Bonjourno Italia!

We arrived in Rome and were picked up at the airport and driven to a lovely family's home. Homemade pizza and pie awaited us . . . we were finally in the land of pasta, pizza, gelato, canolis, and oh yea some of the greatest art of all time.

Sightseeing in Rome was something like competing in the Amazing Race with 5,000 other contestants. So you say it's October how is that possible? That's exactly the problem, everyone had the same idea as us...go to Italy in October to avoid the crowds! Boy were we dead wrong...although I don't even want to imagine what Italy is like in the summer. 

But we realize it was all worth it to see the architectural masterpiece, the Pantheon, and absolutely amazing yet incredibly cruel Colosseum 

The Pantheon built in 120AD

The Pantheons architectural ingenuity--the largest dome built in it's time and would remain that for over a thousand years . . . the walls are over 20 feet thick with heavy concrete and brick! 

The Spanish Steps overrun by tourists

Saint Peter's Basilica...we picked the wrong day, the Pope (we believe) gave a speech and thousands of people came

The Vatican Museum was probably the most amazing museum I've ever been to

Sneaking a pic at Michelangelo's the Creation of Adam (not enough light in the room so blurry photo)

It's truly magnificent in person

Ryman falling in love with one of the many incredible marble statues

Lost as usual!

A Breath of Fresh Air . . .

Just outside of Rome we had the opportunity to explore the ruins of Pompeii and Ostia Antigua

A cafe from the 1st Century AD!

Many of the sites in Pompeii were closed off but we didn't let that stop us! We didn't come all the way there not to see the garden of fugitives so we hopped over the fence and snapped a few photos (without flash of course). We were even able to take photos for other American tourists that couldn't make the jump

:)

I can't even fathom what these people must have went through

Bed at a brothel in Pompeii...sad

Pompeii was one of the most amazing sites i've been to

Typical Pompeii Villa

It's so hard to believe wall paintings lasted ..

Back to Sightseeing in Rome!

So exhausted!

Horse Race Track

Mmmm Pizza!

ExAuStIoN was an at an all time high when we realized that we didn't, or I didn't, read the house rules before booking our stay with the family we in Rome. We had to wake up every morning at 7:30AM, be down at breakfast at 8AM and out the door shortly after. We also couldn't come home until 4PM...so if you didn't do the math, that's 8 hours a day of walkn round and these legs were not made for walkin'!

So it was bitter sweet to say arrivederci 

Our 2 doggies

The Fraschettis are such a nice sweet family..thank you!

Off to Viarregio, Florence and Venice!