ROME
R
We were fortunate enough to have add a 2-day extension to Rome at the beginning of our trip. While I wasn't initially as eager to visit Rome, it turned out to be a highlight of the trip. Our flight landed about 10:00am and by 12:00pm, we were on our way to our first Italian lunch and the Colosseum.
The Colosseum & Roman Forum
The city was busy and we were exhausted from traveling, but it didn't take away from the grandeur of these awesome structures. Before entering the Colosseum, David educated us on the history of the building and told us what to expect when we went inside. The amphitheater was awe-inspiring and it was fascinating to see the artifacts (coins, tools, etc) left behind from centuries ago.
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The history of the Roman Forum was like none other. David was our personal tour guide through the plaza and was very knowledgeable about the ruins. I admittedly knew nothing about the Forum beforehand, but left with some insight of the Roman Empire and their way of life.
 Arriving at the ColosseumWith Betty at the Colosseum subway stop. |  Outside the ColosseumMy first selfie of the trip. |  The Colosseum |
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 Inside the ColosseumOverlooking the amphitheater |  The Roman ForumOne of the huge ruins in the plaza. |
Vatican City
Without question, my favorite part of Rome was touring the Vatican and St. Peter's Basilica. On day two of our trip, we toured the grounds with a tour guide and she was fantastic. We were each given a device & earphones so that we could easily hear her speak amongst the crowds. As we navigated through the grounds, she educated us on the history and details of each building. Being raised Baptist, I admittedly didn't know much about Catholicism and its history, but our guide took the time to explain the many facets of the faith and discuss the historic figures that helped to create the religion as we know it today.
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Nothing could have prepared me for the beauty of Vatican City. From floor to ceiling (literally!), every building was created with intent and no detail was spared. I stood in awe as we entered each room and listened to our guide explain each work of art. Before entering the Sistine Chapel, our guide taught us about Michelangelo's masterpiece in great detail. It was fascinating to hear the full history of the painting and how it had transformed over the years. Photos were not allowed inside the chapel, so I was able to really take in the experience without the distraction of trying to photograph it. While we were there, an Italian priest gave a blessing to the crowd and it was one of those "Is this really happening?!" experiences. One I will never forget.
 Vatican Gallery of TapestriesSome of the many tapestries that line the walls throughout the buildings. |  Vatican Gallery of TapestriesThe ceilings are simply stunning. I love the colors in this one. And it may look like molding has been added, but it's a flat ceiling. What an artist! |  Vatican MuseumThe black flag on the bottom left is our tour guide leading the way through the crowd. |
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 Vatican Gallery of MapsOur tour guide equated this to a hallway in our modern houses that leads to the bathroom! |  The Vatican CourtyardLocated outside St. Peter's Basilica, this is where crowds come to see the Pope when he gives a blessing every Wednesday. He stands at a window in the building that's in the background. |  Pam and DavidStanding in the Vatican Courtyard. |
 Protecting the PopeThe Swiss Guard is responsible for the safety of the Pope. This is the tunnel that the Pope Mobile drives in & out of. |
To say that St. Peter's Basilica is grandiose is an understatement. This beautiful church was the pinnacle to our visit at Vatican City. It's known as the "greatest of all churches" and it's easy to see why. As I stood in front of the magnificent altar, I thought about the centuries of worship and traditions that have occurred and the amount of people who have been blessed there. Pictures certainly don't do it justice, but I tried to capture as much of the architecture and artistic details as possible.
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Before leaving Vatican City, we visited the small gift shop that's located outside of the Basilica and I purchased a beautiful set of rosary beads. I have them in a place in my home where I see them every day and it reminds me of the wonderful experience that I had in Rome.
St. Peter's Basilica
 St. Peter's Basilica |  St. Peter's BasilicaStanding in the Vatican Courtyard. |  The Altar in St. Peter's BasilicaTo gain perspective on the enormity of this building, each of the letters in gold are 6 feet tall. |
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 The Altar of St. Peter's Basilica |  St. Peter's BasilicaOnly the Pope is allowed to walk through the middle door and down the roped off area. |  St. Peter's BasilicaThis area was reserved for people who wanted to pray. |
 St. Peter's BasilicaInside the famous dome of the church. |
The Pantheon & Trevi Fountain
Following our tour of Vatican City, we ate lunch and headed over to the Pantheon. While this temple isn't as awe-inspiring as St. Peter's, it is still quite majestic. It's worth a visit just to see a building so well preserved from Ancient Rome. The large hole in the center of the dome is the only source of light in the temple and when it rains, the rain comes through. It's a fascinating piece of architecture.
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The square outside the Pantheon is the perfect place to grab a cappuccino and people watch. There is a lot of activity here and I could spend hours here taking it all in. Then, David took us a few blocks away to get some gelato. Finally - REAL ITALIAN GELATO! It was delicious and worth the trip alone. As we were leaving from the gelato shop, we heard the faint sounds of a man singing. I looked at David, a fellow musician, and exclaimed "Nessun Dorma!". We instinctively headed toward the music and found the singer back in the plaza of the Pantheon. A crowd was gathering, but we stood there listening to him sing Italian opera in the beautiful plaza and it literally brought me to tears as reality sunk in that I was finally in Italy. Another one of those "Is this really happening?!" moments.
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After a delicious dinner that evening at one of David's favorite restaurants in Rome, we went to the Trevi Fountain. By this time, it was almost midnight. We were tired, but determined to see this famous fountain. Turns out, it was the perfect time to see it because the crowd was minimal and we could really enjoy it. Legend has it that if you throw a coin in the fountain over your left shoulder with your right hand, you will return to Rome. So, of course, we did. It was the perfect way to end our last day in Rome.
 The Pantheon |  The Pantheon DomeThe light is used as a sundial. |  Inside the Pantheon |
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 The Pantheon PlazaA quintessential Italian plaza. |  Singing OperaA wonderful singer performing outside of the Pantheon. |  The Trevi FountainAfter tossing a coin in the fountain in hopes to return. |
 The Trevi FountainI highly recommend seeing the fountain at night. |