The Main Attraction

First landmark you think of in Rome? The Vatican. Since it's 7 minutes from my front door  I suppose I should check it out. Today we did! Roomie trip to the Basilica, words and photos cannot describe this place. Please please please just go. It's breathtaking and overwhelming.....

Michaelangelo's Pieta

You'd be stupid not to spend as much time admiring the ceiling as they did making it

Picked a good time of day

stunning

The paintings and sculptures are marvelous but the columns, ceilings, walls, even the floor are just as beautiful and creative. The basilica is free to the public only costs: wearing pants (cover up the knees!) and cover shoulders, and putting up with crowds. I wore jeans today which was disgustingly hot in the 90+ heat buuuut the heat scared away some tourists we think, especially when it came to the second part of our adventure. More on that in a bit. First  BERNINI is kinda my favorite Italian artist (besides Giotto) and the Vatican is smart enough to recognize his talents. There are many pieces by him in the basilica

This is my second favorite Bernini piece of all time
(nothing beats that sexy David!)

Ok second part of the adventure! Kat, Ginny, and I made the trek today! We climbed to the top of the duomo (remember those jeans and 90+ degree weather???)  It was hot but comparatively empty! It was fantastic. We chose to walk instead of taking the elevator up, saving a euro and to get the authentic experience. After maybe 5 or 6 flights of stairs we are confused because we were barely out of breath but the stairs led out onto a roof. Nope, it's where the 320 steps up to the duomo START, whew! Along the way they let us around one of the cupolas inside the basilica and we were able to appreciate the beauty and details of the mosaics up close.

Ginny and I going up the wide stairs

Bernini's chair and altar from above
(sorry the fencing is in the picture)

Kat and I on the ceiling!!

Then onward and upward through teeny tiny hallways that lead to teeny tiny stairs that go on forever and ever and ever and EVER! I got extremely dizzy twice and had to take a pause on the spiral stairs. Pictures time!

you think these are small, and then....

...then there are these
(that rope is the railing/handle)

Out onto the duomo:

This reminded me how lucky I am to be here

So once you're at the top there is a nice breeze to cool you off from the climb. We enjoyed ourselves and it was nice because there were so few other people at the top with us! After admiring the view for a while though we were all hoping to go home and get out of those hot clothes! Funny thing: getting down isn't easy. At all.

Ginny going downstairs

       And that's pretty much our adventure. We came home and got some water and clean lightweight clothes and a snack. Tonight I tried going to the Steelers bar for the Ravens game... it was pitiful attempt by the Stillers and I'm very disappointed in them. I left partway through the game and came home. Rumor has it a karaoke bar is the hot spot for my friends tonight, we'll see if I end up going out or just staying in and resting up for school tomorrow. My first class tomorrow has already been cancelled for some unknown reason, so I get a sleep in!! great start to the school year!  Ciao!