Italy in Installments

Days 3, 4 and 5: Orvieto (Vineyard/Wine Country) and The Vatican

Before heading to The Vatican, Doug and I went out exploring parts of Rome we hadn't seen yet. Let's just say Americans exploring a foreign city like Rome may be challenged. In my case, I was an American woman, exploring a strange city with a dude who refuses to a)follow maps and b) ask for directions. If I look unhappy in this photo it is because this little venture had gone 2 hours longer than I had intended (due to getting lost), and mama was hungry for something other than bad pizza.

To his credit, stopping to ask directions did not prove an easy experience. The one time I stopped at a hotel and asked the concierge for help, Doug unknowingly left his Diet Coke (or Coke Light as it is called in Italy) bottle on the desk. When the concierge chased us down to return the bottle, he shoved it at Doug and muttered, "Typical American!". Yep, that's us!

Wish I had better photos of this church. It was located in a little town called Orvieto and it was so impressive. Sadly, I did not get hardly any good pictures of this little town because my battery died just before we got there. It was one of my favorite stops. Adorable little place on a high cliff right smack in the middle of vineyards. We had dinner/entertainment at the neatest place and shopped a bit.

During our stay in Italy, there was a public Papal Address at The Vatican. The big man himself, the main dude, The Pope actually addressed "His dear friends from US Foodservice". Pretty cool....

Here is Doug inside Vatican City. Don't be alarmed, the Eagle has not landed. He did not join the Secret Service, that is just a tour listening device.

Ahh...the art in the halls entering the Sistine Chapel (sorry, again NOOOOO photos!). My head hurt from looking up at all the amazing stuff to see.

Of all the beautiful art I took in that day, this statue inside St. Peter's Basilica was the one that grabbed me. I found myself getting weepy as I stood and stared in awe. Perhaps, it was just the mother hormones kicking in and making me miss my own baby back in the states, but I my heart truly wept for Mary and our God. What an amazing sacrifice! I am so grateful.

Some random shots of Doug and I at The Pantheon at night. HUGE! Just the lettering on the outside was 7 feet tall.

Day 6 and 7: Tivoli and Ancient Roman Bath House and tour of Cardinal's Mansion

Just a few shots from our tour of a Bath House from around 200 A.D. and a Cardinal's Mansion near Tivoli.

The only thing Kaelan requested we bring her back from Italy was some rocks and seashells. This seemed an easy task until she stressed the importance of the rocks/seashells being something really special. So, I tell you now that I probably broke many international laws
and could end up in an Italian jail, but I made sure I brought my daughter back some special rocks. She not owns pieces of hand carved marble from this historical bath house. I would like to see any of you top that souvenir with a T-shirt or snow globe.

Though I could probably duct tape you to a chair and show you hours of photo footage from our fab trip, I will stop here. I had a great time with my wonderful prince and though international travel is adventurous...there really is no place like the great U.S. of A!