Rome

Obligatory Coliseum picture

 We went to Rome this past weekend with two of Mary's friends. The weather was beautiful! After a gray January in Paris, Rome was a nice change. It was clear and Spring-like, high 50s and low 60s.  We walked, a lot. Saturday we visited Vatican city, its not the high season so we had St Peter's Square nearly to ourselves in the morning. We then went in to see the Sistine Chapel. I think, aside from the chapel, the Vatican's map room was the highlight of that visit ( We couldn't take pictures in the Sistine Chapel, so we posted pictures of the maps and ceiling there instead). We then walked halfway around the city, to the Baths. Utterly immense! In between we stopped by the botanical gardens, snuck a nap on their lawn and had a Gelati, certain members of our group maintained a 2 GPD average (that is 2 gelati-per-day)

 

 The next day we walked the city North to South, hitting the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, the Coliseum, and Palantine Hill. Coming upon the Trevi Fountain was actually very neat as we approached it from the back. We knew we were close, but to turn an unassuming corner and realize that it was part of the fountain.  After wandering around the ruins on the Palantine we stopped for a coffee (or another gelati) and waited for the Coliseum to be lit up at night.
  Our final day was spent at the Pantheon, eating a leisurely breakfast on the square, shopping, exploring the little streets. Fun trip.