked like before the damaging earthquakes.  The Colosseum was where the Romans came everyday and stayed all day.  They watched whatever kind of shows were happening at the time.  Gladiators against each other or battling animals to the death, and there were also theatre performances.  All the women, except the emperor's wife, had to sit at the very top.  Actually, they didn't even have seats, they had to stand all day but at some point they starting bringing a type of stool to sit on.  All patrons had a ticket (made of stone) which corresponded with the section they were to sit in.  They had to climb steep steps called a vomitorium (yes, that is where the word vomit came from because it means to exit quickly or spew forth...ugh) so they could enter and exit their section rapidly.  They were there all day every day, so they had bathrooms and concession stands, just like we have today.

This is a display showing how they would bring up animals, gladiators, theatre decorations, anything they were using for the show that day, through trap doors.  They would use a weight system to pulley everything up from below the floor of the Colosseum.

Some of the bones that were found around the Colosseum.  The gladiators fought any animal that was found, even roosters, ostriches, and horses.

Here you can see where the floor was, which was covered in sand to absorb the blood, and the compartments where the subjects of the show were housed.  The animals were also left in complete darkness until their time came, which riled them up even more.

They even had a huge awning that covered the Colosseum to protect the patrons from the sun and weather.  We could of used some of that protection from the sun...just sayin

Part of a horse sculpture that was found near the Colosseum.

Do we look red???  Well...it was HOT!

Now the Roman Forum...

Arch of Constantine
2nd-4th century AD
Saw this on our way to the Forum.

The Forum was a kind of market place that was started by Caesar in 46 BC and added to by many other ancient governments.  Of course now it is ancient ruins that, for us, is kind of hard to tell what was there before things were destroyed.  Again, wish I could remember all Silvia told us because I know at the time I was interested :)

Ruins of a Basilica 

Silvia and the kids walking on the ancient road that still has marks in it from chariots...pretty cool

These were part of Julius' temple

Silvia telling us about the Vestal Virgins.   They were young girls chosen between the ages of 6-10 to lead the life of a Vestal virgin.  Their job was to keep the sacred fire burning all the time.  They had to remain virgins for the vestal term, which was 30 years, and if they broke their chastity they were buried alive.  They had many privileges, like they were the only women who could drive a chariot, they could free prisoners condemned to death, and they were trusted with important wills and documents.  But they also were basically prisoners themselves....so I don't think it was a great thing to be chosen.

The house and garden of the vestal virgins.  It lead to the emperor's temple as well....hmmm

People leave flowers here for Caesar's burial site, but he was actually cremated.  This site marks the ruins of the Temple of Caesar, but people still leave flowers and notes here.

After the Forum we decided to walk to a few other sights before heading back to our very nice un-airconditioned apartment....

Caesar

Trevi Fountain-one of the most famous in the world

Spanish Steps

They made it to the top!  And I was at the bottom with E watching a horse and carriage hit a girl!  She was standing at the bottom taking a pic and all of a sudden the horse runs right into her.  I watched the whole thing happen!  She got up and seemed ok but it could have been bad.  In my opinion the driver wasn't paying attention and the horse was going too fast, especially since there were so many people around.

Feeling the cool water from the Fontana della Barcaccia.  There are many water fountains around Rome, and you will see people coming to them with a lot of water bottles ready to fill.  Tons of people were refilling their water bottles.  I was a little leery of it but would let the kids get a drink every once in a while.

Vittorio Emanuele II Monument-dubbed "the wedding cake" holds the tomb of the unknown soldier and was built in dedication to Italy's first King after the Unification between northern & southern Italy.

Yummy pizza!  After our first few meals in Rome, I was very disappointed in the food we were finding.  We were in Italy, home of my favorite food!!!  But we finally got out of the touristy areas and started having some great food.

These are the snack stands that are all over Rome...don't find this too often in the states.

SWEET GIRL!

  THE VATICAN

Our second tour with Silvia

This is model of Vatican City.  When you enter the walls you are no longer in Rome, Vatican City is it's own state in Italy.  They have different passports and their own everything...water supply, electric, etc.  

