Italy 3: Pompeii and Rome

Onward to the last leg of the world's most wonderful vacation, and Mandy has allowed me to take the reins. And by take the reins, I mean toss some words in between her fantastic pictures.  The last city we visited in Italy was Rome.  Well, the last living one anyway.  We'll get to that in a minute, but first check out the remnants of everyone's favorite once-inhabited-but-covered-by-a-volcano city:  Pompeii.

The remnants of Pompeii's legal administration building:  reminds me of my government office..bdump ching!

These pictures are inside the main bathhouse.  The inscription on the basin above commemorates the politician behind its donation.  Ah, politics.

Is it cool that they've somehow got water flowing here?  Yes.  Am I glad that we didn't drink this?  Definitely.

Yes, those are real teeth. 

And real chariot ruts!

So, turns out the Pompeiians were into fast food.  This is one of their food counters, with little storage containers for pre-made meals behind it.  Very handy for if you're, you know, running from something dangerous.

NOW:  on to Rome!

The Spanish Steps

When you've got a lot of ground to cover, say in Rome's version of Central Park, you need a good way to get around.  Like a motorized-pedal rickshaw.  Mandy's steering wheel didn't actually control anything, something she rued as she freaked out about my driving. 

We loved Trevi Fountain so much that we visited it once midday, and then went back to enjoy it more after dark.  It's such an entrancing work of art.  The massive amount of water flowing through the fountain is loud enough to dim the sounds of the crowd, but is still so peaceful sounding.  It's amazing how long you can sit in front of the fountain, continually letting your eyes wander to discover new and interesting details.

The Pantheon:

Basically, it's super old, and the dome (below) is no less than a miracle of ancient architecture.  However, check out the one-piece columns above.  See the lowered areas underneath where the portico extends down to meet them?  Turns out that once they were carved and transported, they turned out to be too short.  Hey, what can you do, no one's perfect!

Piazza Navona

Touring the Vatican museum.  These halls are on our way to the Sistine chapel...which, unfortunately is a no-camera zone.

Mandy was incredibly excited to see this fresco by Raphael, the School of Athens.  One of her favorites, and she didn't even know it was here until we were right on top of it!  Michelangelo is the pouter down in front.

St. Peter's square, Pope-less this evening.

I guess that's me, making sure I know how to get where we're going.  Mandy is far and away the better trip planner, but I at least knew I could provide some support in this area.

PETER!

St. Peter's Basilica

The altar in the Basilica, built on upon the spot where St. Peter is said to be buried.  Thanks to a tip from my co-worker Jenn, we were able to schedule a little-known tour UNDERNEATH the Basilica in the excavations of the Pagan and Christian cemetary, including seeing the walls of the tomb believed to be his.  Incredible!

Michelangelo's Pieta

Ahhh........

Moses, Michelangelo-style.

What else?  The Colusseum!

We loved wandering the Forum in rome, listening to Rick Steves fill us in on the amazing history of this square and its buildings.  Including, yes that's right, the very spot where Julius Caesar's body was burned.  Whoa.

Bonus sighting: some actual terra cotta warriors in one of the buildings on the Forum.

Bocca della Verita, which is alleged to bite you if you're a liar.  Looks like we're good!

We saw some re-enactors, complete with costumes and props, out on the Circus Maximus.  Mandy could not get enough of this; she says she finds it hilarious.  I think it's actually because she wants to be a re-enactor one day.

So many pictures of me mid-blink on this trip.  I swear I have the worst timing in the world at that.

...and this is how our trip ended.  One final night in Rome, one last amazing dinner followed by one last gelato on the way home.  I think I can safely say that this was the most incredible vacation EVER.  Should we ever be so lucky as to visit again, we'd be thrilled.  Hope you enjoyed a glimpse.  Don't worry, if you ever want to know anything else, we're happy to share.  In fact, it takes all our restraint not to, even when not asked.  Ciao!