July 6-8: Rome

After a 3 hour stop in the Florence, the birthplace of the Renessaince, we are in Rome! Take the tourists of Venice, and add over 2 million people who live here, hot weather, continuous sirens, and cars zipping around with no particular order, and you´ve got Rome!

Our first day we visit the ruins of anceint Rome: the Colessum and the Roman Forum. It is truly awesome to see with our own eyes the roots of Western Civilization! Walking through the ruins, you can imagine what it would have looked like then to the Roman citizens, senators, and emperor walking about.

Inside the Colesseum (we want to go home and watch Gladiator again!):

Looking over the Roman Forum, a plaza for ancient Romans to shop, meet, and worship their various gods:

On our second day in Rome, we visit Vatican city. St. Peter´s Basilica, the biggest church in the world, is truly amazing. Inside, the "small" letters at the top are actually 12 feet high! We also visit the huge Vatican museum, with four miles of artifacts and Michealangelo´s Sistene Chapel.

On the 8th, we escape the chaos of Rome with a visit to the Villa D'Este gardens in Tivoli, a hillside city outside Rome.

We are also enjoying the Roman nights. People are out late and everything is lit up. Italian food is great: pizza, pasta, caprese, and GELATO!

Early on the 9th, we fly to Valencia, Spain!