The old entrance into the Vatican museums...pretty but I could see a lot of people sliding down that :)

The dome of St Peter's Basilica

This was a huge sculpture of the head of Augustus

Ancient Roman busts....back then they didn't have photography, so this is how "portraits" were taken of famous people.  They can all look similar because just like we like to look a certain way so did they.  They wanted hair like an emperor or a nose like a queen.

This was a huge ancient bath tub.  I think about five people could fit in it.  I told Mike to take a pic because I want this in my house!

Laocoon and His Sons
1st century BC

This was an ancient sarcophagus.  They were stacked together so only the fronts were carved in 3D.

Very large bronze statue of Hercules in the Round Room

Nero's large bath tub in the middle of the Round room

Sarcophagus of Constantia, the Emperor's daughter

Sculpture of Artemis, the goddess of fertility and hunting.  Silvia informed us that those were not breasts but bull testicles.  ??

One of the only sculptures found with the eyes still intact.  They were made of glass where most other statues' eyes were painted and didn't survive

An urn

One of the only statues of an aged man

Silvia said this was an ancient "billboard" advertising goods sold.  It was a mosaic..wow

Drake liked to hold Silvia's hand

Room of huge tapestries that are still used today in the Sistine Chapel.  The ones on the left were made in Brussels

The tapestries were amazingly detailed.  This one was an optical illusion, Jesus' eyes seem to stay on you as you walk by.  They are so colorful and look like they were painted, not woven, pieces of art.

The ceiling walking through the halls was even artwork.

We did get to go into the Sistine Chapel, but no pics aloud.  It was packed with people and guards who were constantly shushing the crowd.  Michelangelo's art was definitely a sight to see and it would take me a lot more research to understand each aspect of it.  Silvia of course knew what each part of the ceiling stood for and what Michelangelo was trying to say.  It's a must see!

St. Peter's Basilica

So, I know I have mentioned a few times that I am over seeing a church everywhere we go...but St Peter's is by far the most amazing cathedral that I have been in and probably will ever be in.   It is massive, 46 meters high and 186 meters long! All the artwork are mosaics and there is not an inch in the place that isn't detailed.  Our pics aren't that great and do not show the beauty very well.

Michelangelo's Pieta...one of the only pieces he ever signed.  He sculpted this out of one block of marble when he was 25.  No one believed he was the artist, so that is why he signed it but later regretted doing so.  He didn't even sign the ceiling in the Sistine Chapel. It depicts Mary cradling Jesus after the Crucifixion. 

Tomb of John Paul II

That looks like a painting but is a mosaic...beautiful 

The main altar which is said to be built over St Peter's tomb.  This basilica was also built over another 4th century basilica, so this is the second altar built over his tomb.  The church has many small chapels in it and any priest can hold a mass here, but only the Pope is aloud to give mass at this altar.

The body of Innocent XI.  His body was exhumed for beatification 267 years after his death and it was discovered to have been very well preserved.  He was considered to be the first Pope who was thought of as incorrupt, so his body was placed in this bronze tomb with his hands and face covered in silver.

A blurry picture of the baptismal area.  Silvia said anyone can come here and be baptized or even married.

St. Peter's Square-This is where all the people come to see the Pope

He was tired...

Silvia said the Pope lives in this building in a very small apartment.  The top two windows on the right are his.

The Swiss Guard-still dress in the same uniform from the 16th century 

The Vatican was one of those places I thought I would never get to see.  It was a great experience and I plan to go back soon (without kids) and soak it in again and hopefully get to see the Pope!

There are small cars in Europe and obviously small trucks.  Look how tiny this is!  Paps, I don't think all your junk will fit in here!!

Well, vacay is over.  I always breathe a sigh of relief when we are all on the airplane and seated.  It's the most stressful thing to me about traveling with kids.  Will we be on time? Will our bags be overweight?  Will we get seats together? (depends on the airline we fly on, but sometimes you don't get seats.  Kind of like southwest but they don't let families on first here) Will we make it through security?  Will the kids be good on the plane and not drive other people crazy? (which so far, they always have been...knock on wood)  Anyways, just stressful.
It was actually nice to get back to the cooler Belgium weather!  We have done so much wonderful travel since we have been here, but quite honestly, I need a little break.  It's exhausting planning, booking, packing, and lugging around 6 people, especially with a baby.  But our next trip will be soooo worth it!!!

U.S. here we come!!!!