This morning we made a journey to St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City! Ricardo couldn't take us so we used Rick Steves instead. Most memorable was Michelangelo's Pieta, climbing to the top of the dome (Dad, do you remember the dome in France we climbed?), and seeing the pope. The Basilica was completely overwhelming, and I wish I could represent better how enormous and elaborate it is here. I was able to recognize a lot of the features of the church and differences/similarities between Catholicism and reformed churches, so it felt like a mini pilgrimage. My friends went to Sunday mass there. So then I came back and went on an adventure to the cat sanctuary and the Colosseum area. Now I suppose I have homework, we're doing a presentation on the Merchant of Venice later this week.
A good way to start off. Americano of course (Walt)
In St. Peter's Square
The facade of St Peter's Basilica! It took 120 years to build!
The atrium (?)
Entrance
One transept
I love mosaics!
Pieta by Michelangelo. I am presenting a report on him later.
Organs of Rome! I got to hear it played because there were services while we were there.
We took the stairs all the way to the top of the dome.
Here's the nave, with the most fantastic stained glass I've seen
I was there!
St Peter's square from the top of the dome
A lovely view of the city
I was there too!
Cezanne on the stairs. Pretty crowded and a little scary.
Everyone likes the pope!
There he is. He gave a blessing and greeted us in 5 different languages.
Nice Italian cat at the Largo Argentina cat sanctuary.
Another sick cat
Cats in the sun
Little Italian truck. I've seen 1 SUV the whole time I've been here.
HAHAAH THE TRUCK! and that cat that is sick and glaring at you!!! heehee! and also, that is a cool city! I can't see the pope, but he must be important to attract all those people!I want that crisont thingie and the coffee, also mom got the cruisants from Trader Joes and we had those! They were so good! ((:
ReplyDeleteI believe the dome we climbed was St Paul's on the extreme outskirts of Paris (London!).
ReplyDeleteLove your photos and the fun prose!
Thanks for taking us along on your adventures.
-dad
more cat santuaries??? they must really love cats! also I want prints of all these pictures!! so awesome!!!
ReplyDeleteSt Peter's square is where I saw the Pope deliver Easter Mass. I was about 10 years old. There were so many people that I had to hold a cosmetic mirror up to reflect the Mass! This was back in the days when Mass was in Latin. Thank goodness those days are now reformed and Mass is in the language of the people!
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