ROME: Days 1&2 of Our Trip To Italy

DAY ONE - ROME

May 19, 2009

We arrived at 9:15am after 15 hours of travel with little to no sleep. We took a shuttle through "urban" Rome to our hotel "Hotel Sileo." Changed and headed off to the Vatican city where we ate lunch at a small cafe overlooking the Vatican. Went to St. Peter's square, the Vatican museum, the Sistine Chapel, and then back to St. Peter's Church.

The guys (Duffy and Charis' Dad, Larry) climbed the stairs to the top of the pinnacle in St. Peter's, while Charis and Dee, Charis' step-mom, sat on the rooftop of the Vatican and enjoyed the view.

Charis' Favorite Moment: Seeing Michaelangelo's "Adam." It was surreal standing beneath it and seeing it in person. (picture is Charis in the Vatican)

Duffy's Favorite Moment: Going to St. Peter's Church and being overwhelmed at how beautiful and massive it was.

DAY TWO - ROME

May 20, 2009

Took the metro (subway) to the Collaseum and stood in line for an hour. Toured it and went up to the second deck. Duffy was amazed at it all. Charis was jet-lagged, tired, hot, and cranky....but still enjoyed it immensely. Then we walked up the street through the historical district past the Roman Forum, Emmanuel's Monument, and the Pantheon. We saw Raphael's tomb and Brig fountain.

Then we walked the wrong way and ended up at Pizza Navona. Corrected our mistake and finally made it to Trevi Fountain. Where we ate Gelatto and then threw quarters in the fountain for good luck. Charis has Chocolate Chip & Cream, Duffy had Strawberry & Lemon (notice the trend throughout the story).

Saw the Piazza Bombarini, Fountain of Triton, Piazza del Republica, Santa Maria of the Angels, and then back to the hotel for a siesta. That night we headed out to the Spanish steps and the Piazza del Popolo. For dinner we ate in a German restaurant...random right?

Charis' favorite moment: Late that night, sitting on the edge of the fountain in the center of the Republica square, watching the pigeons flying above, and toasting to our lives together. The Gelatto was a very close second. :)

Duffy's favorite moment: Seeing the Collaseum's architecture. It was amazing to realize that something so large, with such advanced architecture, was built 2,000 years ago without power tools or machinery.