Rome was not built in a day...

but was seen in just over two.

So, our morning started out with breakfast at the hotel.  I will say this about Italian hotels, they usually have pretty good breakfast "buffets".  After this, we were ready to get our day started!

Our path led us to the Spanish Steps again because we were taking my bracelet to Tiffany to leave it for resizing.  The weird thing was that the Spanish Steps were COMPLETELY empty!  It was so bizarre, so of course we took advantage of this and took some pictures!

We dropped my bracelet off at Tiffany and they said that it would be ready to pick up on the 8th, but of course we said we would just pick it up on the 12th when we were back in Rome.  The inside of this Tiffany was nice, but still way too small; it's definitely bigger than the one in Florence.  New York is still the best of course, but I do love seeing them in other cities and countries!! So now I've been to the two in NYC, Chicago, Nashville, L.A. (Rodeo Drive), Florence (Italy), and Rome (Italy).

Our destination was The Vatican Museums.  Two of my favorite pics were taken while walking to the Vatican, and my momma was the photographer!  The date is off because her camera was still on American time...haha...I had not even thought of this until I am writing this!

 

When we made it there, the line was not terrible, but they were telling us that the Sistine Chapel was closing at 11:30 and would not reopen until 1:30, so we made the decision to go straight there when we got inside, and come back to do the other.  Everyone else had a similar plan and they were having to coral everyone in different directions, but we saw most of the things that I saw the first time I went. I was REALLY excited that we saw the tapestries where Jesus moves from one angle to the other; this is probably my favorite thing I saw in The Vatican Museums.  We saw my favorite ceilings, the map room, and then we saw the painting that Nick has been telling me about; it is the painting that led him to telling me that my brown boots are like Michelangelo's and it's why he sometimes calls me "Michelo"!  I was really excited to see it!  I thought it was cute how he pulled me aside and said, "look...it's you!!"  I was confused until he explained what the painting was! Here are a few Vatican Museum photos (most of them are on my momma's camera because I took plenty last year!):

Michelangelo and his boots!

 

So, we breezed through the museums, but personally I thought we saw all of the highlights!!  The Sistine Chapel is so beautiful and amazing that it takes the cake anyway!  We made it there, and of course they were trying to tell you not to take pictures, but just as last year, I did not listen.  I mean, it is a copyright thing...not a damage to the art thing...this one random guy (NOT a Vatican employee) walked by and told me not to take pictures!  Umm get off your high horse and shut it!  We stood in there for a bit marveling at this amazing work of art.

Yes, I took this The Sistine Chapel.  It is where the Pope is elected...I figured this was as close as I would get to giving him my message!  

After this we decided to head inside St. Peters.  This church is so striking that neither words nor pictures can do it justice.  It is so big, ornate, detailed, beautiful, and amazing.  I still have the thought that if this is what things inspired by God's love here on Earth look like, what must heaven look like? God's love is so immense, and everything He creates is beautiful; thus, these are only things that He has inspired, so His home, His creation for our eternity must be beyond what I can even imagine!  We just took some time to walk around and look, take some pictures, and try to take it all in, which is not easy to do!

My momma has on her Notre Dame button at the confessional...you put two and two together!  Haha!!!

When we finished looking around in the church, we went to climb the dome; something I missed out on doing last time, and I was REALLY wanting to do this!!  We did agree that we would pay the extra few euros to ride the elevator up to the first level, but there were still like 250 stairs to climb.  My knees were sore, but I KNEW the view would be MORE than worth it!!  The line was not terrible, and I was so excited!!  The climb was not nearly as bad as the Florence dome or the torre in Siena.  However, when we first hit the spot where the wall was curved, I felt a bit dizzy and lightheaded, but I fought through it, remembering how beautiful the view would be when I made it to the top!  Boy was I right!!  Here, I'll let pictures once again do the talking for me:

 

 

 

 

I'm Nick's Chick...cheesy...so sue me!

 

My flat loves!

 

 

Vatican Museums

The Pantheon

 

 We could not have asked for better weather; the sun was shining, and it was not too terribly cold!!  The walk down  was not too bad, and I was so happy to mark this off of my bucket list!  Yay for doing that!

