Roma . The Ancients

Back in Rome, I spent Sunday exploring the world of ancient Romans. No trip here would be complete without seeing the Colosseum. Hard to believe this amazing structure was built in only 10 years, using a math system that did not yet include the zero. 

The wooden stage would have covered the underground passageways where gladiators and animals were kept.

Colosseum view towards the Palatine Hill, where the wealthy lived.

Afterwards I walked the grounds of the ruins for nearly 4 hours. There is so much to see and the scenery is breathtaking. A sobering reminder of just how un-permanant we are and how even profound earthly glory fades away.

Trying my hand at being a goddess statue. ;)

Throughout Italy, there are no metal street signs. Every plaza and street is marked by stone plaques on the faces of the buildings that lay along them. This is in front of the church of St. Peter's in Chains, where Michaelangelo's sculpture of Moses resides.

Florence . Farewell

Today began with a hardy hike up to Piazelle Michaelangelo for what was promised to be a fabulous view of Florence. I was not disappointed - totally worth the blisters on my poor feet.

A replica now stands where David originally stood for 369 years (1504 - 1873), outside the Florence Town Hall. 

More authentic paninis!!!

Ended the day with some light shopping, a stroll along the river and a train ride back to Roma.

Florence . Artsy Fartsy

Day two in Florence was full of artist eye candy. For years I've studied art history and read about the Italian masters, but to actually see Michaelangelo's original work was incredible. I sat in the Accademia Gallery for over an hour sketching David and could have stayed longer. Can you believe he sculpted this at age 26?! Genius. 

There are security personnel specifically there to shout "NO FOTOS!!!" to anyone attempting a pic of the famous hottie, but with the girls' help I snuck a couple. And the people's heads in this picture give a great perspective of just how big he is.

He has a great backside! ;)

For lunch we found a local panini joint called Oil Shoppe and munched some seriously phenomenal sandwiches. Coolest thing about this place is that once the fresh bread is gone for the day, they literally put out a sign that says "Out of bread, see you tomorrow" and close up shop. We were lucky and got there just a few customers before the sign went up.

The Florence Duomo (cathedral) rises high above the city and is gorgeously designed with green & white stone.

Paintings inside the dome ceiling were pretty impressive, especially at 295 feet up!

Next stop - Uffizi Gallery. Spent over two hours wandering the rooms. Almost every one had a painting I recognized by Da Vinci, Raphael, Caravaggio, Michaelangelo, and Botticelli. 

Sandro Botticelli's Birth of Venus is probably the most famous work there. The only thing I found disappointing was, after years of seeing the paintings vividly reproduced in textbooks, the actual works were much darker and less vibrant. But, they are 500+ years old, so I'm not entirely sure what I expected!

Dinner with the girls, laughing about the day together.

Florence

Crazy how Cari Gaines and I ended up in Italy at the exact same time, completely unplanned. I met her and her friend Laura at the train station for a two day detour to Florence. Planning on checking out Michelangelo's famous David sculpture tomorrow, we figured it was only appropriate we eat at a lunch place of the same name.

I'm embarrassed to say that this ginormous Coca Cola cost me the equivalent of $12. 

David's portrait was even on the dishes! By far best pasta I've had yet... ravioli with truffle cream sauce.

One of the piazza's here has a big carousel and it reminded me of Avery. Cari was kind enough to oblige me and be the dorky adults with no kids riding the carousel for a photo op.

Incredible street artist. Literally on the street, not sidewalk. Practically get run over by taxi's trying to look at the thing...

Ponte Vecchio - Famous bridge over the Arno River. All phenomenally expensive jewelry shops. We dubbed it "the bridge where you can't afford anything." Yes, those teensy weensy, damn-near-microscopic silver stud earrings ARE $300.

While Cari & Laura are staying close to town, my dad so generously used his traveler points to cover my hotel a little further out in the suburbs. I enjoyed spending the evening walking around the less touristy neighborhoods. Here's an Italian version of a playground baby swing... hmm, less than cozy.

Dinner at a little cafe with my book and chocolate pastry for dessert. Perfecto.

Roma . Giorno Tre

Wednesday morning we spent an hour or more at Campo di Fiori, one of Rome's oldest open aire markets. It's a lively mix of fresh produce and incredibly delish-looking pasta/sauces. There are also many tourist-oriented cheap souvenir stands with bobble-headed Popes and cheesy t-shirts.

Cheyenne was a quick favorite of the older local men, scoring free cherries, strawberries and melon bites along the way...

Believe it or not, this is actually a photo of Cheyenne saying, No I do not want to pose with these flowers or carry them home. ha ha ha...

Jim & Laura (our fantastic hosts, whom I still have yet to photograph) were so sweet and took Cheyenne for the whole afternoon so Stef and I could wander the city. We crossed the river over to Trastavere in search of "the best pizza place in Rome" (according to Katie Kelly).

We found Dar Poeta a bit off the main drag in this tiny back alley. I love how almost all Roman dining is al fresco. While the pizza was good and they had the most topping options of any place I've been yet, I have to honestly say I don't love true Italian pizza. It's super thin, you have to ask for them to use tomato sauce, and it always comes entirely uncut - leaving you to try and hack it with a steak knife. Um, hello... anyone heard of pizza cutter here?!

We walked off lunch, visiting the Piazza del Campidoglio ( I don't know how to pronounce it either! ), designed by Michelangelo.

I wonder if the old folks from Canada knew they were gonna have to wear matching bright orange vests before they paid for their tour. I would have demanded a refund.

Final stop before hitting up the gelato shop was Italy's version of the Tomb of the Unknown Solider. This monument is massive, just look at those tiny guards at the bottom for reference.

Roma . Giorno Due

How can your day NOT be fabulous, when you wake up to this view?!

Well, except when you wake up with a gnarly migraine and can only manage to barely eat breakfast before going back to bed for three hours. Ugh. Fortunately the nap cured me and we ventured out for lunch in the Campo di Fiori. 

In addition to the seagulls, I'm entirely surprised by the commonality of graffiti that covers the doors and building facades. It's very sad to see how people's need to temporarily "make a name for themselves" outweighs their desire to cherish their city's rich history and gorgeous architecture.

The church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, where Galileo was found guilty of heresy for claiming the universe revolved around the Sun (instead of the Earth), thus spending the rest of his life under house arrest.

Rouge street art. The sign is typically just the circle with the white line, but some artist found it humorous to add the figure...

De Ritis - for all your clerical robe needs.

Our main stop for today, the Pantheon. Originally built in 27 BC by Marcus Agrippa as a temple "to many gods," as it's name indicates. But it was ultimately used as a Catholic church and is the resting place of Rome's first and second Kings, as well as the Renaissance artist Raphael. 

Can you see me?! (I'm the tiny one leaning against the right pillar)

The Pantheon's ceiling is still the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome and the oculus (opening in the top) is the only source of light within the building.

On our walk back from the Pantheon, we stopped by the Torre di Argentina. This is where the Theatre of Pompey had been, where Julius Caesar met his murderous end.