The Swiss guards in their traditional 16th Century outfits. As our guide told us, you can date the Swiss guards and even marry them. They live in Vattican City and it's a great honor to serve the two years as a guard of the Vattican.
St. Peters Church from the interior is HUGE. It has three levels. The first is where Peter was said to have been crucified and where his bones rest. The second level is where previous popes are buried (as well as some members of the English Stewart family). Then the final level is pictured below. Three popes who were particuallary distinguished are buried on this level in glass boxes. You can still see them (!). They have wax over their skin to keep them looking as if they were sleeping.
The alter. I loved this stained glass. There is a dove in the middle of the orb of light, but you cannot see it in the picture.
La Pieta by Michelangelo looked so real. I found it a bit vain that it is the only statue Michelangelo ever signed.
Sadly, we did not go to the Sistine Chapel, however we did go the Castle of St. Angel, where the Pope hid out during the sacking of Rome and also the site of many excecutions and originally the temple of a Roman Emperor. Here is a picture of it from the bridge of St. Angel designed by Berlinni.
The views from the top were worth the hike through this muggy castle. In the first picture you see St. Peter's Church, which we had just toured. In the second one, the Tomb of the Unknown Solider and a bit of the river we walked along up to the Spanish Steps.
After the tour, a group of six of us decided to break off and trek it up to the Spanish steps. First we stopped for lunch near the Piazza del Popolo at a small bar. I used some of my Italian here and was doing well until on of the waiters heard me speak English to a friend, and then he busted out in his perfect English. I wish that in the US we had more emphasis on second languages, even though I dragged my heels through Spanish. I love speaking Italian. I just pretend I'm Super Mario and everything sounds like I've spoken the language for years. After cooling off, we wandered into the Borghese gardens stopping at fountains, statues, and a merry go round. I some how became the navigator, which I don't mind, however, many of the small park streets weren't on the map, but no one seemed to mind that we looped out of our way. Then as we were walking down Via della Trinita del Monti we saw a few steps before a double bell towered church. At we joked that it was the Spanish steps and that we had come this far to see 10 steps. They turned out to be the steps! Or at least the beginning. There is a picture below so you can see the grandness of the steps.
We made our way down Via de Corso admiring the designer shops and hoping into a few to cool down. We passed the Parliament building and then stoped for gelato again (this time I got watermelon). Exhausted, we made our final steps refueled with gelato past the Pantheon and down two blocks to our hotel, where we all immediately jumped into the shower.
Blister up date:
So far I have four blisters, two on each foot in symmetrical lay out. I believe I have gone
through eight band aids and two second skin adhesives. I really wish I brought my moccasins to wear (many of you phis have seem me wear these hot shoes in the house) since they are so soft. I have two pairs of shoes that sort of work with my blister situation...I may have to go shoe shopping. BUMMER.
It's our last night in Rome and tomorrow we'll be off to Florence! I've made good friends with a group of girls who will be staying in the same apartment building as us. Overall everyone is pretty friendly and just want to experience Italy as much as possiable.
Ciao
Jacqueline
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