Before we could make it away from the Vatican, we stopped to mail my daddy a post card from there; I cannot wait for him to get it!  I think he will like it, and it was something unique we could do for him!  It is still a bizarre concept to me that Vatican City is it's own country!

 Next up was lunch.  I was a bit past the point of even being seriously hungry, but I was hungry nonetheless.  Before we made it to the sandwich place, Nick and I stopped for a drink of water!

 

 We stopped and got sandwiches again, and paid way too much for them, but when you are near the Vatican, and Rome in general, you are going to pay more!  However, they were good.  We took them to a piazza nearby and sat down to eat!  Next up we had gelato from the place I ate the first time I came to Rome; my tour guide told me about it, and then I saw it in a guide book.  Plus, the first time I had it, I loved it! 

My momma and her famous gelato!

 The theme of the day????  IT'S REALLY NOT THAT FAR!!! 

To continue our jam-packed day in Rome, we headed to Castel Sant'Angelo.  This is one of our favorite places in Rome!  Nick of course told his story about the beheadings in front of the castle, and we enjoyed the views!  We somehow missed the ramp inside that we promised my momma, but it does not go all the way to the top anyway!  However, we did deliver on our promise that they could sit down once we got to the top; well, that and how beautiful the view is! 

 

Our whole group: Nick, Me, my momma, and Barbara

 

 

My momma wanted a "real" pose!

Nick's too tall!!

We found the ramp...AND RAMP LADY! Haha!! Roll Tide!

 I think my momma and Barbara really enjoyed the views that they got of Rome today, though the climbs to get there may have been tough.  That being said, the views are totally worth it, and potentially once-in-a-lifetime!  

Once we got outside, my momma took some cute pictures of me and Nick sitting on the wall at sunset!  

 

Our next stop was Piazza Navona.  THe fair was still going on.  We took them inside the church, and sat down for a bit.  Here I explained to Nick about my theory about the beauty of the churches, and how much more amazing heaven must be.  Anyway, we rested inside the church, taking in the beauty, and then headed back outside.  We went to my favorite shop where I bought my wax seal last year, but I decided not to buy anything today.  We slowly walked towards the hotel, making sure to stop inside the Pantheon.  It is always such a beautiful place, and of course now I will always associate it with New Year's in Rome!  

After this?? The hotel!  Barbara was once again skipping out on dinner, but we took some time to rest, and decided to once again go to Nick's restaurant!  I wanted my momma to try real Italian pizza, and so we decided to try there.  We eventually got dressed, and went for an Italian time dinner!  

The restaurant was amazing as usual!  My momma and I got pizza, while Nick tried...hmm...I dont remember!  We had wine, great conversation, etc.  We laughed a lot, and it was just fun to be with the two of them!  Nick even had the guys let me pick out a dessert, and they sang to me for my birthday...a tea light candle and all!  I was a bit embarrassed, but it was fun!  My momma seemed to really like the pizza, which made me happy! 

The wait staff was amazing as usual, and I was impressed at how much of their conversations I understood over the past few nights.  This always makes me happy! 

When we left the restaurant, we went to The Trevi Fountain.  On the way to the fountain, my momma found her broom that she lost after arriving!! Haha...these are the brooms that Italians use to clean the streets.  Well, that is how they are used here in Cosenza!
 My momma really wanted to see it at night, and I really wanted to make that happen for her!  Plus, she still had to throw in her coin!  It was INCREDIBLE how empty the fountain was.  Nick and I were SHOCKED!!! There was prime real-estate right at the front of the fountain!  So, we sfruttare(d) the opportunity!  *that was Englitaliano!*

 

 

 

 

 We hung out around the fountain for a bit, just talking, telling stories, and laughing about all sorts of things!  My main thought for the day:  I CANNOT BELIEVE MY MOMMA IS IN ITALY WITH ME!!! I wish my daddy could have come too, but I dont think he would enjoy the rough roads and such!  However, we WERE thinking of him, and missing him; despite what he may think! 

 Story I forgot to tell about yesterday:  we went into the church near the Trevi Fountain, and they would not let me stay in there because of my dress.  So, my momma took a picture of me tonight trying to "get back in"!  Haha...