Vacation Rome Part 2

Ok, so here are some more photos from Rome. What a great place. Certainly our favourite city on the trip.

This photo was actually taken on our first night in Rome. We had a few sandwiches and water under the beautiful fountains in Piazza Navona. For those history buffs all the beautiful fountains were made by the famous Bernini.

Don't know the name of this building, but it sat at the end of a small little street and just had this mystical look to it.

Very nice building, but no idea of the name. Let me know if you know the name!

This is a photo of the Piazza de Popolo and the church in its same name. It is very famous as three of the main streets in the older district meet at this piazza. The church had these amazing marble skeletons which you can see below. Never saw anything like them anywhere else in our travels.I really like these sculptures. I am not into skulls & bones, but it does look amazing to see it.

You see these type of things in the churches and this is then why you need more time in this great city to really understand the meanings.

Finally after so so much walking we got to have a nice Italian lunch in an outdoor cafe near the Vatican. Got some other tourists to take this shot.

After standing in a one kilometre long line to get into the Vatican we finally made it to the entrance. We did not know what to full expect, but we left really touched by the experience. Not so much as a religious experience, but to be immersed in such preserved history. It was in some places almost overwhelming the art and history that surrounded us.

Looking out onto some of the many gardens spread throughout the Vatican City.

The three photos above we taken through the various gardens of the Vatican. The small head water fountain was really quiet interesting.

This hall was one of the highlights of not only the Vatican but all of Europe. I sadly do not know the name, though once I know I will add it. I believe this hall must have stretched for no less than 750 metres. It was covered from floor to ceiling with all types of art, from path names, sculptures, tapestry's, and more. The details we amazing, and the time we spent paid no justice at all to the art in this hall. I honestly felt guilty for the pace we set moving through the room. But time was not on our side, and I guess a future trip will be needed.

It is not the clearest of shots as using a flash is absolutely prohibited, as is talking! This is the most famous Sistine Chapel. To pretend to be a historian for a moment, let me give some information; When used in an official capacity it is where the cardinals meet to elect a new Pope. They do this under the great frescoes created by Michelangelo. The ceiling was done entirely by Michelangelo and no one else. It took him four years from 1508 to 1512. It is so complex the story, and intriguing. It tells stories from the creation of man to the redemption of mankind. Pictures of planets, and the sun. Pictures of land and sea, and the beginning of animals. Then in 1536 he was asked again to paint the back wall which is above. This creation took him 5 years and is the most famous of Michelangelo's works; The Last judgment. There are a total of 391 figures in this painting with Christ the Judge as the centre figure. The other side wall frescoes were done by several artists and were actually begun around 1481.

So my final words on the Sistine Chapel was WOW. I mean you were surrounded by so much art that I could not really take control of my thoughts and visual senses. When you look through this room you are almost confused, not sure what to look at, and not sure how to work your eyes through the room. It does not help that the room is crowded with so many other eager tourists trying to do the same as me. Anyway, an experience not to forget.

So here is the great St. Peter's Basilica. It is the greatest church for the Christian Faith and originated in 324 as a shrine for the mortal remains of St. Peter. The building itself that we look at today took hundreds of years to complete.

Several shots taken inside the Basilica. Left is St. Peters eternal tomb. Other two shots inside the Basilica. The shots though do not pay justice to the size of the church. It really was so big.

Here we are finally standing outside the St. Peters Basilica in St. Peters square, also known as Piazza San Pietro.

Piazza San Pietro almost over powers the Basilica but actually adds to the visual power of this area. It was created by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in the mid 17th century. There are 284 columns arranged in four rows and surmounted by 140 great statues of saints and martyrs. There are two amazing fountains on either side as you can see, and the Egyptian obelisk in the centre which was brought to Rome from Heliopolis in 1586.

Vacation Rome Part 1

Ok, so this is how I am going to lay out our vacation. I am going to do it by city's or places we went to. Trying to put it into a date order is going to be a pain in the ass.

I will also shut up. I have worked out very quickly that the less I say, the longer I have your attention. Photos will entertain you, and I will try to give some commentary. Cant promise to do this in a day, or even a week, but do promise to put a heap of photos on the blog.

FINALLY ......... before I shut up, I just have to say that we had the most fantastic, amazing, awesome vacation. It was too short, never enough time to see everything, and always not enough time with great friends through the travels. Not sure when we will be back on Europe, but all I can say is we really had a great experience and are better persons for it.

This is the Arch of Constantine just outside the Roman Colosseum. Known as a triumphal arch, built in 315AD to commemorate Constantine's victory over Maxentius.

The Grand Roman Colesseum, or also know as the Flavian Amphitheater is an amazing site in Rome and a cant miss place to see. First construction began in 72AD and was completed 8 years later. In its prime it could hold 75,000 people to witness some of the most gruesome and bloody events known n history that don't relate to war. What I learnt there was the actual fighting surface was made of wood, and covered by sand. This was to allow all the blood to flow easily of the grounds, and allow better access into the arena through trap-doors in the ground.

that's us inside the colosseum, enjoying this great monument.

Another shot inside the colosseum. You can see it was a beautiful day in Rome.

This is the Arch of Titus at the entrance of the The Roman Forum on the Colosseum end of the Forum. Also built in the last 1st century AD to mark another Roman victory.

Not the best shot in the world, but this is looking into the Roman Forum. You could spend a lot of time walking through this area trying to take in all the history that surrounded you.

This is Clariza above hanging out on the other side of the Roman Forum.

This is the great Trevi fountain found in the Piazza di Trevi. It was built originally in 19BC and then in the 1400's the water basin was built to hold the water that came from the Roman aqueduct which flowed below it.

Us sitting below the Trevi Fountain. I guess it is a Roman con, but they say you must throw a coin into the fountain over your shoulder to make a wish come true. Although we wanted to stay there all day and throw a hundred coins, we kept to one, and hope the best dream comes true!

Gelatos and ice-creams are to die for in Italy, so we made sure we ate our fair share. Love this photo of Clariza loving that ice-cream. I want my lemon gelato!!

Where in Paris!

This has to be a quick update as not enough time. We are having a fantastic trip but sadly it is coming to an end. Hard to say what is the best, but for sure Rome is a city that to never forget. Anyway two more days in Paris, then a quick two days in Dubai, then back to Korea.

When I return I will update with stories and photos.