Ciao from Rome, Italy!

 

Vatican in the background

 <Callie>  Chow (Ciao)!  Our family had a wonderful time in Rome! So many things to do, see and taste! We rented an Airb&b for the time we were there - it was small but it worked. There was a little upstairs/loft and also a little loft with a bed. The kitchen was about the size of an airplane bathroom. The temperature was close to 100 degrees the whole time we were there and the AC worked just a little bit.

Our AirBNB

     My favorite part of the apartment was the elevator.  It was the coolest and oldest elevator I've ever seen.  It was made around 1905!!! You had to manually open and close the door and you could open the door while it was in motion (even though you weren't supposed to).  I loved it!  If I was bored I would just ride it for fun!  It was really loud though.

     Let's get to the interesting part, the food. The food was amazing! The pizza, the spaghetti and gnoochi, and I'll never forget the delicious gelato! Every night we went to bed with a full stomach and a voice in our head saying why did you eat that last slice of pizza, the third ice cream cone (DAD!), the big bowl of spaghetti.


     I loved how there were so many things to do and see, everyday we had a new plan! We went to the Colosseum one day and it was cool because you always see so  many pictures of it.  Then you saw it and it was so big and amazing. Fortunately, we got our tickets at a little corner with a very little line other than the very very long line for tickets at the Colosseum.

     When we got in it felt like you were transported back to the time it was used.  The Colosseum was used for fighting against Gladiators and animals like tigers and hippos.  Inside was a huge stadium where people would come to watch the fights.   Under the stage floor you could see lifts and secret passageways where animals and gladiators would come out of the floor. It was very amazing!

Pantheon

Pantheon Dome

     We went to the Pantheon which is a church with the biggest unsupported dome in the world.  At the top of the dome there is a big hole purposefully put there and if it rains, the water comes right inside the Pantheon.  The floor is slightly slanted so the water runs right out to the drainage system that was part of the original design.  I thought it was interesting.
   
We had a tour of the Vatican one day and the guide brought us around to see Michaelangelo and Raphael's art in the Sistine Chapel and also in St. Peter's Basilica.  When we stepped into St. Peter's, I couldn't believe how big and beautiful it was.

St Peter's Square - Vatican.  So close to our place!

St Peter's Basilica

 In the dome of the church you could see a little person up in it; they looked really small and gave me perspective for how huge it is.  Our guide pointed  to a window and said that if the window was opened, the Pope was in Rome.  He was!
     Rome was my favorite place we visited.  I had a wonderful time!

Palatine Hills - ancient Roman ruins