A Dream Come True

To start off our trip I met mom and Ron in London on Wednesday and Thursday we were fast off to Roma!! At first, I wasn't so sure...I wondered if Italy was going to live up to it's pedistool I had kindly placed it on. We found our amazing hotel and a nice dinner and early to bed for us world travelers. Friday morning we slept in late...and began our touring with the Vatican museum and the Sistine chapel. Let me just say I got a little frustrated. Walking through this huge place I had little to no idea what I was looking at. Until, the Sistine chapel where up I looked at the stunning Michelangelo painting. Props! It was huge, pretty, and I was completely satisfied. Hours later we were making our way down the streets of Italy. My dream come true. From the shutters, to the stucco, to the language. Just plain wonderful!
Day 3: we headed to the Colosseum and the palace ruins, The Palatine Hill. The Colosseum was big, and old. Pretty much what I expected, but I had no idea when we starting touring the palace ruins just how cool they were. We saw the circus Maximus, Augustus' wife's rooms from 85 ad! What?!? And pillars from the original settlers of Rome before Christ had even entered the world. Amazing. Then the Roman Forum, where Rome began, we walked along one of the first roads where every Roman solider in history has walked. Goodness the list never ends. It was so informative and an awesome opportunity!




Sunday, I deem as Pope day. Why you may ask...because we saw him, he blessed us, no big deal! Like seriously...last Sunday of the month along with palm Sunday = super huge mass, in St. Peters square with thousands of people. Talk about once in a lifetime. Then we toured St. Peters basilica which was also stunning! Marble, statues, and popes are enough to give you an idea...pictures will do the rest! Then there was Monday. Oh marvelous Monday.

We took a tour of Tuscany complete with open spaces, vineyards, lemon trees, and gorgeous Italia! It was truly a gift to be able to see with my own eyes what I have drooled over in books for YEARS!




so future plans: learn Italian this summer (thank you Rosetta Stone) come back to visit, then come back to live...calm down...just for a couple of years and then I will reside close to you in dear ole USA! Don't fret my friends! I might be far...but not for long. Speaking of...5 weeks! Not that I am counting down. I am actually already feeling bitter sweet. Europe has taken a few pieces of my heart. These past 11 weeks have been everything enjoyable...I am so blessed and thankful for everything study abroad had given me and is yet to come! :) anyhow back on track...Italy. It was wonderful to have family here and it felt great to have yet another dream come true.
Ciao,
Cailee